During his time at Monticello High School, Chris Palmer has gone to great 
lengths to build connections with students and staff. Whether it’s attending sporting events, buying a pizza to celebrate a student’s marked improvement or demonstrating how to tie a tie on a student’s first “business dress day”, Mr. Palmer is known for his uncanny ability to motivate others to be their best selves. Come September, he’ll be bringing his humor and lightheartedness to a new audience – the students of Cooke Elementary School.
At its July 5 meeting, the Board of Education appointed Mr. Palmer as Principal of Cooke Elementary School. Although it will be his first foray into the elementary level at Monticello, Mr. Palmer has a decades-long legacy of working with the younger crowd. He has taught music education for both traditional and special education students, helping students of all abilities thrive and succeed.
“I lived in the elementary world for 23 years and I am excited to reenter it,” Mr. Palmer said. “For the past five years, I have witnessed the hard work and positive outcomes for graduation at the high school, and I am looking forward to instilling that desire for success in the youngest of our students.”
“Anyone who interacts with Mr. Palmer can immediately see that he has an inner spark to him and that spark kindles excellence in the lives of the students he works with,” Superintendent Tammy Mangus said. “He is a superhero when it comes to education and I know that our Cooke kiddos will continue to flourish under his leadership.”