LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Nikeland Cooper was nominated by his principal, Susan Stachowski.

Mr. Cooper is the heart and lungs of Magnolia Middle School.  Mrs. Stachowski had the privilege of teaching Mr. Cooper when he was in seventh grade, and now has the honor of having him on her staff.  Mr. Cooper returned to his home school as a teacher because he wanted to give back to his community.

As a young boy, Mr. Cooper was energetic.  He always wanted to do more and continually pushed Mrs. Stachowski to do more for the students and the school.  He had a love for science in seventh grade and continues that love even today. Mr. Cooper is more than a teacher in the classroom.  He is more like a father figure to his students.  They learn, they love and they laugh as he becomes very real with them.  His greatest joy is watching his students move on to high school and continue their love for science.  This year, there were eight high school students who placed in the state science fair, and all of them had been 8th grade students of Mr. Cooper.  One student continually talks about how Mr. Cooper never let them slow down or give up. Parents request him because of the rigorous education and accountability he provides.

Mr. Cooper's organizational skills allow him to organize and execute one of the best schoolwide science fairs one could ever see. He also organizes every school field trip.

"Mr. Cooper is the teacher I can always count on to go over and above," said Ms. Stachowski. "He isn't afraid to challenge my directives, but he does so on behalf of the staff and allows me to remember to see things through the eyes of a teacher."

Outside of school, Mr. Cooper is active with his church and youth organization, the Elks Lodge and its youth organization. Additionally, he has recently joined the Moss Point Active Citizens as a lead committee member for the Deborah Washington Memorial Soap Box Derby.  He sometimes comes to work on only 46 minutes of sleep because of all the extra stuff he does in the community, but he doesn't miss work.

"If I could duplicate Mr. Cooper and his heart, enthusiasm and dedication and fill every classroom with people like him, we would never leave a child behind and every student would always succeed," Mrs. Stachowski said. "Mr. Cooper fills my heart and makes me smile."