Lindbergh Awards Teacher and Support Staff of the Year

Lindbergh School District handed out the two highest staff awards of the year on Monday. Social studies teacher and coach Eric Cochran was named Teacher of the Year, and Tammy Gottschalk of the print center was given the award for Support Staff Person of the Year.

The awards were given for staff members' longstanding commitment to Lindbergh and their dedication to supporting student excellence.

“You would be hard-pressed to find someone capable of matching his professional attitude and work ethic,” said Lindbergh High School Principal Dr. Ron Helms of Cochran.

Cochran said he had a feeling something was up before the official announcement. He was called for a for "a stand-up faculty meeting," and his family walked out of a room in the library.

“It was very special to see my wife, my two girls, my parents, my sister, brother and my niece in attendance,” he said. “My family is very excited for me... My wife is especially proud, because there is no other person who sees the work that I do away from school more than she does. She and the girls both have to make a lot of sacrifices because of the work I bring home or the long hours that I have to spend up at school.”

Cochran is a coach with the boys basketball and baseball teams and serves on the district’s budget reduction, performance-based teacher evaluations and character education committees. Cochran has a reputation of giving 100 percent to all aspects of his work. Coaching takes a lot of his time, and his wife and children attend the games, with his kids playing on the sidelines.

“Eric constantly makes personal sacrifices to ensure that what he is involved with is done at the highest level possible,” said Jason Wolfard, head varsity basketball coach.

Cochran holds a bachelor of arts in political science from Washington University and a master of arts in history from the University of Missouri, St. Louis.

“Eric is a great example of success in and out of the classroom,” Wolfard said. “He always puts his students’ best interest and learning first.”

Since the announcement was made this week, life has been a whirlwind for Cochran.

“This has been an unbelievable honor,” he said. “It is extremely humbling, because there are so many quality teachers in the Lindbergh School District who are equally deserving of this recognition. I am just proud to be among them.”

Tammy Gottschalk, who won support staff person of the year, has worked for the Lindbergh Schools since 1992 in the Lindbergh Schools Copy Center.

“She helped me with a charity project,” Joan Spink of Crestwood Elementary School said. “I gave her some paper and chip board, and she cut and glued them to make notepads which will be donated to Cardinal Glennon Hospital.”

According to people who know Gottschalk, she is the kind of person who will help anyone.

“She is one of the nicest and kindest people I know,” said Sammye LaRose of the district activities office. “She’s always upbeat, nothing is ever a problem, she always has a ‘can do’ attitude.” 

Gottschalk is a member of the St. Louis County Association of Educational Office Professionals, volunteers annually at the spirit festival and donates her time to help several outside groups as well. She works with the Alzheimer's Association, Angels’ Arms, Bethesda Nursing Home, Operation Clean Stream, Salvation Army, Starship Hope, Home for Life Cat Sanctuary and St. Louis Area Animal Protective Association.

“She does extensive community service everywhere,” LaRose said.