MEET SHANNON

Early years

Shannon Drake Jackson was born and raised in Essex Town.  He is a proud graduate of Essex Elementary School, Founders Memorial School, Essex Middle School, and Essex High School.  Dedicated to his community from the beginning, he first ran for office and served as treasurer of Essex Middle School in the sixth grade.  And throughout his schooling, he continued to serve his classmates as President, Vice President, and Senate Speaker of the High School Student Government.

Outside of school, Shannon was active in the community during his youth and served on the local CHIPS (Community Helping to Inspire People to Succeed) Board of Directors.  He also organized blood drives, charitable talent shows, and mentored younger classmates. Shannon graduated Essex High School in 2007 and went on to receive his a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Maryland in 2011. 

Public Service

Following graduation, Shannon taught English as a Second Language in Thailand before returning stateside to work in Senator Bernie Sanders’ office. 

Starting as a staff and casework assistant in the Senator’s Burlington office, Shannon went on to be based out of Washington, DC and worked for the Senator on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and later the Senate Budget Committee.

In 2015, Shannon was the fifth hire on Senator Sanders’ first presidential campaign. Home in Vermont, Shannon opened the campaign headquarters in Burlington and planned and executed the 5,000-person campaign kickoff on Burlington waterfront.  Shannon traveled to 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the Vatican with the Senator, talking to every day Americans about the issues most important to them.

Following the 2016 Presidential campaign, Shannon was the founding Executive Director of Our Revolution.  He managed a multi-million dollar budget for the organization and led the effort to endorse hundreds of candidates and ballot measures across the country.

In 2018, Shannon returned to Vermont as campaign manager for Senator Sanders’ Senate reelection campaign.  He helped the Senator prioritize connecting with Vermonters from across the state and organized visits for the Senator to each of Vermont’s 14 counties. 

In 2019, Shannon became the Northeast Regional Director for the Senator’s second presidential campaign.   Shannon led the Senator’s campaign to its first and last decisive state victories: first, in the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire and last in the Northern Mariana Islands’ caucus. 

A Return to Essex

Following the end of the presidential campaign, Shannon reprioritized family and his ties to Vermont, and through-hiked the 273-mile Long Trail with his father from Massachusetts to the Canadian border.  Shannon then renewed his passion for renewable energy by taking a job working in the solar industry for Green Mountain Solar. 

In 2021, Shannon returned to his home: Essex.  His parents, who continue to live in Shannon’s childhood home in Pinewood, were thrilled.

Shannon and his wife, Colleen Jackson, bought a house on Brigham Hill Road and began their foray into sugaring almost immediately.  Today, they have 300 taps on their property and make almost enough syrup to supply each of their friends and family’s insatiable sweet teeth. 

Shannon is proud to have served on the Essex Conservation and Trails Committee for the last three years.  He has been Vice-Chair since October of 2023.  During his time on the committee, he has spearheaded the twice-a-year Indian Brook clean-ups and lead the committee to prioritize the VOREC grant study for a multi-use path along the southern half of 289 in Essex with the goal of connecting the Essex Experience with a new waterfront park along the Winooski. 

In 2022 and 2024, Shannon and Colleen welcomed their two daughters: Aurora and Adelaide Jackson.  Shannon is proud to be raising them in the community he has always called home.