DoDEA Pacific South Announces 2026 District Teacher of the Year

The Department of Defense Education Activity – Pacific Region is pleased to announce Kubasaki High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC) Instructor SgtMaj Brent Cook (Ret.) has been named the Pacific South District’s 2026 Teacher of the Year.

“Being named the 2026 District Teacher of the Year is an incredibly emotional and humbling experience for me, Cook said. “I am deeply honored and feel a profound sense of gratitude towards whoever took the time to nominate me. Completing the nomination package felt like a way to honor their belief in me. 

“Since joining DoDEA in 2016, I have had the privilege of working alongside so many outstanding teachers,” he continued. “Just being nominated among such dedicated professionals was more than enough for me. Now, with this recognition, I feel a renewed sense of responsibility to step up and do even more. I am committed to ensuring that I do not let anyone down and continue to contribute positively to our educational community.”

Cook has served as an educator at Kubasaki High School since 2016. Under his leadership, the Kubasaki High School Drill Team has earned national recognition, placing first in the Marine Corps National JROTC Drill Championship in 2023 and 2024. He was also recognized by the U.S. Marine Corps as the MCJROTC Instructor of the Year in 2024.

“I became a teacher because of a pivotal moment in my life when I was a corporal in the Marine Corps,” Cook said. “Assigned as an instructor at the Communications/Electronics School, I discovered my passion for teaching. It was there that I caught the teaching bug, realizing the profound impact I could have on others.

“I also vividly remember the teachers and coaches who made me feel valued, who saw beyond my circumstances as a kid from the trailer park,” he added. “They instilled in me the belief that I could achieve anything I set my mind to, that my present situation did not define my future. Their encouragement and support were transformative, and I wanted to be that source of inspiration for others.”

Cook holds a bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College in Albany New York, as well as an associate’s degree from the University of Maryland. He graduated from Instructor Training Course West Coast Management School in March 1991, became a Certified Master Instructor in January 1994, and completed MCJROTC New Instructor Orientation Training in July 2017.

An active-duty Marine for 29 years, Cook retired from the service in 2015. 

He is known for building strong relationships with students, parents and colleagues, as well as maintaining high expectations for cadets in the classroom, school, and community. 

“Working with military-connected students holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “Having served 29 years in the military and raising two daughters, I understand the unique challenges these students face. The journey has been filled with deployments, moves, and numerous schools. My youngest daughter even had to move the summer before her senior year. These children didn't choose the military life, yet they experience both its privileges and its hardships. While they get to see and experience things that non-military kids might not, they also must follow their parents wherever they go. They often develop friendships more easily, but the constant change and strain can be significant…It is my mission to ensure that their transitions are smoother and that they feel understood and valued. Seeing them overcome these obstacles and grow into resilient individuals is incredibly rewarding.”