Robert B. Cook

Retired

Year Honored: 2005

Crazy Horse Memorial
, SD

At the time of the Award, Robert B. Cook was:

Teacher
Central High School
Rapid City, SD

Subject(s) taught:

Biographical Information

As one of three teachers in an alternative learning program for ninth graders, 75 percent of whom are Native-American, Robert Cook has doubled the retention rate of these students in just two years, and helped the Rapid City Area School District achieve the largest number of Native-American high school graduates in its history. He has also helped give dropouts a second chance through the Drop-In Center, a program he was instrumental in developing and implementing that helps these students get back into school and earn missing credits. A cornerstone of Mr. Cook's instruction has been to incorporate Lakota culture and history into the classroom and make it relevant for all students. A Native-American himself, Mr. Cook invites Native-American writers and speakers into the classroom to share their perspectives, trains students to work as cultural interpretive guides to tourists at Mt. Rushmore, organizes an annual Back to School Powwow to foster cultural understanding, and leads a filmmaking program he helped create to get students involved in issues past and present related to their heritage. With the motto, "Teach students to succeed because success motivates them to do better," Mr. Cook has guided many a student to a more promising future.

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