CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
George Bernard "Jack" Copps Jr. was a superhero to his daughter, Georell Copps Bracelin.
"When I got to college I discovered that Georell sounded a lot like Jor-El, Superman's dad," she said, holding back tears. "... But now I get to share the story about my name as a way of bragging about my dad who was my own superhero long before I knew anything about Krypton."
Copps lovingly left marks on Montanans through his dedication to education and care for people.
That became apparent during a celebration of life on Nov. 12 filled with students, family and friends. The celebration in the Central Elementary School gymnasium hosted about 100 people and performances from the school's students and the Capital High School Pep Band.
Copps died Nov.1 at 87.
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Being surrounded by students, even after death, seemed only right to many in attendance because he dedicated 55 years of his life to education through various roles at the state and local levels.
Attendees heard speeches from his family, who all fondly remembered his sense of humor throughout their lives and recognized that only his love and passion for his second wife, Penny, could take him away from education.
Copps retired for the seventh and final time at 81 years old as the superintendent of Helena Public Schools in 2018.
"The mark Jack left on education can't be measured in statistics," his stepson and former Gov. Steve Bullock said. "Jack just couldn't quit education."
The mark Bullock referred to stemmed back to the beginning of Copps' career in education on the Fort Peck Reservation in Poplar, where he taught and served as the high school principal for 16 years.
Speakers mentioned that tribal leaders told them if it wasn't for Copps, they would not be the people they are today or in the positions they are in.
After delivering "firm guidance and love" in Poplar, he moved to Lewistown and served again as a high school principal from 1976 to 1979.
Copps made his way to Helena and joined its district as an administrator, and in 1989, he resigned as superintendent to serve as the deputy superintendent of schools under then-Superintendent Nancy Keenan.
Ten years later, he retired for the first time in his career. But, while teaching, listening and caring for his students he would consistently have conversations with parents about how to keep kids in school and understand the value of education within communities.
"Jack had this remarkable ability to make people feel valued. He could see different perspectives, build consensus and speak to kids in a way that actually resonated," Bracelin said.
After his first retirement, the passion he had for education stayed true as he took on multiple leadership roles throughout the state with Northwest Accreditation and serving as the first executive director of the Montana Quality Education Coalition.
He fought for funding in districts across Montana and aimed to establish a quality system that allowed students to reach their full potential and present equal opportunities.
In his last term before retiring for the final time from Helena Public Schools, Copps led an effort to obtain school funding for the district and build three new elementary schools, Central, Bryant and Jim Darcy.
Outside of his career, he was a family man and historian of sorts by taking photos and creating memories for the family to look back on.
"Jack was our glue, he was our foundation. He was the one that brought us together and kept us together," stepson Bill Bullock said.
Copps would make family meals during the holidays by commanding the kitchen, Bill said.
From 2006 to 2011, Copps served as the superintendent of the Billings School District and retired, but he came back a year later in the same position before leaving again in 2013.
Alexandria Bullock, Copps' granddaughter, said, "Grandpa Jack, Old Man or trouble" as she called him was an incredible human being because he made everyone feel cared for throughout his life.
"He was so passionate about his job, he simply could not stay away from it and it showed," she said. "... MMFI, make me feel important, this was something my grandpa lived by not because he was seeking attention from other people, but because he wanted every person to walk away from the interaction they had with him, big or small, feeling important."
Steve Bullock, his stepson, said when Copps was made superintendent in 1987 he asked he not get a pay increase above what the previous superintendent had, but the board refused.
Copps felt listening was a key value that was needed throughout the state in education, Bullock added.
"As much as I love this business, at some point we have to make other decisions about life. And in this particular case it is not only about myself, but my partner," Bullock cited from a report when Copps decided to retire for the final time.
He continued saying his passion for his wife may have been the only thing that could pull him away from his passion for Penny.
"Because of Jack, everyone crossing his path did feel important. Jack lived a good, full, meaningful and happy life ... Jack we will miss you and we love you," Bullock said.
Sonny Tapia is a criminal justice and education reporter for the helena Independent record.
