Have a Great Summer!
Spirit Week Fourth graders were so excited to express themselves each day during Spirit...
Cooper Team
Meet the dedicated educators of The Cooper School.
Andy Adkins
he/himChoir
Henslee Elliott
she/herArt
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Jason Patera
Head of School
Prior to arriving at The Cooper School, Jason was the Head of School at the iconic Chicago Academy for the Arts, where he served for more than 30 years in roles from “intern” to Head of School. In 2001, Jason cofounded Caltera School, an award-winning community music school based on the “Caltera Method,” a progressive approach to teaching and learning. His former students include Grammy Award winners and nominees, Broadway and television stars, authors, and other elite professionals. (Much more importantly, his former students are curious and effective learners with a deep sense of community.)
A fierce advocate for education and the arts, Jason has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for excellence in teaching and was named a 2018 Golden Apple Leader of Distinction. His 2018 TED Talk Life at the Intersection of Excellence, Purpose, and Passion has inspired educators and ambitious dreamers around the world.
Jason is a jazz pianist and drummer, and a summa cum laude graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied arranging and contemporary writing. He also holds a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and has completed continuing education programs at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Kellogg School of Management.
Jason is on the faculty of the Institute for New Heads at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Past President of the Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools (LMAIS), and the Vice President of the board of Arts Schools Network (ASN).
A former “big guy” turned endurance athlete, Jason is the author of I Can Do Hard Things, or: How Much it Hurts to Run 100.6 Miles, which has inspired at least one person to take up distance running and many more to choose more reasonable hobbies.
Jason, Melissa, and Harper (and their dysfunctional dog Charlie) live in North Charleston.
Stacy Peth
she/herYoga
Stephanie Morris
she/herSpanish
