Two experienced educators will step into open administrative positions at Newberg High School and Chehalem Valley Middle School.

Cookson new high school assistant principal
Janay Cookson completes the administrative team at Newberg High School as an assistant principal. Cookson has served in leadership positions in Reynolds and West Linn-Wilsonville school districts. She brings strong knowledge in current best practices and programs that will benefit Newberg High School students according to NHS principal Mark Risen.

Risen adds that Cookson’s colleagues praised her untiring work ethic, charismatic personality and devotion to supporting every individual student.

“We are excited to have Janay join or team at NHS,” said Risen.

Cookson has served an instructional coach at elementary, middle and high school levels in the Reynolds School District for the last two years. Prior to that, she worked as an interim middle school principal in Troutdale and interim athletic director at Wilsonville High School. Cookson taught middle school wellness classes related to sports performance and lifelong wellness at Athey Creek Middle School in West Linn and at Cedar Park Middle School in Beaverton. She brings extensive experience in curriculum development, including online learning.

Cookson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Medicine and Physical Education from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching at Pacific University, Forest Grove, and completed her initial administrative license from George Fox University.

Petrie steps in to CV assistant principal position
Casey Petrie will serve as the assistant principal at Chehalem Valley Middle School. The Beaverton teacher-leader replaces Larry Hampton, who is now supervising the district physical plant services.

CVMS principal Karen Pugsley sees Petrie’s extensive experience as a teacher leader in standards based assessment as a real asset to the school community.

“Casey brings a strong background in middle school teaching and learning, plus a commitment to collaboration as an administrator,” said Pugsley. “She is a delightful addition to the CVMS team.”

Prior to her work in school administration, Petrie taught middle school science and math in the Beaverton School District for nine years. She has facilitated professional development at the secondary level and spent the last school year as a middle school administrative intern.

Petrie completed her undergraduate work at the University of Portland. Her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and administrative program were completed at Portland State University.

“Middle school can be such a challenging time for many students and I value the opportunity to support students as they move through these years,” said Petrie. “It is with a great deal of excitement that I join the Chehalem Valley Middle School community.’