Laura J. Cooke was recently selected as Teacher of the Year for Dillon School District Three for 2014-2015.  

She was one of three school level Teachers of the Year vying for the position of District Teacher of the Year.  This year’s school representatives are as follows:  Latta High School – Rachel Caulder; Latta Middle School – Laura J. Cooke; Latta Elementary School – Pamela B. Watson.

Laura J. Cooke is a native of Latta, SC and continues to reside in Latta.  In 1983, Ms. Cooke was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree and then a Master of Education Degree in 1988.  Both degrees were earned at Francis Marion University.  Her teaching career has covered most of Dillon County spanning grades 4K through 5th.  Her additional duties, during her career, include service as an Athletic Director and Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball Coach.  In addition, she has mentored First Year Teachers and taken on various other leadership roles.
In August of 2000, Ms. Cooke joined the educational team of Dillon School District Three.  She credits two Latta High School teachers as playing the pivoting role in her choice of becoming an educator.  Like those teachers she is now able to not only help her students academically but also take an interest in their lives and encourage them to succeed in and out of the classroom. Thus, she is actively involved in the schools as well as the community.  She states:  “Educating our children academically, socially and spiritually is a lifelong mission and I have been privileged to share the gift of knowledge and hope during these outreach events.”
 Being selected as District Teacher of the Year qualifies Miss Cooke as a participant in the selection of South Carolina Teacher of the Year.  The South Carolina Teacher of the Year Program is coordinated via the Division of Educator Quality & Leadership and is designed to honor those who are representative of the state’s many exceptional teachers.
 Miss Laura J. Cooke is the proud daughter of Elizabeth B. Cooke and the late Billy W. Cooke.  She has two younger sisters; Billie Ann Allen and Sandy Owens.  “I believe an education should empower a child and help him or her make a positive contribution to our society.”  We congratulate her on receiving this honor.