Forrest Cooper, a longtime Elmira High School teacher and now director of the district’s Options program, shared a little about himself with Falcon News.
Question: How long have you been working for EHS?
Answer: This is my 27th year. I started in 1995.
Q: What do you teach?
A: I am certified for advanced math, and have taught all the math classes except Statistics. Also, social studies and business classes. I also teach computer technology, and have taught AP U.S. Government, AP Calculus and AP Econ (Macro) at EHS over the years.
Q: Have you ever worked elsewhere?
A: I worked for three years in Vernonia as a teacher, and spent a few years selling custodial supplies and managing properties before that.
Q: Do you have an upper level of education? If so, where did you attend?
A: Masters of education from Portland State and a bachelors in marketing from the University of Oregon. I spent my first two years at Oregon State.
Q: Before Options, how long did you work as an in-person teacher?
A: I started Options in 2020. Before that, I spent 25 years as a classroom teacher at EHS. It was my favorite gig, and I really miss it!
Q: What are some of your valued goals for the students that you work with?
A: I want to see all of our students successful and on track to graduate, and building their skills so their later years in school will be easier to get through.
Q: How does the Options program differ from in-person classes?
A: Not every student is cut out for Options — sitting in front of a computer for three to four hours a day doing schoolwork is just not very exciting.
Students in Options come for a variety of reasons. One of those is because they are working during the day. An Options student can work any time during the 24-hour school day from 2 p.m. until 2 p.m. the next day, to be counted present, so some of our students are working literally after midnight. Also, a student has to have some self-discipline, because there is no bell schedule or teacher to keep their attention focused.
I guess the last thing that makes it really different is the work-from-home vibe. For example, a student can do all their schoolwork in their pajamas.
Q: Do you have any particular things you enjoy doing after school hours?
A: I have an acre of property that I enjoy working on, and sometimes play guitar and sing. I have some music online as well. I have also gotten into rock-hounding, and have some rock-polishing equipment. Also watching the Ducks and Netflix, and I like to read books once in awhile.
Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher, and specifically the Options director?
A: I am late in my career, and even before the pandemic I was looking for something different. A lot of new teachers were coming in, and I wanted to give them an opportunity to shine at EHS.
Then, when the pandemic hit, Superintendent Carpenter started talking about getting something virtual going for students and families. It turned out to be a huge decision, as we briefly hit 400 students last year (now we have close to 90).
I had great teachers when I was in high school, and I think they had the biggest influence on me going into teaching. Plus, it is very meaningful work, like brain surgery, sometimes rewarding to watch a student blossom and thrive, sometimes very frustrating.
Q: Do any of your students have nicknames for you? If so, what is it? If not, what would you think your nickname would be?
A: Most of the students just call me “Coop.” I use “Coopdog” for games.
Q: What do you like Elmira High School?
A: I love many things about EHS. Number one is the students. We have the most caring, giving, polite student body (with a few exceptions). I hear subs talk about working here. Some of them won’t sub anywhere else.
Second is the staff. I know almost everyone on staff, and have worked with many over the years, both as colleagues and union members (I have been a leader in the union for a long time). They care a lot about the students, and want to make sure they get the best education, and they all work together very well to make EHS a great place to go to school.
I know not everyone feels that way, but year after year we are named as one of the top public high schools in Lane County, and sometimes in the state. EHS always makes me proud.
