RICHMOND – Today, the Virginia Department of Education announced that Em Cooper has been named its Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning.

"The addition of Ms. Cooper to the Virginia Department of Education is a big win for us and a big win for the Commonwealth," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. "Her proven experience in public education, track record of success championing and implementing literacy initiatives, and visionary leadership style will be a tremendous asset. I am confident that with Ms. Cooper at the helm of our Division of Teaching and Learning, we will excel in furthering the important work currently underway with the Virginia Literacy Act and implementation of our new math and English/Language Arts Standards of Learning."

“I am truly honored to have been selected to serve in this role and support the dedicated educators and school divisions in Virginia as well as its terrific students and families,” said Cooper. “I am looking forward to working closely with Dr. Coons and many others to continue the great progress that’s being made towards making Virginia one of the best states in the nation for education. Our children deserve the best of the best, and I will strive to ensure that our students, educators, and school divisions are getting what they need to thrive.”

Cooper has held multiple leadership roles in K-12 education. She most recently served as the Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Educator Development for the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), an agency that has more than 170 school systems and serves more than 700,000 students and 50,000 teachers.  

Prior to her most recent role, Cooper served as LDOE's Executive Director of Academic Strategy, where she helped create and lead Louisiana's comprehensive academic and funding plan, working to ensure students across the state would have improved literacy outcomes grounded in evidence-based literacy instruction and the science of reading. Her work centered around providing teachers in all grades high-quality curriculum and professional learning; content experts in math, science, and literacy well-trained in the foundations of reading; and the systems and structures for teachers and leaders to increase student achievement.

Additionally, Cooper was responsible for aligning all educator preparation programs in evidence-based literacy practices and provided a support system that enabled educators to provide the highest quality teaching and learning environments for all students.

Cooper is on the American Institute for Research’s CALDER Policymakers Council and the National Council on Teacher Quality Advisory Council. She is also a member of the Council of Chief State School Officers’ Instructional Materials and Professional Development Network. Cooper received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Louisiana State University.