Comments for Cooper is our super at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.theind.com Sat, 18 May 2013 03:38:37 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9546-cooper-is-our-super#comment-25544 Bienvenue Dr. Cooper. We welcome your ideas, ambition and enthusiasm. As Mr. McGoffin accurately assessed, public education is the Achilles' heel in Lafayette's economic development, and I may add the subsequent rich affluence of such for each individual in our parish. Public education is holding us back, as well as the state and nation. If I may offer, reform minded leaders have come and gone, and yet we remain stagnant. The people and the parts of a great education system are here. We need someone to bring it all together and add to the whole. I suggest that you have more in your back pocket than community health clinics in low achieving schools. Health clinics in schools caught on here in the 90s, yet we are where we are today. I put forward for consideration models of success of a few of our past reform minded leaders that if implemented collectively would help achieve desired outcomes. Let's start with the model of Leslie Jacobs of accountability for students and schools (principals and teachers) implemented locally; the model of lower class sizes of the late Dr. David Thibodaux; the model of Dr. Michael Zolkoski of alternative education for potential drop out students; the model of openness of Dr. James Easton; the model of the Honorable Judge Richard Haik of equal opportunity through diversity drives achievement; the model of Cecil Picard of an extreme focus on early childhood education; and the model of our most recent superintendent Dr. Burnell Lemoine of finding grants and getting successful academic programs off the ground and implemented. May I also suggest opening an elementary school on the campus of UL Lafayette for low achieving students next to the National Marine Fisheries Service on Cajundome Blvd., similar to what Southeastern Louisiana University has done. My last point, if a tax is to be passed in this parish for buildings, that it be tied to expansion of successful academic programs already in place such as French Immersion, the schools of choice academies, band and music programs throughout the parish, the gifted programs at Lafayette High and the new career and technical high school. The audiences of these programs are fervent supporters of their programs. May I also suggest the creation of special bonding districts within the parish so neighborhoods could vote on these tax proposals rather than a parish-wide tax, as is done in Livingston Parish. There's way more that can be done. And I'm sure everyone such as I will try to tell you how to do your job. Everybody has an opinion. And yes we talk with our hands so you can see what we are talking about. Just bring results and the rest will fall into place. Bon Chance. - Todd Billiot Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:50:54 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9546-cooper-is-our-super#comment-25517 While serving on the Lafayette North Plan Coordinating Team beginning in 2006, I was introduced to the innovations of Dr. Cooper. One of our team members, Ken Duett, chaired the education committee and offered information about many of Dr. Cooper's programs in other communities as best practice models for committee discussion and consideration. Then fast forward five years, United Way of Acadiana invited Dr. Cooper to share his insight with the community at their annual meeting. Dr. Cooper has had an impact in our community for quite some time. Now, he'll have a zip code to go with it. Welcome, Dr. Cooper! - Mitzi Moss Duhon Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:18:01 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9546-cooper-is-our-super#comment-25514 I was fortunate to attend most of the school board meetings and the interview process with the candidates. Pat Cooper will have a profound positive impact on our community. He believes every child can succeed regardless of zip code or family circumstances. He has successfully implemented these strategies in West Feliciana Parish, McComb, Mississippi and Orleans Parish. Each school can qualify for its own Medicaid number so that medical and mental health services can be provided on campus at no cost to the school system. Truly remarkable stuff. Our school system is remarkable in many ways but unremarkable in closing the achievement gap and graduation rates. That will change under Dr. Cooper's leadership. Equally important is the process that the School Boad has just completed. It was a continuing workshop on education reform. We heard from each of the candidates that were interviewed that all children can learn, early childhood development is essential, we need a stategic education plan which we have never had and the community must be involved. We're off to a great start. Public education has been an Achilles Heal in Lafayette's economic development. It will now be a strength. And thanks to The Independent for priming the pump starting with Paul Pastorek at the speaker's series. Bringing "Waiting For Superman" for free public showings at the Grand. And the numberous articles and updates on our school board and our community organizations that are involved such as 100 Black Men and the Lafayette Public Education Stakeholders Council (LaPESC). - Gary McGoffin Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:40:26 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9546-cooper-is-our-super#comment-25499 This is a wonderful gift for our entire community. Thanks to the school board and all involved for your efforts to ensure a successful and appropriate choice for our next superintendent. - Jan Swift Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:36:36 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9546-cooper-is-our-super#comment-25497 Here is to hoping for a bright new future and new beginnings with Cooper! - Pedro Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:09:41 +0100