Patra Cooks
Project Director
Elevating, Discovering, Understanding, Creating, Activating, Teaching Others in the Real world. I am a 30-year EDUCATOR. Being a daughter or a single mother and a teenage mother, college was not in my pathway (or so I was told). Naturally, I am a hard worker and therefore received good grades in school. There was one teacher who supported me in navigating the school system. From that moment, I wanted to be that teacher. That person who encourages students and parents to navigate the system to create opportunities that create generational as well as systematic change. I am in my tenure as a teacher, Administrator, and a Project Director. I am an EDUCATOR.
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Amanda Miller
District Resource Teacher, East Bay
My name is Amanda (Mandy) Miller, and this is my 18th year in education. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Marine Biology and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of St. Thomas. I started my teaching career as a part of the Teach for America program teaching secondary science in Houston, TX. After 3 years, I relocated to Hillsborough County where I have taught middle school science, served as an AVID coordinator, was a peer evaluator, and an instructional mentor. I am excited to have the opportunity to get to serve as the GEAR UP resource teacher at East Bay as it brings me back to the reason I started teaching in Texas so long ago. I whole-heartedly believe that every student deserves an excellent education and that as a collector force of educators, community members, and advocates we can fight for the aspirations of students and their families.
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Lora Morgan
District Resource Teacher, Spoto
One of the most proud moments in my life is when I became a "First Generation College Graduate!" I had just accomplished something that no one in my family had ever done before. This was and is the foundation for my passion of education.
My name is Lora Morgan. I have been in the education field for 12 years. I have taught at the middle and high school level, worked as an AVID coordinator, Dropout Prevention Specialist, Success Coach, and now a GEAR UP District Resource Teacher at Spoto High School, a place I call home. Working with GEAR UP allows access for ALL students and families to reach their fullest potential even through the most difficult situations. |