Lindbergh High School Teacher Eric Cochran Named Missouri Teacher of the Year Finalist

social studies teacher Eric Cochran was named one of six finalists for Missouri Teacher of the Year.

Six outstanding public school educators were chosen from a pool of nominations submitted by school districts throughout the state. A selection committee appointed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reviewed the candidates’ written applications and selected the finalists.

“Eric has been a fabulous representation of both the district and our high school, and we are proud of him,” said Ron Helms, Lindbergh High principal, in a statement. “He has done some phenomenal things to engage and teach students over the years. He’s a student magnet.”

Cochran, who comes from a family of teachers, is serving in his seventh year as the school's Social Studies Department chair, and this is his 14th year teaching high school social studies. He has received seven National Merit Inspirational Teacher awards and has been named Lindbergh National Honor Society teacher of the year and assistant coach of the year. He was also nominated for the Gilder Lehrman American History teacher of the year.

In addition, Cochran has dedicated time to Lindbergh outside of the classroom as assistant boys’ basketball coach, and by serving on the district’s budget reduction, performance-based teacher evaluations, demographics and character education committees.

Cochran said that he initially thought of teaching as a backup plan, that he was going to try a different career and thought he could always go back and teach. It wasn’t until his junior year in college that he began to change his mind. 

“I was volunteering to coach a boys’ basketball team at Sperreng Middle School, and I had a lot of parents come over and say, ‘Have you thought about being a teacher? I think you really have a gift for it.’ It hit me like a ton of bricks—it wasn’t just a backup plan anymore. Some people just have a calling,” Cochran said.

Cochran said that he also loves the fact that teaching is a job where he gets to keep learning.

“I love learning, I don’t think there are that many jobs where you go in every day and learn yourself. I learn as much as the kids. I really get to feel when I go home at night that I’ve had an influence on young people,” he said. “The kids make me laugh every day. I get to learn, and I get to laugh every day—it’s hard to beat that.”

The five other 2011-12 finalists are from Special School District of St. Louis County and the Kirkwood, Jefferson City, Raymore-Peculiar and Lee’s Summit school districts.

The selection committee interviewed the finalists Aug. 22 in Jefferson City and chose the Missouri Teacher of the Year, who automatically becomes the state’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year. The finalists and the new Missouri Teacher of the Year will be honored at a banquet Oct. 26 in Jefferson City. Robert Becker of the Kirkwood School District is Missouri’s current Teacher of the Year.

“(The interview) was difficult. I felt like there were some questions I answered that I thought I did a pretty good job and others that I thought ‘Man I should’ve said that instead,’” Cochran said.

Even though the candidate from Lee’s Summit School District was chosen, Cochran said he is unbelievably honored to be one of the six. 

“I was realistic about the fact that I thought it would be difficult, and I never thought I’d get this far. My colleagues and family have been very supportive. It was almost overwhelming at times,” he said.