First in a series
[img]2850|right|Lisa Cooper||no_popup[/img]It has been a few years since a principal of Culver City High School was described as effervescent, one way to umbrella the many-pronged leadership talents of Lisa Cooper.
Two months into the new school term, she was abruptly thrust into the position, at least on an interim basis, when former principal Dylan Farris left for a promotion.
Tall and stately, Ms. Cooper’s seamless forthrightness, her natural-born, hands-across-the-table “let’s talk it over” approach, made the Oct. 27 transition/elevation seem like the culmination of an intricate years’ long strategy.
Once, that is, Ms. Cooper was able to step away from her passion for, first, playing basketball, and then, as an adult, coaching basketball. She was memorably special.
She coached girls to four consecutive state basketball championship teams at Bishop Montgomery High School in the South Bay.
Today, though, the subject is Ms. Cooper’s new principalship, after five years as a guidance counselor and four years as assistant principal for discipline at Culver High.
Towering basketball accomplishments aside for a moment, it is as if the office off the main lobby had her name on it all during the nine years she has been an administrator on the Culver High campus. Just waiting.
Do you remember when you started thinking about being a principal?
“Probably during my years of counseling. I started thinking about what was going to be the next step for me since I already had my administrator credential. I just never had used it.
“I always knew, but I have always had a firm belief I would know when that time came. I never wanted to be pressured. I always would know myself when I was ready to take the next step.”
(To be continued)
