Mark Cosand:
CLASS OF 1979
Deridder High SchoolClass of 1979
Deridder, LA
Patton Junior High SchoolClass of 1976
Ft. leavenworth, KS
Don C. Faith Middle SchoolClass of 1975
Ft. benning, GA
Alfred L. Renner Elementary SchoolClass of 1973
Kansas city, MO
Southeast Elementary SchoolClass of 1973
Kansas city, MO
Mark's Story
Life
Life has treated me pretty well. I have been married for 26 years, we have two kids one of each. The oldest Matt is 20 and in college here in Indiana, the youngest Marissa is 18 and in her last year of high school she is looking into Florida State for next year. They both have their dad's sense of humor and their mother's looks, so they are great kids. We have lived in Indiana for 15 years, we all love the races and the Colts.
School
I really didn't like school much, which sounds crazy when you discover that I am a teacher. The only thing that got me to finish high school was being involved in the school newspaper and drama. Gerald Green probably inspired me the most and when I was studying to be a teacher I got the opportunity to work with him.
I guess my biggest crush in high school was Kerri Gifford, though I'm not sure she knew it.
After high school I went on to college because I thought that is what you were supposed to do. I majored in history and ended up graduating on time. I worked for five years at various jobs and decided to get into teaching. So it was back to school and work, and raising kids at the same time.
Workplace
After teaching for 14 years I got involved in school transformation, especially in urban areas and with alternative education in mind. So I star...Expand for more
ted working in the Indianapolis Public Schools to create small learning communities. After about two years of this our work began to be funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to break the schools up further into small schools. This work involves a lot of professional development for leaders and teachers. I began to work heavily as an advocate for students and using methods of teaching that allow all students to become successful.
Now my work is as a school change coach working with the leadership of small schools of about 400 students and 12 teachers where everyone knows everyone and can develop relationships and use methods not typically found in traditional high schools. It's very satisfying work!
Military
I joined ROTC at Northwestern State and stayed in it for 3 years. I was also in the Louisiana National Guard for 2 years. The summer before my senior year the army docs found a problem with my knee. The ACL in my right knee had blown out. (Flag football freshman year) So I had to be discharged from the Guard and ROTC. No Army career for me.
Since I wrote this I have changed my life quite a bit. I now am divorced and work at Butler University. I am developing Early College partnerships for the university and also teaching a course or two in the College of Education.
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