Before starting in his current role in August 2022, Jok was the social and emotional learning coordinator at Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS). In that role, he led the implementation of the district’s social and emotional learning vision across 63 buildings. He also created a three-phase district plan that focused on equity and sustainability.

Prior to his time with DMPS, Jok worked with the State Public Policy Group as an Out of School Time (OST) enrichment coach, working with more than 800 students each day to support their academic success.

In 2011, Jok founded the Dut Jok Youth Foundation whose mission focuses on serving children in South Sudan, Uganda, and the United States. As a survivor of Sudan’s civil war and a first-generation naturalized citizen, Jok mentioned in his application materials that he seeks to “… honor my heritage, endogenous roots, and the power of human stories in my work.”

Jok graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s of arts in philosophy. He received his master’s of science degree in Global Leadership in 2016 from Goldsmiths, University of London. Most recently, he completed his doctorate in education in 2021 from Drake University. Jok is also a captain in the United States Army Reserve.

Jok uses his education, lived experiences, as well as his career and military expertise to lead workshops and seminars all across the country. His passion for humanizing leadership and his drive to create thriving learning environments makes him an excellent match for this role. We are excited to have Jok join our dedicated team of professionals who support student success.