Media Contact: Judi Reilly, 913-469-3908, jreilly@jccc.edu
JCCC Trustee Appointed to National Community College Board
June 9, 2015
Overland Park, Kan. – Jerry Cook, chairman of the Johnson County Community College board of trustees, is the newest member of the board of directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), based in Washington, D.C. The national non-profit educational organization of governing boards appointed Cook for an interim position to complete the unexpired term of Robert J. Feit until elections in October.
After this interim role, Cook will run for a three-year term on the board, representing the Western Region comprised of 10 states, three Canadian provinces and two Canadian territories. The board will hold elections during the ACCT Leadership Congress October 14-17 in San Diego. Cook already received the endorsement of the Western Region nominating committee.
Cook, the first JCCC trustee to serve on a national community college board, said the opportunity to serve ACCT is a privilege and an honor as he continues to advocate for effective teaching and learning strategies.
“I am very committed to effective teaching and learning opportunities for all people of all ages,” Cook said. “Each and every one of us should never lose site of the hope that we can improve our respective skill sets, so in turn, we can be of more effective service to others.”
ACCT represents more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern more than 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the U.S. and beyond. The opportunity to advocate the significant role of community colleges through the U.S. and Canada is most timely, Cook pointed out.
“ACCT is committed to fulfilling the public’s expectations of providing affordable, accessible and learning opportunities of the highest quality for all,” he said. “I am sincerely enthusiastic about the role the national board will play in this process. My intent is to become the strongest advocate I can for JCCC, the state of Kansas, the ACCT Western Region as well as developing a broader understanding of community college trends, issues and challenges throughout the country and Canada.”
ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Board welcomed Cook to the board.
“Jerry’s expertise in public education, public relations and marketing promises to contribute a unique and exciting new perspective to the ACCT Board of Directors,” Brown said. “He has a long history of community involvement, and we are fortunate that he has agreed to serve on the ACCT Board.”
Recently retired, Cook was president of the Overland Park Convention & Visitors Bureau the past 18.5 years.
Cook has strong ties to education. Besides his current role on the JCCC board where he’s been a member since 2009, he is a former public school superintendent, principal and teacher. He also has served in executive roles in human resources and corporate development. Cook holds a doctorate of educational administration from the University of Wyoming, a master’s degree in education from the University of North Dakota, and a bachelor’s degree of science in elementary education from Moorhead State University in Minnesota. His community and volunteer experience includes serving as president of the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees, and involvement with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, among many other volunteer activities. Recipient of the North Dakota Outstanding Young Educator Award in 1971, Cook’s commitment to education remains strong to this day.