ROCK SPRINGS – A member of the Sweetwater County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees submitted her resignation, creating a vacancy on the board.

Kari Cochran resigned June 1 through an email sent to other board members and Superintendent Kelly McGovern. She cites experiencing a lack of support, ineffective communication, disrespect and a lack of transparency from the district while serving on the board. Cochran’s term expires in 2026. 

According to a letter Cochran sent to SweetwaterNOW and published in its entirety below, she was excited when she was elected, writing that she sought election to provide a safe learning environment, establish a culture of positivity for all teachers and staff and help engage residents with the district.  

“Before joining the board, I had many conversations with individuals connected directly or indirectly to the school district,” she wrote. “Armed with this information, I jumped on board excited, willing to learn, and ready to impact change”

However once she joined the board, she said she experienced ineffective communication, a lack of support, disrespect and a lack of transparency. She writes that requests for further information to help inform her decisions were repeatedly ignored or turned down, saying the board can’t be effective if it serves as a rubber stamp to the superintendent. 

“It has become clear to me that I need to channel my efforts elsewhere to make actual change and to have a voice,” Cochran wrote.

Stephanie Thompson, the vice chairperson of the school board wished Cochran well following Cochran’s resignation.

“I enjoyed getting to know and working with Trustee Cochran,” Thompson wrote in a message to SweetwaterNOW. “I want to thank her for her time serving on the board and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”

A call requesting comment from the district superintendent’s office was not returned at the time of publishing.

Cochran’s letter is published below:

Dear School Board Members & Superintendent, and members of the community,

I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign my position on the Sweetwater County School District #1 School Board, effective immediately. Thank you to the community for electing me to serve on this board. I ran for this position because of my passion to see students succeed,  my love of education, and my desire to see things improve after living some life- altering experiences as a parent of a child in the district. My platform was to provide a safe learning environment, to see improvement in student performance, to see the district be accountable and consistent, to help establish a culture of positivity for teachers and all staff, and to help engage the community and parents in supporting the district. 

Before joining the board, I had many conversations with individuals connected directly or indirectly to the school district. 

Armed with this information, I jumped on board excited, willing to learn, and ready to impact change.  During my time on the board, however, I experienced a lack of support, ineffective communication, a lack of transparency and disrespect. When I asked questions, I was told to trust the process. When I  repeatedly asked for data to inform my decisions, I was repeatedly denied or it was never provided. The board cannot be effective if it remains a “rubber stamp” to the superintendent, does not hold the superintendent accountable, and is not kept informed. It has become clear to me that I need to channel my efforts elsewhere to make actual change and to have a voice. 

For the board to be effective and maintain a healthy culture, the focus needs to be on safety, student achievement, transparency, respect and trust with the administration, and foremost, strong leadership and accountability at the top of the district. As a parent, and now former board member,  I’m looking forward to seeing everything the new superintendent will accomplish. 

After losing my son Joran to suicide in February of 2023, I have tried to not make any big changes or choices. I continued on the board despite the way I was treated and the difficulties, because I ran for this position for my son, my daughter, and all students. I remember Joran telling me that he was only going to vote in that election so he could vote for me. I like to think it was his way of recognizing that I was a fierce advocate for him and would continue to do that for all students. Life is short, and with age, tragedy and experience, I am appreciating things that I once took for granted. One of those things has been time. Another is purpose. I live a day at a time because I know things can alter your life forever in the blink of an eye. I have tried putting my pain into purpose and change. I’m choosing to cherish each moment that I have by doing what I love to do, with those that I love and those who value me and what I bring to the table. I have come to realize that my purpose is to be a voice for the voiceless and the ones who weren’t and aren’t  heard. While I had hoped that being on the  board would allow me  take part to effect change and live my purpose, it has not. 

I will continue to be as involved as I can because I care. I will never stop caring about the students and staff of Sweetwater 1, as a parent, a community member, and business owner. I want to see our community thrive and grow. 

Thank you for putting your trust in me as a school board member.  Thank you to Members Wood, Schumacher, and Wright you have provided support, compassion and valued insight. Thank you for your continued support of our shared goals for the district. Thank you to Members Summers, and Thompson for being welcoming and helpful. It was a pleasure serving with all of you. 

Sincerely, 
Kari Cochran 
(proud mother to Joran and Cambree Cochran)