NEW BOARD MEMBER TO DEVOTE ENERGY TO PROMOTING PUBLIC EDUCATION
ox Chapel Area FOX CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL NEWS
NEW BOARD MEMBER TO DEVOTE ENERGY TO PROMOTING PUBLIC EDUCATION
With four of her five children graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School , Edith Cook , Ph . D ., said she felt now was the time to serve on the Board of School Directors . “ After attending the emergency District Forum meeting last January regarding state funding , my resolve was strengthened to devote energy to helping our district promote the value of public education and to help address potential threats to public funding ,” Dr . Cook said . She was elected in November and sworn in at the School Board reorganization meeting on December 4 .
“ As a parent in this school district , I know first-hand that our exemplary reputation is well-deserved . My children have all received an excellent education from Fox Chapel Area schools .” As a member of the School Board , she said , “ I hope that my skill set will be an asset to the district and I intend to contribute to efforts to achieve our mission of maximizing student learning , achievement , and development .”
Dr . Cook currently holds the position of senior director of institutional research and effectiveness at Carlow University . She attended the University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , and earned bachelor ’ s degrees in psychology and East Asian studies , has a master ’ s degree in program evaluation and
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planning , and a doctorate of philosophy in evaluation and policy analysis from Cornell University . In addition to serving on the School Board , Dr . Cook is an active member of Global Pittsburgh , has taught English as a second language through the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council , volunteers with the Jewish Family & Children ’ s Services , and is a former president and board member of the Fox Chapel American Association of University Women ( AAUW ). As a former Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program fellow , she led a team of clinicians , educators , and young people with disabilities and their families to improve coordination of services related to the transition to adulthood .
A 15-year resident of Fox Chapel Borough , Dr . Cook said she can often be found walking the family dog , Bumi , at the Squaw Run dog park . Her husband , Arnold “ Arnie ” Cook , is an inventor and entrepreneur , who frequently shares his expertise with Fox Chapel Area students , explaining how to design hands-on solutions and how to test and patent ideas . The couple ’ s children include : Talora Martin ( Class of 2011 ) who attends Case Western Medical School ; Christin Cook ( Class of 2013 ) who teaches in a school district outside Kyoto , Japan ; Jocelyn Martin ( Class of 2013 ) who is a Minnesota Reading Corps volunteer ; Adam Cook ( Class of 2017 ) who attends Allegheny College ; and Quentin Cook , a student at Dorseyville Middle School .
Dr . Cook replaces long-time School Director Joel R . Weinstein who retired from the Board in December after more than 21 years of service .