CBKE/CBK Leadership Transitions

Cedarbrook Middle School (CBK) and Cedarbrook Middle School East (CBKE) are bringing new leadership into the 2026-2027 school year.

Effective August 5, longtime district administrator Dr. Adicia Cohen-Johnson, “Dr. CJ,” assumed the role of lead administrator for CBKE. In conjunction with this move, Dr. Jennifer Houston will serve as teacher on assignment for CBK and CBKE, and Dr. Christine Zubairu will serve as vice principal at CBK.

Dr. CJ is a passionate, deeply dedicated educator who has served the Cheltenham community for 23 years, bringing over 25 years of educational experience to this leadership role. Having started her district tenure as a fifth-grade teacher at Elkins Park School and most recently serving as vice principal at Cedarbrook Middle School, Dr. CJ has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to academic excellence, scholar empowerment, and community connection. Her work is grounded in the firm belief that when schools and communities collaborate, every child can thrive.

Throughout her career in Cheltenham, Dr. CJ has pioneered meaningful programs that foster belonging, leadership, and scholar voice. She co-founded the district’s first community food pantry, established the CBK Connections Mentoring Program, and co-founded Cedarbrook’s renowned Hip Hop Social Justice Club. Beyond her work within the schools, she co-founded the nonprofit organization “More Than a Game,” and has served as an adjunct instructor at La Salle, Arcadia and Temple Universities.

Dr. Houston, who taught 8th grade learning support English at CBK, brings more than 31 years of experience in education, serving as an assistant principal, grade chair, dean of students, team leader, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) chair, climate and culture lead, and classroom teacher. Her teaching experience spans kindergarten through sixth grade, as well as middle and high school emotional support programs and autistic support classrooms, where she earned certification through PaTTAN in applied behavior analysis (ABA) instructional practices.

Her extensive credentials reflect her commitment to continuous learning and excellence. She is certified as a reading specialist, special education teacher, curriculum and instruction specialist, and principal. Dr. Houston also holds the prestigious National Board Certification in Middle Years English Language Arts, recognizing her as an accomplished educator who meets the highest professional teaching standards.

Dr. Zubairu is the proud mother of a Cheltenham High School Class of 2026 graduate and a Cheltenham Township resident whose career has been dedicated to serving the scholars, families, and staff of the Cheltenham School District. She began her journey in the district in 1995 as a Social Studies teacher at Cedarbrook Middle School, where she quickly became involved beyond the classroom through after-school programs and student government. In 2005, she joined the administrative team at Elkins Park School before transitioning to Cheltenham High School in 2017, where she continued her commitment to supporting scholars academically and socially.

Throughout her career, Dr. Zubairu has been a steadfast advocate for scholar success, with a particular focus on ensuring scholars earned the credits needed to graduate. Her leadership culminated in the development of the district's Empowerment Program, creating alternative pathways for students who were not thriving in a traditional high school setting. As an educator and a parent of a recent Cheltenham graduate, she has experienced the district from multiple perspectives and is grateful for the opportunity to have served the Cheltenham community while helping generations of scholars achieve success.

Congratulations to Dr. CJ, Dr. Houston and Dr. Zubairu on their new roles!