Ozarka College has recently hired Jo Ann Counts to serve as the early childhood education program coordinator and Cheryl Toon as the education program coordinator. Both of these employees also serve as faculty members in their respective fields.

Though Mrs. Counts is relatively new to this role, she actually began working at Ozarka College as an evening Adult Education teacher in 1991. She continued serving the College in this capacity until 2010. In 2009, she also began teaching as an Adjunct Instructor at Ozarka College - Ash Flat in several departments, then transitioned into Early Childhood in August 2016. In January of 2017, she became employed full-time for her current position. From 1990-1999, Counts also taught full time at Highland School District.

"I believe Ozarka College is a necessary part of our community, " said Jo Ann Counts. "We are able to offer educational services to our students that larger Colleges and Universities simply cannot. To be able to work in this type of environment, while teaching and training adults to be teachers, is a dream come true for me. "

Counts has a Master of Science in Education from Arkansas State University and a Bachelor of Science in Education from North Western Oklahoma State University. She and her husband, Larry, have lived, worked and been a vital part of this area since 1990. Their youngest two children graduated from Highland High School and their grandchildren currently attend Cave City schools.

Prior to her employment at Ozarka, Mrs. Toon dedicated 18 years of her career to being a public and private school teacher. Most recently, she worked at Cedar Ridge High School teaching Advanced Placement English and senior English. She also served as the English Department Chair and District English Department Chair for five years, and was the Building Lead TAC Teacher for one year.

Toon is currently enrolled at the University of Arkansas Monticello in the Educational  Leadership Degree program. She has a Master of Arts in English  from Arkansas  Tech University, a Master of Teaching/Leadership from National University in San Diego,  California, and a Bachelor of Science Education in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Arkansas State University.

"I have been impacting students' lives within my classroom as an English instructor for years, and now I get to impact and guide upcoming educators as they pursue their career in teaching and impacting their students' lives, " said Cheryl Toon. "I feel as though my territory has expanded from a classroom at one school district to many classrooms in many school districts through each of the teacher candidates with whom I will be working. I want to instill within these upcoming educators a passion for their students and a seriousness of the influence they will have over their students. "

Toon and husband, Ronnie, have three children and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys long distance running, reading novels, spending time with my family, and golfing with her husband on occasion.