Jim Copeland

Dr. Jim D. Copeland is a retired school superintendent and current professor at Minot State University – teaching both graduate and undergraduate online courses.  Born in Houston, Texas, Jim attended Texas A&M University and earned a bachelor's degree in Education Curriculum & Instruction.  He then obtained a Masters in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University and in December 2014 received his Educational Doctorate degree from the University of Northern Colorado (Dissertation – Implementation of an Inter-District Curriculum Consortium Among 14 Rural School Districts in Colorado).

He taught middle and high school science and then went on to begin his educational administrative career as a middle school assistant principal and principal in Texas.  He accepted his first superintendent position in a rural Texas Panhandle district and continued in that role in 3 different Texas public school districts.  Retiring in Texas, he served as Superintendent in a northeastern Colorado school district for 8 years and finally in a south central Wyoming district for his final 8 years before retiring from K-12 public schools.  He has a total of 45 years of experience in public schools.

Among his accomplishments and honors, Jim was selected as Texas Regional Superintendent of the Year and finalist for State Superintendent of the Year.  He was also among 4 finalists for the Wyoming Superintendent of the Year (2021).  He served as President of the Lions Club in 2 different chapters in Texas.  His article “One Head, Many Hats: Expectations of a Rural Superintendent” was published in September 2013 edition in the Qualitative Report and he presented the article at the Annual Conference of the NOVA Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale FL (2014).

Jim loves traveling, reading, working out, and the outdoors – including hiking and kayaking - and especially family fun activities.  He has been married for 47 years to Melissa.  Melissa served as a school nurse for years and is now retired.  His oldest is son Mark (Kara) and daughters Emma and Hadlee – who serves as a firefighter and paramedic for the City of Lubbock TX; Tyler (Brandi) and daughter Elli – who serves as a Nurse Practitioner in Lubbock; Zac who is a Hospice RN in the Lubbock area.  Jim & Melissa now live in Kerrville TX in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.