Darrion Cockrell was awarded Missouri’s Teacher of the Year for 2021, a prestigious award for the most dedicated and respected teachers. He is a physical education teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in St. Louis. His journey to becoming a teacher and then winning this award is very inspirational. It shows the tremendous impact that teachers and a loving family have on a child. Please share with your children.
Darrion’s mother was a drug addict and had 2 children by the time she was 16 years old. His father was murdered when he was 4 years old, and he began his life in and out of the foster system at age 6. He even became a gang member before he was 10. He lived with his grandmother for a period of time, but she lost custody of him.
Darrion says that he owes his life to a teacher named Ken and other teachers, counselors and even a school principal who gave him a second chance. Teachers used physical education to keep him interested in attending school. One teacher even picked him up for school each day from the foster care center – he saw her as a “mom” figure for at least 6 months.
When he was in the 7th grade, his football coach and wife took him into their home, and he lived with them until he graduated from high school. He eventually attended the University of Missouri – St. Louis and graduated.
As a physical education teacher, he loves what he does and the impact he has on children and their families. As to the importance of his role, he said:
"PE is just as important as social studies and science and math. As long as you understand those building blocks of fitness and health and taking care of yourself, then you can do anything you want in the world."
To read more about Darrion, please visit:
https://www.passiton.com/passiton-blog/30-former-gang-member-changed-path-in-life
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/12/us/former-gang-member-teacher-trnd/index.html
https://people.com/human-interest/former-gang-member-becomes-missouri-teacher-of-the-year/