In his role as Assistant Principal at ASCENT (Alternative Students Courageously Exploring New Territory), Mr. Cox will help lead a specialized secondary program serving students in grades 7–12 with significant emotional and behavioral challenges who receive special education services in a structured off-campus setting. ASCENT supports students whose needs require intensive academic and behavioral interventions beyond what can typically be provided in a comprehensive school environment. 

In addition to his work at ASCENT, Mr. Cox will serve half time as the district’s Medicaid Supervisor, supporting the coordination and oversight of school-based Medicaid services that help sustain critical supports for students across the Boise School District. His background supporting special education compliance, service delivery systems, and school-based Medicaid billing practices positions him well to support this important districtwide work.

Mr. Cox brings more than 16 years of experience serving students and staff in the Boise School District, with a strong background in special education leadership, transition programming, and systems coordination. He currently serves as the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) Coordinator, where he leads districtwide planning, staffing coordination, and implementation of services across multiple school sites to ensure consistent access for qualifying students. He also serves as Administrative Designee for the STEP Program, supporting program-level decision-making, representing administration in IEP meetings and family conferences, and assisting with alignment to district procedures and special education law.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Cox served for nine years as the EXCEL teacher at South Junior High, supporting students with significant behavioral and learning needs, and for three years as a 9th Grade Resource Teacher, strengthening instructional supports for students transitioning into high school. He began his service in the Boise School District as the EXCEL teacher at Mountain View Elementary, building early experience supporting students requiring intensive behavioral and academic interventions. In addition, he served as Special Education Department Chair at South Junior High and as the school’s Special Education Technology Lead and ISAT Coordinator, supporting staff implementation of instructional technology systems and assessment practices.

Mrs. Payton brings more than seven years of experience supporting school nutrition programs in the Boise School District and currently serves as Assistant Supervisor in Food and Nutrition Services, where she provides operational and personnel oversight for 24 feeding locations and approximately 72 staff members. In this role, she has helped ensure compliance with federal, state, and district requirements, supported menu planning and recipe development, coordinated student dietary accommodations, assisted with procurement and budgeting processes, and led summer feeding program operations.

Prior to serving as Assistant Supervisor, Mrs. Payton worked as a Food and Nutrition Services Area Manager in the Boise School District, supporting operations across multiple schools and providing training and guidance to kitchen managers and staff. She also previously served as Program Coordinator for Eat Smart Idaho with the University of Idaho Extension, where she oversaw regional nutrition education programming across nine counties and managed federally funded program budgets and compliance requirements.

Mrs. Payton is a Registered Dietitian and holds a Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Food and Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Dietetics Option) from the University of Idaho. She also earned an associate degree in Baking and Pastries from the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of California – San Diego.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Payton has demonstrated strong leadership in supporting high-quality school nutrition programs, improving student access and participation, and maintaining compliance with USDA Child Nutrition Program requirements. In her new role, she will continue supporting students through the delivery of a high-quality Food and Nutrition Services program that promotes student health, wellbeing, and readiness to learn. Her experience and commitment to student-centered service will support continued excellence in the District’s Food and Nutrition Services program.

Please join us in congratulating Steffanie Payton on her new role supporting students, staff, and families across the Boise School District.

For the past four years, Ms. Uhlorn has served the Boise School District as the Timberline Line Quadrant Special Education Supervisor, supporting schools and educators in strengthening services for students with diverse learning needs and ensuring high-quality, compliant, and student-centered special education programming across the district. She will continue in this role while also taking on additional responsibilities as Administrator of the District’s Student Transition Education Program (STEP).

In her expanded role, Ms. Uhlorn will serve as Administrator of STEP, which supports students ages 18–21 who are continuing services under an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). STEP focuses on helping students build vocational, independent living, self-advocacy, community participation, and life skills to support a successful transition from public education to adult life. In addition to this work, she will continue overseeing special education services across the Timberline quadrant of schools, supporting staff, students, and families to ensure strong instructional programming and coordinated services that meet individual student needs.

Ms. Uhlorn brings nearly two decades of experience serving public school students in Idaho, including leadership roles as Principal at Amity Elementary School and Assistant Principal at Trail Wind Elementary School, along with district-level service as an Instructional Integration Specialist and Instructional Technology Specialist, and earlier experience as both an elementary teacher and special education teacher. Her experience supporting multiple building-level special education programs and collaborating across teams positions her well for this important leadership role.

Throughout her career, Ms. Uhlorn has demonstrated a strong commitment to student-centered learning, collaboration with families and staff, and advancing the goals of the Boise School District Strategic Plan by strengthening inclusive practices and supporting positive outcomes for all learners.

Ms. Uhlorn earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Washington State University, a Master of Arts in Special Education from Boise State University, and an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Idaho.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Uhlorn on her continued leadership serving the Timberline quadrant and her additional role supporting students in STEP, in support of Boise School District students, staff, and families.