Cooper Junior High Principal Richard Roan has recently been selected to represent the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) as the Region 8 Outstanding Principal of the Year.
“Mr. Roan cares about the students of CJH, and we are fortunate to have his committed leadership in our district,” said Cooper Independent School District Superintendent Denicia Hohenberger. “We’re very proud of him and our entire junior high.”
Roan has been at the helm of the Junior High for three years of his 22 years in education and 14 years in Cooper. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and Master’s of Education in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University in Commerce.
The native Cooperite graduated from Cooper High School in 1982 and started teaching English in 1993 at Quinlan Ford High School in Quinlan, Texas. His biggest influence in life and education is his mother, Edna Roan, also a former junior high English teacher before her passing five years ago. His father, Gene Foxey Roan has been a longtime cattle rancher in Delta County. Roan has an older sister Tomi and brother James.
“I owe this community a great deal,” said Roan on his administrative duties. “My family and the community have shaped me into what I am today and being able to come back to the community that I love means so much to me. …I think having employees that grew up in Cooper working for the school district is such an advantage because we have such a vested interest into what happens with the children of the [Delta] County. It truly makes this job not seem like a job, at times, but rather a calling.”
His nomination was based upon exemplary performance and outstanding leadership witnessed by peers within the region. TASSP recognizes principals and assistant principals from the 20 region Education Service Centers in the State of Texas. Roan will be eligible to compete for the State title of Texas Principal of the Year.
Winners will be recognized during the Josten’s Night of the Stars Awards Dinner in June at the Hilton Austin Downtown Hotel and will be presented with an award and recognized in a commemorative booklet entitled Texas Principals, Texas Heroes.
“I am blessed to work and live here, and I am certainly blessed to get the opportunity to work with such passionate and caring leadership, teachers and staff. Thanks to them for making Cooper schools an excellent school district,” added Roan on his accolade.
