Jani Koester
At-Large Member, NAEHCY Board of Directors
Member, Early Childhood Education Committee
Transition Education Program (TEP) Lead Resource Teacher, Madison Metropolitan School District, WI
Jani (Janet) Koester is a dedicated advocate for students experiencing homelessness, serving as the Transition Education Program (TEP) Lead Resource Teacher for the Madison Metropolitan School District. In this role, she implements the McKinney-Vento law, focusing on the identification, verification, enrollment, transportation, and provision of essential school support services and basic needs for students experiencing homelessness. Her work also involves building community connections, breaking down barriers, and conducting outreach, alongside offering professional development and educational opportunities for various community and higher education programs in the Madison area.
Jani’s commitment extends beyond her direct school district responsibilities. She actively supports the Dane County Early Childhood Homeless Workgroup (ECHW), the Dane County Doubled Up Committee (DUC) (a part of their local Continuum of Care), and the Dane County Homeless Education Network (HEN). This network brings together homeless liaisons and school staff multiple times a year to collaborate on improving services for students experiencing homelessness within Dane County schools.
Jani believes wholeheartedly that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn and grow. She observes that when students experiencing homelessness are acknowledged and prioritized, the entire school community shifts, leading to more successful academic and social outcomes district-wide. Life can sometimes remove opportunity and choice, and for many students experiencing homelessness, restoring that choice and opportunity can be the difference between graduation, academic success, and simply feeling seen and heard.
The community I want to live in is a community that sees and hears from everyone, especially our most vulnerable.
Degrees, Certificates, Awards & Accomplishments
- Bachelor of Education, Regular Education (Grades 1-12), Special Education (Pre-K – 13), Greenville University (IL)
- Master of Education, National Louis University
- Master of Education, Educational Computing, Cardinal Stritch University
- Wisconsin Herb Kohl Education Teacher Fellowship, 2024
- Javits-Frasier Scholar, 2008 (Talented and Gifted)
- NAEHCY Sandra Neese Lifetime Achievement Award, November 2011
- NAEHCY Outstanding Program, Who We Are: Voices in Our Community, 2015
- Greater Madison Writing Project Participant, July 2011