School board appoints Dr. Williams as CHS Principal
Dr. Joi Williams
The Cook County Board of Education voted unanimously on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, to appoint Dr. Joi Williams as Cook High School Principal for the 2023-24 school year. Dr. Williams has served as Interim Principal at CHS since April 2022.
Her educational background includes: Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood – Valdosta State University (2001); Master of Education in Early Childhood – Valdosta State University (2004); Educational Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction – Argosy University (2006); and Doctorate in Instructional Leadership – Argosy University (2009).
She began her educational career by teaching kindergarten at W.G. Nunn Elementary School (2002-2005). She then taught third grade at W.G. Nunn Elementary School (2005-2006) and third grade at Cook Elementary School (2006-2012). She served as Assistant Principal at Cook Primary School (2012-2019) and then as Assistant Principal at Cook High School (2019-2022).
Dr. Williams’ appointment as CHS Principal was among the February 2023 personnel recommendations presented by Dr. Courtney Holley, Cook County Schools Personnel Director, to the school board during their Feb. 23 work session.
Other personnel recommendations included:
Cook Primary School
• Hannah Decker, SPED Teacher (effective Feb. 27, 2023).
• Stevie Pearce, Paraprofessional (effective Feb. 24, 2023).
Transfers
• Haley Pennington, CPS SPED Teacher to Cook Middle School SPED Teacher (effective Feb. 27, 2023).
• Teandra Golden, CMS SPED Teacher to Cook Elementary School Teacher (effective Feb. 27, 2023).
Sub Teachers – Tracie Flowers and Brandi Howze.
Bus Monitor – Oppie Norwood (effective Jan. 26, 2023).
Nutrition – Tina Wooten, Sub; and Latoya Johnson, Sub (effective Feb. 22, 2023).
Retirements
• Connie Hilliard, CPS Teacher (effective June 1, 2023).
• Angela Williams, CPS Teacher (effective June 1, 2023).
• Deena Griffin, CMS Teacher (effective June 1, 2023).
• Jenny Pitts, Cook High School Teacher (effective June 1, 2023).
Resignations
• Randi Hayes, CMS Teacher (effective June 1, 2023).
• Sarah Jacobson, CMS Teacher (effective June 1, 2023).
• Ashlee Simmons, CES Teacher (effective June 1, 2023).
• Katherine Demo, CHS Teacher (effective June 1, 2023).
• Latoya Johnson, Nutrition (effective Feb. 21, 2023).
• Pat Woods, CPS Paraprofessional (effective Feb. 24, 2023).
Terminations
Elizabeth Ezell, CES Para (effective Jan. 30, 2023).
During the BOE regular session on Feb. 23, Board Member Brenda Moore made a motion, seconded by Board Member Jeff Taylor, to approve the recommended February 2023 Personnel List. All voted in favor.
