COOK NAMED NEW PRINCIPAL

Mark Cook, current assistant principal at Alma Schrader Elementary School, has been named principal of Jefferson Elementary School beginning the 1998-99 school year.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education announced its decision during a meeting Monday. Cook replaces Gerald Landewee, who resigned earlier this month to accept a principalship at Oak Ridge Elementary School.

Cook has worked 18 years in the Cape Girardeau school system. He taught sixth grade for 17 years at Franklin Elementary School before this school year, when he began working mornings as assistant principal at Alma Schrader and afternoons as a remedial math teach at Jefferson.

He said he is excited about his new role and ready to continue the strong educational projects already in existence at Jefferson.

"This year this position has been one in which I have really learned a lot," he said. "I plan to just continue the traditions set in Cape schools and create the best environment for kids that I can. I'm very pleased with the system and proud to be a part of it."

Cook is a native of the Patton area and received his bachelor of science degree from Illinois State University. He completed both his master's and specialist's degrees at Southeast Missouri State University.