Following the retirement of Christine Jeter who served as Assistant Supervisor of Cooke School for four years, Northville Public Schools announces the hiring of Erin Barney as the new Assistant Supervisor. The Board of Education unanimously voted in support of Ms. Barney’s hiring at the May 25th Board of Education meeting.Erin Barney comes to Northville from a school district in Illinois where she led a large number of social workers and served on several committees including student safety, policy planning for Special Education, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), and professional development planning. Her experience also includes being one of the district’s Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (CPI) trainers and behavioral coaches. Erin’s career began in Southeast Michigan at Dexter Community Schools as a social worker supporting elementary and intermediate students and serving as a liaison between school, families and community. Following her time at Dexter Community Schools, she worked as a social worker and social worker department leader at a therapeutic day school for children with Autism.
The Assistant Supervisor of Cooke School works alongside the Supervisor of Cooke School handling the operations of the center. Cooke School is a special education center program that services students from twelve local school districts in Western Wayne County. The school population includes students ages 3 through 26 years old, who are severely cognitively impaired, severely multiply impaired, and students dual-diagnosed with a cognitive and emotional impairment. The special education center program is funded by the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency and operated by Northville Public Schools. Erin Barney will begin this July supporting the Summer Program.
“One of Erin’s clear strengths and areas of expertise is her knowledge of supporting behavioral challenges. She is passionate about providing the best possible services to students with fidelity,” said Dave Rodgers, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. “We believe that we are fortunate to have found someone with Erin’s depth of knowledge and experience.”
“Cooke School encompasses all that I value in education: a passionate and dedicated staff, student prosperity, and an engaged community of learners and families working together to provide exceptional opportunities for all students,” Ms. Barney said of Cooke School. “I look forward to learning and growing in this outstanding school community!”
Ms. Barney received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Western Michigan University, and obtained a Director of Special Education endorsement from Northern Illinois University.
She enjoys spending time with her family in the Irish Hills, cooking, being outdoors, caring for her much loved dog and going to arts and musical events.
Welcome to Northville Public Schools, Erin!