Welcome New Administrators!
With change comes new opportunities! While we wish some well in their retirement, we are excited to announce the following internal promotions in the Madison Local School District. We congratulate and welcome familiar faces as they take on new positions throughout the district. Read about their journeys and future goals as Chris Cooper says goodbye to her position as Principal at Madison Middle School, Kari Hunter becomes a bonafide Mohawk, Valerie Jones steps out of the classroom, and Charity Smith steps into her new leadership role.
Christine Cooper is excited to accept her new position as the Director of Instruction and Human Resources. In her own words, Ms. Cooper bids farewell to her role as the Principal of Madison Middle School and shares what it means to her to achieve her longtime goal to embrace new challenges.
“It is hard to believe that it is nearing the end of May - who knew time would fly when you were stuck at home! I had a long list of things I thought I’d accomplish at home and at school and the list is still as long as it started out. I know I speak for all of our Madison staff when I say thank you for all you have done to support our students and teachers through this last quarter – it was not easy juggling the demands of home/job as well as the additional role of teacher.
It’s a bittersweet ending to the school year for me. I have accepted the position of Director of Instruction and Human Resources for the district – which I am very excited about – but am disappointed that I wasn’t able to end the school year in the way I had hoped. I am looking forward to beginning my new position, it has been a goal of mine since I received my Masters in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. And, while I feel I have unfinished business at the Middle School because of how the year has ended, I’m grateful that what I had hoped to accomplish I can continue to do in my new position. I look forward to working with the talented staff of teachers that we are fortunate to have at Madison. It will be exciting to work alongside them to continue to build strong programs that ensure Future Ready Graduates.
Thank you for the support that you have given me in my first year as Middle School Principal – I am thankful for the opportunity I was given to lead the Middle School into its first year.”
Kari Hunter will start the 2020-2021 school year as Madison’s new Director of Student Services. Ms. Hunter is excited for this opportunity to be the Director of Student Services and be employed by Madison Local Schools. She looks forward to using her past experience as an intervention specialist, high school assistant principal, career tech special needs coordinator and director of special education in her new role to coordinate the support our students need.
Valerie Jones is honored to accept her new role as the Madison High School Assistant Principal and looks forward to continuing to work with Mr. Huber and the rest of the staff. Ms. Jones earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at Xavier University and her Master of Educational Leadership Degree at Miami University. After twenty-six years as a classroom teacher in the Madison Local School District and as chairperson of the Local Professional Development Committee since 2002, she looks forward to providing the leadership that will facilitate a school environment that is both safe and respectable where students will receive a challenging and enriching school experience.
Finally, we welcome Charity Smith in her new position as the Principal of Madison Middle School. Ms. Smith has worked in the Madison Local School District for 12 years. After teaching kindergarten for 7 years and first grade for 3 years, she spent the last two years as a third grade intervention specialist. Having recently graduated from Wright State University with her Masters in Educational Leadership, she is excited to accept the position as the Middle School Principal for Madison. Ms. Smith is thankful for this new opportunity to continue working for Madison and looks forward to serving in her new role as a Principal.
Retirement Congratulations!
We wish the following Madison staff members a very happy retirement. Best wishes for success as you embark on new adventures.
Director of Curriculum and Human Resources
Dr. Jennifer Wilcox
Assistant Principal of Madison High School
Beth Varley
Madison Technology Teacher
Robin McKee
Madison Elementary School Teacher
Lana Arend
Madison Elementary School Teacher
Linda Canteel
Madison High School Basketball Coach
Jeff Smith
