The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
District shifts school administrator positions
Changes prompted by Nic Cooper's retirement
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 17, 2008
As part of a three-way shuffle, David Raft, principal at Woodland Meadows Elementary School in Saline, will take over as the middle school principal Feb. 1, replacing a retiring Nic Cooper.
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Cooper, who has headed up the middle school for eight years, earlier this month informed Interim Superintendent Scot Graden of his plans to retire effective at the end of January with the idea that he would complete the year as principal on a contractual basis.
Graden proposed shifting Raft into the middle school principal position in February and contracting with Cooper through June to oversee the completion of two projects as director of secondary student services.
Graden said he decided to make the move midyear because he believed it would allow for a smoother transition in the leadership of the middle school.
"It's a situation where you want to have the opportunity for David Raft to learn where things are going at the school," Graden said. "Nic will still be around, so it's an opportunity to effect a smooth transition and develop a sense of cohesion."
Jean Durst, the former Saline High School principal who is also retiring at the end of the school year and is currently serving as executive director of high school community affairs and public relations, will assume principal duties at Woodland Meadows.
Graden said he appreciated Durst's willingness to "take on a new challenge at this point in her career."
Her replacement at the high school has not yet been named, Graden said.
After handing over the reins of the middle school to Raft, Cooper will coordinate the upcoming conference of Michigan Association of Middle School Educators, which Saline Middle School is hosting March 13 and 14. Approximately 800 middle-level educators from across the state will attend the two-day conference.
The second project Cooper will focus on is a new Jump Start summer program designed to provide opportunities for students who are in need of support as eighth-graders before entering high school. Cooper will work with Ben Williams, principal at Saline High School, to develop the scope and breadth of the project, along with staffing and budgetary details.
In 2006, Saline Middle School was one of three Michigan schools named a "School to Watch" by the National Forum to Accelerate Grades Reform, which identified the school as a model for other schools across the state.
Since then, more than a dozen schools have visited Saline Middle School to learn more about its teaching environment.
"It has been very gratifying to me and my staff to have people come in and see how we're teaching," said Cooper, who said the recognition was one of the hallmarks of his tenure.
Cooper said he is also proud of having assembled an "unparalleled" staff and fostering an atmosphere of increased collaboration among teachers.
The co-author of "How to Keep Being a Parent When Your Child Stops Being a Child," Cooper said he hopes to write more after retiring, possibly work as a consultant on middle school issues with Central Michigan University, and become more involved as a national trainer with the National Association of Secondary Principals.
Raft, a popular administrator who has been with the district for 13 years, including overseeing the opening of Harvest Elementary School as its first principal, seemed a natural choice to succeed Cooper, said Graden.
"David is the kind of leader who seeks out change and needs change to remain vital," Graden said.
"I knew it was my aspiration to be at the middle school level when I heard Nic was retiring," Raft said. "I have always wanted to return to my secondary roots, though I wasn't expecting the opportunity to come up as soon as it did."
Raft was named principal of Woodland Meadows last year.
In an e-mail to Woodland Meadows parents and staff announcing the administrative changes, Raft said he was both saddened to leave and excited about the opportunity for growth.
"Woodland Meadows is a very special place for me," he wrote. "Things have been happening very fast, but I want to assure you that I will still be involved with Woodland Meadows throughout the remainder of the school year."
Raft said he anticipated a smooth transition.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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