Jani Koester has worked as a teacher for over 44 years. She began her career in a small, rural district in Illinois. Early in her career, she learned the importance of adaptability and building relationships. Her first classroom experience was challenging, with limited support, but she found that community and flexibility helped her support students.
After seven years in Illinois, Koester moved to Madison, Wisconsin. She spent the next 37 years with the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD). Her work focused on supporting students and families experiencing homelessness. She started as the only resource teacher in a temporary office. At that time, there was no formal program for homeless students. Koester helped establish a network of support in the district.
As a Transition Education Program (TEP) resource teacher, Koester helped shape MMSD’s approach to supporting homeless students. She assisted in implementing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in the district. This work aimed to ensure that all students, regardless of housing status, could access education. She helped create systems for communication between schools and shelters, improved enrollment processes, and developed practices that other districts have adopted…