OM’s new special education teacher

Meet Ms. Cook! She is the new special education teacher here at Oakland Mills. Although being a new teacher is challenging, she is happy to be a part of our school. She says, “I feel at home, thanks to my colleagues.”

After working at Marriotts Ridge High School and Mayfield Woods Middle School, she wanted a change which led her to move to OM and start working in special education. As a special education teacher, Ms. Cook has to work closely with students to help them grow, learn, and feel supported at school. She says that she loves building relationships with them and supporting them by knowing what they need. In her opinion, the hardest part of teaching is organizing a students day, but it’s worth it to put a smile on their face. One major goal that Ms. Cook hopes to accomplish with her students by the end of the year: “That they smile more this year than last.”. This shows that something as simple as getting a student to smile means so much. Teaching isn’t always easy, Ms. Cook said that one of the hardest parts of teaching is organizing a students day. Even though it can be rough at times, Ms. Cook still loves and enjoys what she does.

Before becoming a special education teacher, Ms. Cook had a few different jobs and experiences. She used to live in Mexico, she taught English, and she worked at a perfume company. She also learned Spanish in high school and college. She decided she wanted a change which led her to work in special education.

Outside of school, Ms. Cook has lots of different hobbies and interests. She likes music and she used to be in a band, but she didn’t like the business side of the band. She also likes mechanical things and after school, she looks forward to feeling the natural air like the sun and wind. Ms. Cook believes that happiness affects the people around you. She says that a happy teacher makes a happy student and when you are happy, you benefit the people around you. Ms. Cook’s love for her students and her community shows how she is finding a place in our school.

For Ms. Cook, being a teacher is about more than just teaching lessons. She enjoys getting to know her students and building relationships with them. She is someone who helps and supports students with different needs. This is why she is a great addition to our OM staff!