Lakisha Cook named South Carolina Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year
Beth Phibbs (Executive Director of SCASA), Lakisha Cook, and Dr. Baron Davis (Superintendent of Richland School District Two)
Lakisha Cook, assistant principal of Muller Road Middle School in Richland School District Two, has been named the 2019 South Carolina Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA). This award was presented on Monday, November 26, 2018 in a surprise announcement at Muller Road Middle School.
Mrs. Cook was selected from an outstanding field of middle school administrator candidates by a veteran panel of judges. The other finalist for the award was Erin Doty from Irmo Middle School in District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties. The criteria used in the selection of this coveted award are set by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. State sponsors also include Horace Mann, Herff Jones, and Michelin.
“We are excited to announce that Lakisha Cook has been named the SCASA Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year,” said Beth Phibbs, Executive Director of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. “She is an exceptional leader who models personal excellence in her professional roles and is well-respected by the parents, students, faculty and staff of Muller Road Middle School.”
Principal of Muller Road Middle, Sean Bishton, stated, “Mrs. Cook is a shining example of our school’s motto, ‘One Team, One Direction.’ Whether serving as leader of the seventh grade team, our school’s athletic director, or the AVID campus administrator, she constantly strives to always do more for students and teachers. She never waivers in her commitment to our school’s mission and vision, always going the extra mile to empower students to become successful learners and to support teachers as they provide authentic learning in a supportive environment. Her leadership style and professionalism help create a positive culture in our school and surrounding community. I am proud to have her on the Muller Road Middle School administrative team.”
Dr. Baron Davis, Superintendent of Richland School District Two, added, “Richland School District Two is extremely proud of Mrs. Cook, the new Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year for South Carolina. As assistant principal at Muller Road Middle, she demonstrates great talent in being a transformational leader. Mrs. Cook excels at cultivating collaborative leadership and advancing student success through effective curriculum instruction and assessment. Our district benefits greatly from her passion, gifts, and talents that she uses to guide students toward their pathways to purpose.”
SCASA, the professional organization for school leaders in South Carolina, has more than 4,300 members. From professional development opportunities and research, to publications and legislative advocacy, SCASA’s focus is to support school leaders in providing the best possible education for South Carolina’s young people. As a state affiliate of three national associations for school leaders, SCASA also works on the national level. SCASA’s recent state-level winners have gone on to win national awards, including 2018 Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year, 2018 Secondary Principal of the Year, and 2019 Secondary Principal of the Year.
