Principal's Welcome

Hello Cooley families,

I am honored and excited to serve the Cooley Elementary community as principal!  I have been an educator for the better part of twenty-five years as a teacher in grades pre-k through third, an assistant principal for two years and as a building principal for several years as well.  I am a lifelong Michigander who received all of my schooling from Michigan schools!

As the leader of Cooley, I will work to ensure that all students who enter our doors feel safe, welcomed, included, and that they receive a quality education that will allow them to successfully complete elementary school and prepare them for middle school and beyond.  Cooley is comprised of a great team of educators who believe that we are here to Inspire, Educate and Empower our students to thrive and we will work to make sure that happens every day.  We will cultivate students’ abilities to become lifelong learners through engaging learning activities, collaboration with partners and teams, reminders to come to school each day prepared to learn, with setting and achieving their goals and by encouraging them to always doing their best!

The phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” originates from an African proverb and conveys the message that it takes many people (“the village”) to provide a safe, healthy environment for children, where children are given the security, they need to develop and flourish, and to be able to realize their hopes and dreams. This requires an environment where children's voices are taken seriously and where multiple people (the “villagers”) including parents, siblings, extended family members, neighbors, teachers, professionals, community members and policy makers, care for a child.  Cooley cares and we are proud to be a part of The Village!

Shannon Cumming, Ed.S
Principal