INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — The incoming Incline schools' K-12 administrator and principal at Incline High School said on Tuesday she is aware of the controversy that awaits her in Incline Village.

Ohio native Stacey Cooper currently is packing her things in preparation for a cross-country trip to the western extremity of Nevada, where she will begin her stint as principal at a school amid tremendous change. On Friday, the Washoe County School District announced that Cooper will be the next principal at IHS.

Cooper has familiarity with the controversial International Baccalaureate curriculum, having worked with the program as a teacher at John Hay High School in Cleveland. On Tuesday, she said she is not interested in pushing the program on Incline parents.

“Some people may believe I am coming to Incline Village in haste with IB implementation in mind, but I am coming there to listen and I want to be informed as possible,” she said. “IB is a good program, but it has to be implemented the correct way.”

According to published Bonanza reports, the Washoe County School District plans to implement International Baccalaureate on a K-12 basis at the start of the 2010-11 school year. Furthermore, the school district will pay $210,000 for 3.5 teacher allocations for the 2010-11 academic year for Incline's schools — with the caveat that the full amount must be reimbursed by International Baccalaureate Incline Village by Dec. 31, 2010. IBIV is a recently established nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for the implementation of IB.

Despite controversy surrounding IB's implementation schedule in Incline Village, Cooper is excited to take on the challenge.

“I am ecstatic,” she said. “First and foremost, I am humbled to be selected.”

Cooper said it is a long-held dream for her and her immediate family to move out west.

“I have extended family in Sacramento and the San Francisco area, and my family is excited to be near them,” she said.

Cooper addresses other controversial issues

During Tuesday's phone interview, Cooper addressed a May 6, 2010, report in the Mansfield News Journal, which reported that Cooper resigned as superintendent of Adams County/Ohio Valley schools, a week after accepting the job, for “personal and professional reasons.”

Cooper said she was honored to be selected for the position, but as she began to further explore the job, she realized the responsibilities of superintendent required she spend significant periods of time outside the school away from teachers and children.

“I want to be in the school with the students,” she said.

Cooper on Tuesday addressed questions regarding her commitment to Incline schools.

“Words cannot express my dedication, integrity and honesty,” she said.

Furthermore, Cooper also addressed various published reports in Ohio news outlets regarding a January 2009 traffic violation. Cooper pleaded guilty to reckless operation and failure to control. According to the story, in exchange for the plea, an impaired driving charge was dismissed.

“I was in an accident and alcohol was not a factor in the crash,” she said.

Cooper anticipates arriving in Incline Village in late June. Her contract with Washoe County School District officially begins July 1. She will replace IHS principal John Clark, who is retiring after the school year ends.