East Hampton School District’s New Biz Leader

Jerel D. Cokley has been appointed the new assistant superintendent for business for the East Hampton School District. Mr. Cokley will start on July 2, replacing Isabel Madison, who will retire in August following 14 years as the chief financial manager of the district. 

After graduating from Xavier High School in Manhattan, Mr. Cokley attended Seton Hall University for his undergraduate degree. While there, he played on the university’s N.C.A.A. Division I basketball team from 2001 to 2004. He went on to earn a master’s degree in school district business leadership from L.I.U. Post, and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in education there. He expects to graduate in 2020. 

This year he is training in the New York State Association of School Business Officials Leadership Academy.

Over the span of 12 years, Mr. Cokley worked in the New York City Department of Education and, most recently, he was an assistant superintendent of finance in a Westchester County district that oversees four schools. He is also an adjunct professor in L.I.U. Post’s graduate program in educational leadership and administration.

Mr. Cokley lives in Floral Park but has many friends and colleagues who live on the East End. He hopes to move closer east in the near future.

“I am very thankful to join the East Hampton family,” the new assistant superintendent said. “I can’t wait to get started and work with the team to help provide the best educational opportunities for the students while protecting and safeguarding the district’s assets.”

He said he is particularly excited about working in East Hampton given that it is a district into which several others merge.