Former gang member is named Missouri Teacher of the Year for positive impact on students

Your “Daily Dose of Uplift” for December 10th:
This year’s Lindbergh Teacher of the Year, and 2021 Missouri Teacher of the Year, is Mr. Darrion Cockrell.
“All of us have the power to change the trajectory of someone’s life, to make a positive impact on our students. It’s what I try to do every day,” Cockrell says.
Cockrell teaches physical education at Crestwood Elementary in St. Louis. In his acceptance speech at the Teacher of the Year Recognition Ceremony, he went into detail about his upbringing.
Cockrell is a former gang-member and grew up in an impoverished household. He was in and out of foster homes, but had the benefit of having a few strong mentors that put him on a path to be an influential force in the lives of young people.
“All it takes is one person, one interaction, one kind word to make the world a better place,” Cockrell added.
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