Jim Ross (educationalist)

Born in 1930,^[1] Ross was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School from 1944 to 1948, where he was head boy and vice-captain of the 1st XV rugby union team in his final year.^[2] He went on to study geography at the University of Otago and Canterbury University College, graduating Master of Arts with second-class honours in 1955.^[3]

Ross also earned a Diploma of Teaching, and became a secondary school teacher.^[2] He was senior master at Upper Hutt College for four years until he was appointed as an inspector of secondary schools in 1965.^[2] He also co-authored three secondary school textbooks on geography with George Jobberns between 1960 and 1966.^[2] In the early 1970s, Ross moved to the Department of Education in Wellington as a public servant.^[2] He was the first superintendent of curriculum development, spent nine years as assistant Director General of Education from 1979, and served on the education committee of the OECD.^[1][2] He retired as acting Director General of Education in 1990.^[2]

In the 1990 New Year Honours, Ross was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.^[4] He died on 28 June 2020.^[5]

• Jobberns, George; Ross, James (1960). Social studies in geography 1: the Pacific world. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs.
• Jobberns, George; Ross, James (1960). Social studies in geography 2: the Atlantic world. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs.
• Jobberns, George; Ross, James (1966). World geography. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs.