Kandace Cook, a dedicated biology and AP biology teacher at Durant High School, has been shaping young minds for the past four years. Teaching runs in the family, as her husband is also an educator and coach at DHS. Together, they’ve built a life centered around education and family, raising three daughters while pursuing their passion for teaching.
Kandace’s love for science and desire to inspire curiosity led her to become an educator. “I have always loved science, and I know that most people don’t,” she said. Her mission is to help students understand how biology is connected to everything in life. “Biology is a hard course because it is application of knowledge. I tell all of my students that the ability to learn something and apply it will be a skill that will be valuable for the rest of their lives.”
Before joining Durant High School, Kandace taught at ASTEC Charter School in Oklahoma City and Calera High School. In addition to her high school teaching duties, she also teaches online General Biology courses at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, further demonstrating her commitment to education.
The influence of her own teachers during her school years helped shape her teaching philosophy. She credits elementary and middle school teachers like Mrs. Bone, Mrs. Stevenson, and Mrs. Hough, along with her high school biology teacher, Mrs. Bray, as major inspirations. “It was because of my seventh-grade science class with Mrs. Hough and Biology with Mrs. Bray that I grew to really love science!”
When she’s not in the classroom, Kandace enjoys spending time with her family. As a teacher, her philosophy is grounded in balance. “The best advice I’ve received is that you can always loosen the reins but never tighten them,” she said, emphasizing the importance of creating a classroom environment that is both inviting and respectful.
Through her passion, experience, and love for science, Kandace Cook continues to be a positive influence on her students, showing them that biology is not just a subject but a way to understand the world around them.
