Teach Kentucky Announces Mia Cooper as Next Executive Director

After a comprehensive search process, the Teach Kentucky Board of Directors is proud to announce the selection of Mia Cooper as the organization’s next Executive Director.

Mia joins Teach Kentucky with more than 20 years of leadership experience in education, nonprofit management, community engagement, and organizational development. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Mission and Community at Sacred Heart Schools in Louisville, where she oversaw leadership development, community engagement, and mission integration across four schools and administrative services.

Throughout her career, Mia has led initiatives focused on educational excellence, equitable access, talent development, and community impact. Her previous leadership roles include directing Head Start programming in Jefferson County and managing early childhood education and access initiatives at Metro United Way. Known for her collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and commitment to people-centered change, Mia brings extensive experience in strategic planning, board engagement, community partnerships, and organizational stewardship. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Indiana University Southeast and is currently pursuing an MBA in Nonprofit Leadership Management at Murray State University.

“As the next Executive Director of Teach Kentucky, I am excited to help advance the organization’s mission and strengthen pathways for educators across the Commonwealth,” said Cooper.

Mia will officially succeed Teach Kentucky founder and Executive Director Rowan Claypool, who announced his plans to retire on September 30, 2026.

For 25 years, Rowan has led Teach Kentucky from a bold idea into one of Kentucky’s most impactful educator recruitment and support organizations. When he founded Teach Kentucky in 2001, he sought to address two important challenges facing Louisville and Kentucky’s schools: a growing need for talented educators and the “brain drain” that was seeing educated young professionals leave the community rather than build their careers and lives here.

His vision was to recruit talented individuals from across Kentucky and the nation, support them in becoming successful educators, and create meaningful connections that would encourage them to remain in Louisville and invest in the community. Since then, Teach Kentucky has helped launch the careers of more than 600 educators while strengthening schools across the Commonwealth.

The Board of Directors recognized that finding Rowan’s successor required more than identifying an experienced nonprofit leader. It required finding someone who understands that Teach Kentucky has always been a relationship-driven organization built on supporting people, building community, and creating opportunities for educators to thrive. The Board is confident that Mia’s leadership experience, passion for education, and commitment to community make her the right person to lead Teach Kentucky into its next chapter.

Over the coming months, Mia will work closely with Rowan, the Teach Kentucky staff, Board of Directors, alumni, and community partners to ensure a thoughtful transition and learn the culture and values that have made Teach Kentucky such a special organization.

While Rowan’s retirement is still several months away, he plans to remain involved with Teach Kentucky following his retirement in an emeritus capacity. In addition to serving as an ambassador and advisor to the organization he founded, Rowan is looking forward to spending more time traveling with his wife, Melanie, and visiting their three grandchildren.

This leadership transition comes at an exciting time for Teach Kentucky. As the organization celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is also expanding its impact through the launch of Teach Kentucky @ Georgetown College in partnership with Georgetown College. The new program marks the first expansion of the Teach Kentucky model beyond Louisville, with its inaugural cohort beginning July 2026.

The entrepreneurial spirit that inspired Rowan to launch Teach Kentucky 25 years ago continues to drive the organization forward today. Under Mia’s leadership, Teach Kentucky will continue exploring innovative ways to recruit, prepare, and support outstanding educators while building strong partnerships that strengthen Kentucky’s schools and communities.

And while the future is bright, we are not letting Rowan quietly slip into retirement. On August 7 and 8, the Teach Kentucky community will come together to celebrate Teach Kentucky’s 25th anniversary and honor Rowan’s extraordinary legacy. Alumni, current teachers, partners, supporters, and friends are invited to join us as we celebrate the impact of Teach Kentucky and the countless lives Rowan has touched over the past quarter century. Invitations and event details will be shared soon.

As we celebrate both our history and our future, we are reminded that Teach Kentucky’s success has always been a community effort. Every teacher recruited, every educator supported, and every milestone achieved over the past 25 years has been made possible through the generosity and belief of our philanthropic community. From individual donors and alumni to local foundations, corporate partners, and community supporters, Teach Kentucky is funded entirely through community support. We are deeply grateful for every person and organization that has invested in our mission and helped make this work possible.

Please join us in welcoming Mia Cooper to the Teach Kentucky family and thanking Rowan Claypool for 25 years of visionary leadership.

The future of Teach Kentucky is bright, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.