ST. LOUIS - Darrion Cockrell never thought a stable family, a college degree and Missouri’s 2021 "Teacher of the Year" award were possible for him when he joined a gang at 10 years old.Cockrell, 34, currently teaches Physical Education at Crestwood Elementary School in St.
Louis. He was selected as "Teacher of the Year" by a committee of his peers, and became the first male teacher since 2015 to be awarded the title, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
He spoke with FOX Television Stations about the difficult road to receiving the state’s highest honor for teaching.Credit: Darrion Cockrell Cockrell was born to a drug-addicted mother and a drug-dealing father, who was murdered when he was only 4 years.