Mary Alice Cooper

I became a teacher because my mother was a teacher and she was a single parent. She worked hard and made a difference for our family and for the lives of many other children. This showed me that if I could make a good life for myself and future family, I could also make so many good changes in other people’s life as well.

I was teaching 2nd grade and had a student that was going to have to repeat that grade. Her parents nominated me for teacher of the month with a local baseball team , knowing I was needing to hold their child back. They said I noticed issues no one had mentioned to them before and they were thankful for the interventions and plans I set in place for their daughter. I won the award!! Winning the Golden Apple Award was also one of my favorite teaching moments.

I begin my masters degree in the summer of 2025 for administration. I am a single mother of triplet girls that are 6 years old. Life is hard at times, especially starting my masters degree and raising 3 kids. Money that I could use towards our home and life would be so helpful. Being a teacher, the income doesn’t always seem right. Then again, money isn’t the reason I chose this career.