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Mallory Reynolds, new principal at Cooper Elementary Magnet School for Technology, emphasizes hands-on learning and community ties
Summary
Mallory Reynolds, who became principal of Cooper Elementary Magnet School for Technology this year, highlighted school upgrades, new STEM interactive tables, grade-level signature showcases and a newly reconstituted PTA ahead of the school's Oct. 30 “Fall in Love with Learning” festival.
Mallory Reynolds, the new principal of Cooper Elementary Magnet School for Technology in Hampton, said she is prioritizing visibility, staff trust and hands-on learning as she settles into the role.
"I walked into a a great climate and culture, really solid structures in place already," Reynolds said, adding that she has been focusing on "being visible and being there for" staff and families as she builds trust.
Reynolds, who joined Hampton City Schools in 2014 after teaching in Georgia and Maine, told HCS Connects that Cooper recently received a facility facelift and new equipment. "We actually just even got more, new tables in our STEM room this past week and in our library. So we have those STEM interactive tables," she said, noting janitorial staff and community partners have helped maintain the facility.
The principal outlined curriculum-linked "signature experiences" that engage students across grade levels: third graders will present a "Museum of Me," while older students take part in projects that include budgeting and professional-style presentations. "They do those budgets in math class, so it's right embedded in their curriculum, and they really just enjoy it," Reynolds said, describing the fifth-grade showcase as an example of students applying real-world skills.
Reynolds said Cooper's newly active PTA—formed at the end of last school year—has helped organize community involvement and fund events. She announced that the school will host a "Fall in Love with Learning" festival on October 30, featuring music, literacy activities for kindergarten through second grade, math and science activities for grades three through five, and a PTA-sponsored trunk-or-treat.
On leadership style, Reynolds contrasted her prior assistant principal duties with the broader responsibilities she now holds as principal: "As assistant principal, I was in charge of certain things, but the bigger picture of the entire school as a principal... has been a shift," she said, and credited her assistant principal, Miss Jackson, with on-the-ground support for daily operations such as car duty.
Reynolds also shared biographical details: she served in the Army National Guard as a trainer, earned a bachelor's degree from Armstrong Atlantic State University, later earned an educational leadership degree from Virginia Tech, and has taught in several Hampton schools. She said her family—three children and a husband who teaches science at Phoebus High School—enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing.
The interview closed with an invitation for families to engage with the school and the PTA. Reynolds said the community's support and involvement have made her transition "fantastic," and Gorrell thanked listeners for tuning in to HCS Connects.
