Teaching & Learning Welcomes Cooksley, Johnson Miner to New Positions

Johnston, Iowa – The JCSD Teaching & Learning Department has undergone a realignment and as a result, will see new and familiar faces in new roles, effective July 1, 2020.

Dr. Mary Cooksley

With an increased focus on Career and Technical Education and Postsecondary Pathways, as well as the retirement of Ann Wiley (Learning Coordinator of Student Engagement/Instructional Technology) department leader Dr. Nikki Roorda took the opportunity to realign positions to best fit the needs of students in the district.

Dr. Mary Cooksley has been hired as the new Coordinator of Math, Science and Technology/Information Literacy. Cooksley comes to Johnston by way of Ankeny Community School District and has a rich history of working in the PreK-12 education sector.

In her new role, Cooksley will take responsibility for the visioning and administration of all math and science curriculum in the district. She will also serve as the administrator/supervisor for the district’s two information technology coaches and seven information literacy specialists.

The addition of Cooksley to the team and her skills compliments an additional change in department structure. Longtime Math/Science Coordinator Dr. Jyll Johnson Miner will be moving to her new role as the Coordinator for Career and Technical Education and Related Arts.

Dr. Jyll Johnson Miner

Johnson Miner will oversee all Johnston Career and Technical Education and Postsecondary Pathways work – this comes as a response to the growing number of students looking to start their workforce training in high school through apprenticeships, dual-enrollment courses, or internships.

All related arts educators and curriculum that align with Career and Technical Education programs will also fall under Johnson Miner’s responsibility for supervision, development, and evaluation.

Rounding out the Teaching & Learning Department is Michelle Crannell, who was hired in 2019 as the district’s Language Arts/Social Studies Learning Coordinator. Her position and duties are unchanged for the upcoming school year.

Cooksley’s hire is pending board approval at the June 22, 2020 meeting.

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