Following nearly three decades of service to Texas public schools, Superintendent Beth Cooper (Ed.D. ’18) is retiring from the University of Texas at Austin High School Special Purpose District. Dr. Cooper began her educational career as a secondary math and social studies teacher and became an administrator after ten years in the classroom.
Dr. Cooper joined UT High School in 2014, where she first served as principal before becoming superintendent in 2017. Here, she expanded the high school programs to create two online high schools, transitioned the Texas diploma program from a private pay model to a program state funded by the TEA, increased enrollment in individual online high school courses to over 13,000 course enrollments annually, and grew enrollment in the credit-by-exam program to 30,000 credit-by-exam students.
Additionally, Dr. Cooper implemented an online program for adult learners wanting to complete their GED or earn their high school diploma in coordination with the Texas Workforce Commission. She also created a statewide program with the Texas Education Agency to help educators implement blended learning instructional models and expanded K-12 professional development for teachers across the state who sought to earn professional development hours in the Gifted and Talented and Advanced Placement Summer Institutes programs.
Dr. Cooper has been an important part of The College of Education. In addition to her role as superintendent of The University of Texas at Austin High School Special Purpose District, Dr. Cooper serves as an Associate Professor of Practice in Educational Leadership and Policy, where she earned her Ed.D. in the Cooperative Superintendency Program.
Following her departure from the university, Dr. Cooper will take on a new role as Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Ball State University. We wish her the best in this next venture.
The University and the College are grateful for Dr. Cooper’s leadership and the accolades she brought to our schools.
