Dr. Andre Cooper holds a PhD in Linguistics from Yale University and a Master’s degree in education. As an undergraduate, he majored in linguistics and German while also studying piano, voice, and music theory and composition at the Eastman School of Music. During his university career he was an administrator and taught courses in linguistics, educational technology, Black studies, women’s studies, German, and speech and hearing science at leading universities in the USA and the Caribbean. After retiring, he and his wife, Dr. Denise Thompson, worked to mobilize volunteers across the Caribbean to be effective leaders in their communities.
Andre and his wife moved to the Bay Area in 2017 where he began subbing in schools in his spare time. After subbing in over 90 area schools, he developed a love for teaching elementary school in underserved communities, and now joyfully teaches first grade at KIPP Excelencia in Redwood City.
Music is one of Andre’s passions and he is proud to share that passion with young people. He joined the Board in 2021.