RIVER CLUB — Braden River Elementary student Cooper Corley headed to the principal’s office this morning, but it wasn’t because he was in trouble.

Today, the birthday boy had a plaque with his name on it.

Principal Cooper Corley.

“I woke up at 4 in the morning because I was so excited it was my birthday,” said Cooper, who turned 8.

He fell back asleep from 5-6:30 a.m. and then was ready to start the day helping Principal Randy Mungillo with managing the carpool lanes at 8 a.m. as Braden River’s Principal for the Day.

Besides enjoying of a lunch of hamburgers from McDonald’s and birthday cupcakes with his appointed assistant principals — Cobee Crawford and Mason Kolbe — Cooper spent school hours visiting classrooms, monitoring the hallways, awarding good behavior and talking on his walkie-talkie, among other responsibilities.

“I like bossing people around and following around Mr. Mungillo,” Cooper said. “I’ve been talking to coach (on the walkie-talkie) for the whole day.”

Although Cooper enjoyed his break from doing work in class, he said being principal wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be.

“It’s hard work,” he said. “But it’s cool being in the principal’s office and not being in trouble.”

Principal Randy Mungillo said Cooper won the privilege of being principal for the day after his parents, Michael and Stacey Corley, won a bid for the opportunity during the school’s annual Fall Ball last year.

Contact Pam McTeer at pmcteer@yourobserver.com.

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