Cooper was among the original pool of 28 candidates now narrowed to three, according to a recent story in the Coloradan newspaper, which covers the 52-school district in the Fort Collins area along the northern border of the state.
Cooper is the only remaining candidate with superintendent experience, having led the five-school, 10,500-student Mason Schools.
According to the newspaper, he and the other two candidates are scheduled to visit the district today and participate in a public online event where they will present their visions for the Poudre Schools should they be hired.
Cooper first joined Mason Schools in 2014 as the district’s chief innovation officer.
He did not respond to a request to comment but Mason Board of Education President Charles Galvin released a statement Monday noting “we have been well-served” by Cooper.
“Mason City Schools has a well-earned reputation for supporting and growing exceptional leaders, so it comes as no surprise to our board that other districts around the country would recruit our nationally-recognized superintendent,” wrote Galvin.
“He creates powerful ‘MasonMoments’ for staff and students alike, and while the Poudre School District interview process has yet to fully run its course, we expect Jonathan will likely have a tough decision.
But Galvin added “make no mistake: we want what is best for the Cooper family, and believe that’s for them to stay here in Mason. But our district is more than just one person, and more than just a destination.”
“Our (community) is unlike any other, and we know that many outstanding candidates would be interested in serving (Mason) Comet Country should the opportunity arise. We are always engaged in long-term planning, and as circumstances unfold, we will address our leadership succession accordingly.”
Since taking over Mason, which has the largest enrollment in Warren County, Cooper has overseen the continued record of the district annually earning some of the highest performing academic rankings among Ohio’s 613 public school systems.
The Colorado newspaper story reported Poudre school officials as describing him as an “innovative and instructional leader” and said he has a history of “bringing people together through clear, transparent, and consistent communication.”
Tracey Carson, spokeswoman for Mason Schools, said Cooper “will likely have a comment at the end of week.”
Cooper grabbed national attention in January for an appearance on CNN TV where he advocated for relaxing coronavirus quarantine rules for students.
Once a new superintendent is hired, Poudre officials said they plan for the new leader to begin work in July.
(Staff Writer Ed Richter contributed to this story)
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