Welcome to Ward School!

I'm Erin Cook, the Dean of Students here at Ward.  I began this journey in education after graduating high school in 2002.  I'd wanted to become a teacher since I was in the 1st grade, so I started my journey as a substitute Paraprofessional Educator.  I did this for 5 years while going to college and then became a full-time Paraprofessional for Tri-County for 7 years.  After completing my Bachelor's Degree through Eastern Illinois University, I taught high school for 2 years and then taught the KG-2nd room for Tri-County for 8 years.  I continued going to school, pursuing my Master's Degree through EIU, completing it in 2019.  I have been in education for 20+ years! How time flies, but I love kids and enjoy coming to work every day!  I never feel like my job is "work" because it is something I ENJOY!

I look forward to working with and getting to know all of our Ward students and their families this school year! Dean Erin