Published: December 08, 2009 02:06 pm      

At Random: Familiar face returns to Muenster as interim superintendent

MUENSTER — When the Muenster Independent School District (MISD) contacted Steve Cooper and asked him to return as interim superintendent, he agreed to do so and started Dec. 1.

“This is a short-term situation,” Cooper said. “The agreement only extends until the position is filled. I’m coming in to help the board any way I can.”

Cooper has nothing but high praise for MISD.

“The school district has excelled academically,” he said and referred to the schools as having “academic prowess.”

“I’ve always felt strength in Muenster. They feel the importance of educating the kids and they have high expectations to that effect. And of course, we generally have very competitive teams,” he added, speaking of the district’s athletic programs.

Following his retirement as MISD Superintendent in 2000, Cooper went into business with family as Dominion Farms. They produce and distribute organic all-natural beef, pork and chicken. Several family members are partners in the business with him.

His home and business are in the Denison-Pottsboro area on some acreage.

Right now he is dividing his time between MISD and Dominion Farms.

Raised in Southern New Mexico, he graduated from Western New Mexico University, also known as “Home of Billy the Kid” with his a bachelor degree. He then went on to East Texas State University to earn his master’s degree.

Then, “I wanted to get on the coaching show so we came to Texas,” Cooper said.

“I worked for four different school districts before I came here to Muenster,” Cooper said. He was MISD Superintendent from 1990 to 2000.

He started as a teacher and coach, teaching government and economics.

He went on to become athletic director and head coach. Football was his favorite sport.

From there he moved into administration after completing his school administration certification.

He said he continued to teach at least one class after becoming an administrator because it was important to him to stay in contact with the kids.

Besides.

He said he just enjoys teaching.

He met his wife Nelda in Lordsburg, N.M. while he was in college.

“She was a Sherman girl,” he said. Together they had two daughters.

His daughter Nora Bynun works in the family business. His daughter Keri Bedard is a teacher at College Station.

“Both girls are A&M graduates,” he said. “Go Aggies.”

His four grandkids, nicknamed Mookie, Spike, Hootie Man and Spanky, also help with the family business.

Cooper said he also enjoys being outdoors. “I can’t stand being cooped up very long.”

He enjoys his organic business because his tasks vary daily.

He also likes to learn, and talks of the learning curve associated with natural food production.

“It’s not a conventional approach,” he said. “It’s not the traditional way meat is produced.”

His advice for young people in school is to have a strong foundation in the basics: math, English and science.

“There is a lot of fluff now,” he said of some school curriculums. “I’m kind of old school.”

He said he is concerned that kids and those who teach them understand the importance of learning history, government and economics.

“These subjects are monumentally neglected in this country and people need to have a grasp on how government operates and how you make your money,” he said.

“Extra-curricular activities are important, as long as everything is kept in perspective,” he added.

Speaking of the city of Muenster, Cooper said, “there are good solid people here.”

He lived in Muenster the 10 years he worked with the district.

Cooper said it’s amazing to him how families in Muenster support their students. It’s not just moms and dad and grandparents that show up to their activities and events, it’s also aunts, uncles and everyone else.

As far as the timeline for the hiring process of the new superintendent, Cooper said, “The new superintendent should come on by June 1, if not sooner.”

Finally, Cooper said he returned to Muenster to help the district because it is a “remarkable” place.