Joseph D. Cooper
Fellowship Placement: Columbus City Schools
Joseph D. Cooper Sr. (he/him/his) is a skilled and experienced leader who has spent his career building relationships with his staff and positively impacting the lives of young people.
He received his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University, where he was a student-athlete and 2-time captain on the football team. Through the challenges of balancing athletics and academics, he developed valuable time management and leadership skills.
Joseph has spent the past 12 years as Director of Security, where he has built a cohesive team of an assistant director, security officers, and supervisors. His ability to connect with and inspire his staff has earned him the title of "most inspirational leader" among all managers.
Joseph's passion for positively influencing the lives of young people led him to pursue coaching basketball. He began coaching in 2007 with second graders and has since coached at the junior high and high school levels. In addition to coaching, Joseph has also served as a substitute teacher and safety and security resource coordinator with Columbus City Schools.
As a member of the BRIGHT program, Joseph hopes to use his experiences and skills to positively impact the lives of young people. He believes that with the right guidance and support, today's youth can become tomorrow's leaders. Joseph's dedication to his staff, his community, and the young people he serves makes him a valuable asset to any organization.