FLINT, MI – A seasoned educator with 30 years of experience has taken the helm as the new principal at Freeman Elementary School in Flint, bringing a focus on culture, academic growth, and community collaboration.
KaSandra Cookenmaster previously served as principal at Neithercut Elementary in Flint for two years and taught middle school math in the district from 2014-18, earning the highest scores in the district during that time.
After her work in Flint, she spent five years with Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools.
Originally from Georgia, Cookenmaster spent time in Germany in the early to mid-1990s working in early childhood programs.
“When I returned to the (United) States, I knew I wanted to go into education,” she said.
Cookenmaster earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Michigan–Flint and a master’s in Curriculum & Instruction, along with an administrative leadership degree, from Eastern Michigan University.
As a child, she often set up a classroom in her backyard, nurturing an early dream of becoming a teacher.
Her No. 1 goal as principal is improving the school’s climate and culture.
“I have a lot of lofty goals. Climate and culture is number one,” Cookenmaster said. “Establishing that positive and collaborative climate and culture. Which takes time and it also means adherence to district policies. But also establishing some new routines and policies within the building.”
Another priority for Cookenmaster is raising academic expectations and scores for students.
Reflecting on her past teaching success, Cookenmaster said, “I’m a rule follower.
“I’ve always had high structure in my classroom, which we know that in today’s climate, we need structure in classrooms,” she said. “I didn’t allow students to make excuses. We all worked together.
“I have several students that I taught as they have grown and matured, when I see them they tell me I never gave up on them.”
Cookenmaster also emphasized the importance of following policies and procedures, noting parent support is key.
She cited the example of students not being allowed to wear hooded sweatshirts on school property.
“In the last 1.5 years, the board of education has wanted us to emphasize the rule. That has been a turning point for a lot of families,” Cookenmaster said. “They don’t understand why their kids can’t wear a hoodie and trying to explain to them it’s a policy. When we all follow the rules, we’re all safer. We’re teaching students for real life. When we argue policies a school has, we’re showing kids to argue policies in real life.”
Freeman Elementary currently serves about 320 students.
Cookenmaster said the district is focused on student success.
“Flint schools are trying to do right by kids,” she said. “We are aligning our curriculum and trying to make decisions that are pro kids.”
She credited the district’s new $12,000 signing bonus for teachers as helping Freeman hire six new teachers this year, strengthening support for students.