Can You Be Cooper Coughlan?

OPINION—Can you be a leader? A changemaker? Can you be... me? That is the question I will seek to answer this year. Now, you might be wondering why I ask, but I’ll get to that in a moment. But let me give you some backstory to my life. Or rather, the past 3 years of my life.

It was in the eighth grade that my Hebrew teacher, Joshua Dermer, approached me, asking if I wanted to write an article for this thing called “The Paw.” I decided, why not, and wrote my first journalistic article. An article about Dr. Robb Scott. But still, the article was never published. The Paw was never a thing. And honestly, I totally forgot about it. But I realized something in that moment: I loved to hear people's stories. I could sit there for hours listening to people talk and talk, as I listened intently. And that is what popped into my head during the first semester of my freshman year, when I saw “journalism” on the Wednesday schedule. Once again, taught by Joshua Dermer. 

I joined, and somewhere through those first few weeks, I got the sudden urge to make a real newspaper. Make a project...for me...for the school. And in that first month, I went from a reporter who had written nothing in the first week, to the website manager who built the website in the second week, to the managing editor in the third, and then the editor-in-chief in the fourth week. It was roughly around that third week that I assumed The Paw as a new identity. That first year, we wrote and published 55 articles.

I believe it was later that next year, my sophomore year, when I got loads of Shabbat-o-grams, probably about all of which mentioned my work in The Paw. That was when I knew I not only liked what I do, but I love it too. As Steve Jobs once said, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do,” and I love what I do. Since then, we’ve grown a lot, especially under the new leadership of Marty Zimmerman. 

These past, almost three years, which I have held the role of editor-in-chief, have been the best, most fulfilling moments of my life. It’s been a defining moment for me at DJDS. These past years, I’ve had the absolute pleasure and privilege to be able to watch The Paw grow in impact, quality, and creativity. 

And now is the part where I once again ask if you can be Cooper Coughlan. Part of journalism is seeing the whole picture, reading the whole article, and listening. Hence why I made this article much longer than it had to be. 

Sadly, as I prepare to graduate from this place I’ve called home for so long, next year, I have realized that now is the time to start passing the torch and find the next editor-in-chief who will continue the momentum of The Paw. 

With that, I am excited to share that the Editor-in-Chief Application for The Paw is now open and has been shared with you via email. 

The Editor-in-Chief of The Paw is not just a title, but also the highest student leadership role on our paper. This position requires vision, discipline, journalistic skill, and the ability to lead a team. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for shaping the voice of the newspaper, holding contributors to high standards, and ensuring The Paw represents the creativity and integrity of our school community. 

Applicants must currently be in eighth, ninth, or 10th grade and commit to participating in the class for at least one year before becoming Editor-in-Chief. Candidates may serve a one or two-year term and will be responsible for mentoring and training the Managing Editor, who will serve as their designated successor and Junior Editor-in-Chief.

Upon completing their tenure, the Editor-in-Chief will also oversee the transition process to ensure a smooth handoff of leadership. A minimum GPA of 2.9 is required, and the application is one part of the selection process. 

If you make it to the next stage, members of The Paw's selection committee will meet with you for an interview and a short, low-impact editing test. If selected, you will start your training at the beginning of the next school year. Applications are due by Jan. 12, 2026.

As always, I want to thank you all for reading The Paw. I can’t wait to see who steps up to lead it, to read the stories that you will tell, and see the impact that you will make. 

From my desk to yours,

Cooper Coughlan