New Academic Advisors Appointed in Joliet District 86

Seven new academic advisors have joined Joliet Public Schools District 86 for the 2026-2027 school year. Jarred Brown will serve as an academic advisor at Dirksen Junior High School, Elvis Madison, Jr. and Ayanna Smith at Gompers Junior High School, Christopher Scharpf at Hufford Junior High, Rebecca Capp at Carl Sandburg Elementary, Wayne Jackson at Isaac Singleton Elementary, and Sha’Riah Morris at Lynne Thigpen Elementary School.

“We are happy to welcome these educators to their new roles as academic advisors,” said Dr. Theresa Rouse, Superintendent of Joliet Public Schools District 86. “They will work closely with our students, families, and teachers to provide guidance, support, and resources to help make the school year successful.”

Jarred Brown joins Joliet Public Schools District 86 from Matteson School District 159, where he served as a dean at Colin Powell Middle School in Matteson, Illinois. Elvis Madison, Jr., a former Woodland Elementary School student and Washington Junior High School graduate, most recently served as a social studies teacher at Thornton Township High School District 205 in Harvey, Illinois.

Ayanna Smith previously served as an assistant principal at Marquardt School District 15 in Glendale Heights, Illinois. Christopher Scharpf comes to Joliet Public Schools District 86 after spending 21 years with Chicago Public Schools, most recently serving as a social science teacher at Hyde Park Academy High School.

Sha’Riah Morris most recently served as a third-grade teacher at Gregory Math & Science Academy in Chicago Public Schools. Rebecca Capp was promoted to academic advisor at Carl Sandburg Elementary School after 15 years with Joliet Public Schools District 86. For the last eight years she served as a mathematics instructional coach.

Wayne Jackson comes to Joliet Public Schools District 86 from Laraway Community Consolidated School District 70C where he served as a kindergarten teacher for 15 years in Joliet. In addition, former Gompers Junior High School Academic Advisor Laura Arias moved to the same position at T.E. Culbertson Elementary and Forest Park Individual Education (I.E.) Schools.