photo by: Contributed

Susan Cooper

Susan Cooper, Lawrence Virtual School principal, is departing the role for a position with a Topeka school district, Lawrence Public Schools announced on Thursday.

In a news release, Superintendent Anthony Lewis praised Cooper for her dedication to equity and improved instructional strategies. He said that in her two years with the virtual school, she had been a “student-focused administrator with strong leadership skills.”

“The virtual school community is unique in our capacity to serve students statewide,” Cooper said in the release. “I appreciate the work of our educators to ensure that our scholars are exposed to a high-quality learning environment, and families are engaged in student success.”

A search for Cooper’s replacement will begin immediately, the district said in the news release.

In other district news, Lysette DeBoard has been chosen for the role of interim assistant principal and athletic director at West Middle School. She previously served as a curriculum and instructional coach in the Lawrence district. DeBoard replaces Therese Edgecomb, who has been promoted to the role of West Middle School interim principal.

photo by: Contributed photo

Lysette DeBoard

DeBoard spent 14 years as a general music instructor at several Lawrence elementary schools. Her credentials also include nine years serving as school arts ambassador to the Lied Center, where she was this season’s winner of the Impact Award for arts education, according to the news release.