Cockrell retires after 49 years at Riordan
March 4, 2020
After more than forty years of walking down the same halls with purple striped walls, legendary Archbishop Riordan teacher, George Cockrell, has announced his retirement from the school.
In 1971, George Cockrell was a young, ambitious teacher just beginning his tenure at a Catholic all boys’ school. He began as a Religious Studies teacher, except his goal was to teach more than just religion. During high school Cockrell took a very active role in the Civil Rights Movement, writing articles and participating in several protest marches and campaigns led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was his proactivity in high school that led Cockrell to pursue a career in teaching, and with hope of bringing awareness to the anti-war and Civil Rights movements by influencing change within the classroom.
The Vietnam War was also at its peak during this time, but Cockrell was fortunate to attend college and receive a student deferment from the draft.
Change is also the thing that keeps the world turning.
— George Cockrell
Besides teaching all four levels of Religious Studies, Cockrell also taught: Economics, Computer Applications, Graphic Design, and Web Design. While teaching these classes part of the time, he was also working on the Student Information System and Scheduling that were in place at the time prior to PowerSchool.
At the time, PowerSchool, or even the Internet, was not invented or scheduling was done on index cards using colored pens, and evolved to key punched IBM cards, to eventually PowerSchool.
Math teacher Ottilie Valverde, longtime friend and colleague of Cockrell, said, “He was one of the persons who could help me as a new teacher and help find my way. There were only two women and he was very kind. He was a good teacher, respected. He was so patient with everything and kept shepherding us through the new changes of the grading program.”
In truth, the legacy of Cockrell is one that many students may not know, but it is important. To spend 49 years at one academic institution is an incredible feat, but to also implement new programs is not something that should be taken for granted, but that is simply who Cockrell is.
Cockrell leaves Archbishop Riordan with a happy and full heart. His words to the future generation of students is, “Change is also the thing that keeps the world turning. Embrace change for the better and make it an absolute in your life. Don’t fear change; make it happen.”
