Elizabeth Cook

As Director of the 50% Challenge, Elizabeth Cook leverages her diverse professional journey—spanning roles as a paraeducator, psychologist, state agency leader and school board member—to bring invaluable insights to the multifaceted realities of the education landscape.

This 360-degree understanding informs her strategic development and dissemination of impactful training and technical assistance to schools and organizations across the nation. Elizabeth excels at bridging theory and practice to support the holistic development of students. She has supported schools and districts in reducing chronic absence by helping them address critical root causes. Key accomplishments include leading content development across the WSCC model, authoring several school assessment tools on topics such as school mental health, local wellness policy, staff wellness, and school safety, and providing expert perspectives on the implementation of school-based initiatives.

Elizabeth’s previous roles include Senior Director of Whole Child Health at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and School Psychology Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. She holds an Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology from the University of Detroit, Mercy.