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Cottonwood Creek Elementary principal in Coppell ISD is a treasured 'lucky penny'
By Jeff Carmack
 Andra Penny’s claim to fame -- or one of them, anyway -- is that from the time she was six years old, she hasn't missed a year of being in a Texas classroom in one capacity or another. Her love of learning, and of helping others learn, bears fruit for her students.
Penny is principal of Cottonwood Creek Elementary School in Coppell ISD near Dallas; she is the only principal the school has ever had. According to Penny, she was hired for the position "when the school was still a pile of dirt."
"Apart from birthing my own kids, birthing that school was one of the highlights of my life," she says.
This past summer, Penny became president of the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.
Penny refers to her career in public education as her calling.
"I'm proud of the education I got in Texas public schools, and I think that's why I'm so passionate about education," she says. "I want Texas kids to get the very best education they can."
A life in the classroom was not her goal initially.
"I grew up in Linden, in far East Texas, and came to the University of North Texas to be a drama major," she says. "I was going to be a big movie star."
But after doing a lot of tutoring at her sorority's behest, she fell in love with teaching.
"I have never looked back," says Penny, and then quips: "Today, I settle for daily drama."
Penny's career began in 1973. Straight out of the University of North Texas and armed with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, she hit the ground running as a kindergarten teacher in Seguin. She then taught kindergarten in Northwest ISD from 1974 to 1982 and in Denton ISD from 1982 to 1990. In 1990, Penny took her first administrative position as an assistant principal in Denton ISD, and she served in that role for two years. Penny then went on to be an assistant principal at Wilson and Mockingbird elementary schools in Coppell ISD. She took the helm as principal of Cottonwood Creek in 1996.
Her parents inculcated in her a love of learning. They saw the value of a good education and encouraged Penny and her brother. Penny's father never went to college -- his only regret in life -- because World War II interrupted his education.
Even as an administrator, Penny never has lost sight of her first love: teaching.
"I love to teach and I miss the classroom, so I'm an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas," says Penny, who teaches prospective principals in the Department of Education Administration. "I feel like I am making a difference, and not just at my school."
"TEPSA is the largest state organization of elementary school principals in the nation, and being elected by my peers is extremely humbling," she says.
Penny sees her role in this position as threefold. The first is "to inspire principals to sit tall in the saddle and be proud of their role."
"I travel all over and I know Texas is doing a great job educating kids, and we need to take pride in that," she says.
Her second role is to help other principals find joy in their jobs. And third, she wants principals "to have a darn good time, enjoy our jobs, and have fun."
"I think I have a gift for finding joy, and I want to help other principals find it," she says.
Not surprisingly, Penny claims to never have bad days.
"Every day is a good day at my school," she says. "It's been an amazing life and it has worked out fabulously.
"I’ve always said that when the day comes that I don't feel that way, it will be time to hang it up."
JEFF CARMACK is an Austin-based freelance writer.
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