Alabama Teachers Credit Union is proud to present Mr. Derrick Hooper, Automotive Service Technology teachers at Cherokee County Career & Technology Center, as our December 2020 Teacher of the Month for the Cherokee County area, in partnership with WEIS Radio.
Teaching wasn’t Mr. Hooper’s original career path plan; however, as he began to volunteer at Cherokee County Career & Technology Center he realized he enjoyed helping younger Automotive Technicians. From there, he became a substitute and later a full-time teacher. Mr. Hooper loves sharing his knowledge and experience. It is rewarding for him to see the “light bulb” moment on a student’s face.
To make learning fun, Mr. Hooper attempts to make learning REAL, stressing real world scenarios, etiquette, and on the job skills.
He believes the biggest challenges that teachers face right now is Covid-19 and emphasizes that teachers are doing their best with the challenges the pandemic presents to keep students in class and on track.
Mr. Hooper would like people to know that there are many high demand technical jobs, and not enough people to fill them. These jobs are high paying, and oftentimes require no college degree. He stresses that college may not be for everyone, but these types of jobs can provide a good living for students looking for an alternative.
Congratulations, Mr. Hooper, and thank you for all you do for the future of our communities!
