Ephesus Junior Academy Appoints Dynamic New Principal to Lead Future Growth

Ephesus Junior Academy proudly announces the appointment of Ms. Khandi Cooper as the new principal as it embarks on its 68th year of providing education in Winston-Salem. Established in the fall of 1957 by the initiative of Pastor Walter Darby and his wife, Florence, the academy’s initial leadership included Mrs. Alice E. Brantley as its first principal and Mrs. Carol Howard Hammonds as its inaugural teacher. “Providing high-quality Christian education for families in Winston-Salem brings us immense gratitude,” expressed Ms. Cooper. Formerly the principal of Carolina Adventist Academy in Whiteville, Cooper was honored as Teacher of the Year by the Polk County Chamber of Commerce in 2016. Her expertise in S.T.E.M. education has been recognized in Chemistry Solutions, and she received a grant from the National Society of High School Scholars to assist her students' ACT preparations. A Brooklyn native, Cooper holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University-Portland and will achieve her Ed.D. in December 2025 from Concordia University-Wisconsin. Exciting developments for the academy include a new K-8 robotics program launching Jan. 16, 2026. Enrollment for grades K-8 is underway, with the school’s first day on August 11. For details, visit https://www.ejacademy.org/.