The Newfane Central School District Board of Education has appointed Maria Cooper as the new principal for Newfane Elementary School.
Cooper, who was appointed by the board at its meeting on Tuesday, brings with her a wealth of educational experience. She most recently served as assistant principal at Herbert Hoover Elementary School in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District. Her appointment is effective November 23.
“Maria was extremely impressive through all rounds of the interview process,” says Newfane Superintendent James J. Lupini. “She has a passion for inclusivity, diverse experience working with students, a focus on relationships and collaboration and a core value of resilience. I am very excited to welcome Maria to our Panther Family and am confident she will bring great leadership and care to the students, staff and families of Newfane Elementary School.”
“I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Newfane Elementary community as its next principal,” Cooper said. “What I am looking forward to most is building meaningful relationships with our students, staff, families and community members. I believe that relationships are at the heart of everything we do, and that every child deserves to feel seen, heard, valued and empowered to achieve great things. I am eager to listen, learn and celebrate the wonderful things already happening at Newfane Elementary while working alongside our dedicated educators and families to build upon those successes.”
As the daughter of a United States Marine and a Japanese mother, Cooper experienced different cultures and perspectives throughout her life, including spending part of her childhood in Okinawa, Japan, which has instilled her deep appreciation for diversity, resilience, empathy and the importance of belonging.
She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education, a Master’s Degree in Differentiated Instruction with a focus on Gifted and Talented Education, a Master’s Degree in School Administration and an Advanced Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).