Greetings!
I’d like to tell the community a bit about myself so that you will have some insight and knowledge as to who your child’s principal is and how I got to this point in my life.
I am the sixth of eight children born to Jim and Donna Kopp. My father was a science teacher for ten years and then moved into administration, which culminated in his becoming a Superintendent of Schools for twenty years before he retired from education in 1979. My mother was a special education teacher for twenty-two years in the public schools and truly a remarkable lady. My parents placed a great deal of importance on a solid education and I’m happy to say that each of my siblings graduated with a masters degree or greater from college. I wanted communicate my background to you only to let you know that I came from a family environment where my parents put all of their material resources (and those resources were limited with eight children) into the essential needs of their children. There weren't many extra sitting around. However, they did instill in each of us a solid work ethic (all eight of us worked through college and paid for the vast majority of our college experiences), a family first mentality and the sense that an education was one of the crucial ingredients that led to a healthy, productive, and secure life.
That same philosophy must remain true today for all of our children and if anything beocme even more important in today’s world where job requirements don’t change at an incremental rate, but rather at what seems to be the speed of light. I’d like to return to my family first mentality description for just a moment. I bring that same predisposition to this job. My immediate family comes first in my life, although at times, my wife might wonder. I also bring that focus to our students at school. When you entrust your children to my care, you expect me to make the best decisions I can for their welfare every day. That is a sacred trust that I am humbled by and privileged to carry.
I graduated from Oswego State College in 1984 with a bachelor of scinece in elementary eduaction, earned a masters degree in reading from St. Bonaventure in 1989 and an administrative degree from Buffalo State College in 1998.
Along the way I met and married my wonderful wife, Laura, and she and I have three perfect children (just kidding). Actually they are typical young people with all the successes and stresses, good choices and bad in their lives. Just like you, we do the best we can for them because, as you know, there is no manual for raising kids.
I spent my first six years in education teaching in the then Cuba Central School District and moved to the Franklinville Central School District in 1990, although I’ve lived here since 1986. While at Franklinville, I taught in grades one through five for thirteen years and I even taught driver’s education for eight years during the summer. I’m not responsible for (I hope) any poor drivers you may have encountered on, or off, the road though. My administrative career started as the Summer School Principal of Franklinville Central School, which I directed for seven years. In 2003 I assumed the position of Elementary Principal and I had the privilege of working with the finest staff, students and parents for which anyone could hope. I'm entering my sixth year as the High School Principal and feel like I've just scratched the surface of our visiion for this learning community. I must tell you that I was apprehensive about becomnig the principal of the high school five years ago. I really thought that I only wanted to interact and lead elementary students on a daily basis because it was the best job in the world, but after five years here I can tell you that I still have the best job in the world. It's an honor to work with the outstanding staff and students on this side of the street and serve the community as the educational leader of the high school. Thank you for your trust.
Well, I’ve rambled on long enough. I want to end by saying that my door is always open to the community and I do listen pretty well, though I don't promise we'll always agree. Please remember that my most important commitment is to make decisions that I believe to be in the best interest of children; all other considerations follow that mandate.
