Cooper, who currently serves as principal at Mercer County High School, was selected following a competitive search process. The assistant principal position became available when Alex Johnson was promoted to principal, succeeding principal Tim Wernentin, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

“We are incredibly happy to have a skilled administrator like Andrea Cooper join us at Sherrard High School,” said Superintendent Dr. Carl Johnson. “The candidate pool contained many exceptionally well qualified individuals and Ms. Cooper rose to the top.”

Originally from Fulton, Illinois, Cooper brings with her 18 years of experience across a wide range of educational settings in Illinois, Iowa, and even Germany, where she worked for the Department of Defense Education Activity. She holds degrees from Central College (Music Education), Walden University (Middle Level Education), and Western Illinois University (Educational Leadership).

“Our district philosophy is to hire the best candidates who possess complimentary skills,” added Dr. Johnson. “The addition of Ms. Cooper and her broad range of school leadership will greatly add to the skill set of SHS's administrative office, giving us a team that is second to none.”

Outside of school, Cooper enjoys traveling, hiking, fishing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Brandon, live with their son, Bryant, who is 8. Cooper comes from a family of educators, including her twin brother, who teaches high school math.

Her diverse experiences and genuine enthusiasm for relationship-building make Cooper a strong fit for Sherrard’s collaborative and student-centered culture.

“I look forward to supporting students and staff, and contributing to the continued success of Sherrard High School,” she said.

She was officially approved to serve as assistant principal during the April 16 board meeting.