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Hewitt Elementary Teacher of the Year Shares His Secret to Teaching Success
From working in the corporate world to teaching in China, Hewitt Elementary teacher Brad Cook has done it all. The 2010-2011 Hewitt Elementary Teacher of the Year believes his decision to become a teacher through Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12’s alternative certification program changed his life. “I heard if you were going to do alternative certification, [ESC] Region 12 was the best,” Cook said. “The quality of the instructors and curriculum is very high.” Cook’s choice to become a certified teacher came after a variety of life experiences. Upon graduating from Texas A&M in 1999, Cook began working for a computer corporation for two years. He felt he still didn’t have a clear view of what he really wanted to do with his life. With this in mind, he spent a year educating college students in China, and it opened his eyes to the possibilities of a teaching career. “It gave me the teaching bug and made me want to continue to do something more meaningful in life,” Cook said about his experiences teaching abroad.
Cook returned from China motivated to serve the community, and he began doing social work at Communities in Schools in Temple. He then worked with the Bridges Learning Program in Waco. He attributes the hands-on elements of social work to solidify his choice to become a teacher. “Seeing what teachers do and becoming more involved in their [children’s] lives were some positive things I saw about teaching,” he said. “The job security of the career is also beneficial." Getting another degree was not an option for Cook as he and his wife had already begun their family. After researching different certification programs, he chose ESC Region 12’s Teacher Preparation and Certification Program (TPCP) because of its outstanding reputation. “There are many memorable aspects of Region 12’s program,” he said. “The comradery of the classmates, having fun together, and laughing with the teachers to name just a few.” ESC Region 12 has played a pivotal role in helping many teachers like Cook attain a successful career in education. Classes are led by experts in the field, and are conveniently scheduled during the evenings at two locations in Nolanville and Waco. Participants attend pedagogy classes, where they experience a hands-on approach to education through several interactive methods, including actively learning how to teach. TPCP is the right choice for alternative teacher certification, and can help you evolve their passion to enter the field of education. Like many before him, Cook has taken what he’s learned and put it into practice. He believes he has discovered a purpose far beyond the classroom and that ESC Region 12 taught him how to effectively interact with kids and ignited his passion for teaching. “Holding on to that passion for seeing kids learn, grow and improve themselves is the most important part of being a teacher,” Cook exclaimed. “If you can do that, go for it!” For more information on ESC Region 12’s program, call 254.297.1191 or visit the TPCP website. |
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The Education Service Center Region 12 does
not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,
sex, disability, or age |
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