Em Cooper is the Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning at the Virginia Department of Education. Em received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with certification in special education and her Master’s degree in Education Leadership from Louisiana State University. She previously served as the Deputy Assistant Superintendent at the Louisiana Department of Education leading the strategy of recruiting, developing, and retaining educators across the talent pipeline. At LDOE, she has also led the state’s academic strategy and assessment and accountability administration. During her tenure, she led the school system planning process which included the planning, budgeting, and implementation of the state’s academic strategy for all school systems. She also led the Strong Start 2020 strategy and implementation which was designed to ensure systems were planning, prioritizing, and budgeting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to working at the state, she has served as a teacher, principal, and district leader; and she led work across the state and country with the shift to new academic standards, assessments, and professional development.