Renfro educational assistant Jennifer Cox honored as January Kahok Educator of the Month

Renfro Elementary educational assistant Jennifer Cox has been named the January 2026 Kahok Educator of the Month. The recognition was presented by Renfro Principal Dr. Laura Bauer and Benjamin F. Edwards financial advisor Jason Rehg.

In her nomination, Dr. Bauer highlighted Ms. Cox’s dedication and positive impact at the school:

“Jennifer Cox deserves to be Kahok Educator of the Month because: 

She is an educational assistant who has the most amazing work ethic. 
She is a special education assistant who pushes into classrooms. She is patient and kind. 
She is tremendous at de-escalating students when needed. 
She leads our bus arrival and dismissal daily with consistency and humor. 
Ms. Cox remains calm and collected in every situation. 
She is part of our Medical Emergency Response team because of her willingness to do whatever it takes to make Renfro run smoothly. 
She is a problem solver. Any situation that arises at school, she deals with head on. 
Basically, Jen will do anything asked of her at any time with zero complaints”

The monthly award, sponsored by Jason Rehg, recognizes outstanding educators within Collinsville Community Unit School District #10.

Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 includes schools in Madison and St. Clair counties such as John A. Renfro Elementary School, Caseyville Elementary School, Collinsville High School, Collinsville Middle School, Dorris Intermediate School, Jefferson Elementary School, Kreitner Elementary School, Maryville Elementary School, Summit Elementary School, Twin Echo Elementary School, and Webster Elementary School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, the district employs 418 teachers with an average salary of $60,392 before pension contributions; 81 percent are women and 19 percent are men (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district’s student population is made up of 56 percent White students, 14.1 percent Black students, 24.1 percent Hispanic students, and 0.5 percent Asian students (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In 2020, spending per student was $16,872 for a total expenditure of $104 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).