La’Qoya Cooper
Principal
Colonel Dandridge Malone once stated, “The very essence of leadership is its purpose, and the purpose of leadership is to accomplish a task.” Our task at KIPP TRUTH Academy is to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to become successful citizens in our school, community, and society.
Growing up in a small rural town before going to college, La'Qoya U. Cooper was a strong student but soon became aware of the inequities of her own academic environment through interactions and class experiences with her new college peers. This realization is what ultimately led her to develop a passion for working in education and with kids. After graduating from Dillard University and working as an academic advisor and educator for the school, Mrs. Cooper entered the classroom as an English language arts reading teacher and taught in the KIPP New Orleans School System before moving to Texas. It was in Texas where she continued to teach, received her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from SMU, and was promoted as an instructional leader and assistant principal in Irving ISD. Mrs. Cooper’s experiences in New Orleans and Dallas have reinforced her passion and belief that our students deserve the best regardless of where they live, the color of their skin or the language they speak.