Kubasaki High School JROTC Instructor Named 2026 DoDEA Teacher of the Year

Brent L. Cook, a Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) instructor at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, has been selected as the 2026 Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Teacher of the Year.

“Brent Cook embodies the values of leadership, service, and academic excellence that lie at the heart of our mission,” said DoDEA Director Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez. “Through his dedication to students, his innovative programs, and his commitment to community service, Brent creates opportunities for students to thrive as learners, leaders, and citizens. We are proud to recognize him as the 2026 DoDEA Teacher of the Year.”

Cook teaches students in JROTC courses for grades 9–12 in the Pacific South district. His overarching goal is to develop students who excel academically while also becoming productive citizens and leaders within their school and community.

Cook learned he had been named DoDEA’s 2026 Teacher of the Year during a virtual meeting with DoDEA leadership on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Expecting a routine discussion about teacher leadership in his role as a District Teacher of the Year, the announcement came as a complete surprise. 

“There are so many great teachers,” Cook said, recalling what was going through his mind when he learned he’d been selected as the agency’s 2026 Teacher of the Year. “If Kubasaki has this many amazing teachers, DoDEA-wide there has to be so many great teachers that should be in this spot right now. I thought about what my cadets have accomplished, what the JROTC program has done. This is not about me – it’s about them.”

At that moment, he didn’t know the entire Kubasaki High School student body was also on the call, watching live from the auditorium. When the news broke, the room erupted in applause.

“I’ve been emotional since I got back from Afghanistan,” Cook said. “My emotions were high. I was overwhelmed and then, to hear the students in the auditorium when they came on, to hear the cadets… I was not expecting this today.”

A retired Marine, Cook holds a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College and an Associate of Arts from the University of Maryland. His professional accomplishments include being named the 2024 MCJROTC Instructor of the Year and coaching the Kubasaki High School Drill Team to its second national championship in 2024.

Cook’s impact extends beyond the classroom. He founded the “Toys from Cadets” program, which has provided more than 2,000 toys to local Japanese children, strengthening the bond between students and their host-nation community. Under his leadership, Kubasaki High School’s MCJROTC program earned the prestigious Naval Honor School designation for excellence in community service, academics, competitive events, and leadership development.

The DoDEA Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors exemplary prekindergarten through grade 12 teachers. The process begins with nominations from peers, administrators, parents, students, or community members. Each district selects a Teacher of the Year through a panel review using specific criteria. Cook was named the 2026 Pacific South District Teacher of the Year before advancing to the DoDEA-wide selection.

Along with the public recognition and award, Cook will enter the National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) application pool and will be recognized by the President at a future White House ceremony. He will also attend the NTOY Conference and participate in Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)-sponsored Teacher of the Year events.

The year of service for the 2026 DoDEA Teacher of the Year will begin on Jan. 1, 2026, and run through December 2026. The selection is announced in advance to allow DoDEA’s candidate and others from across the United States to participate in the National Teacher of the Year program, which selects finalists in December. The current 2025 DoDEA Teacher of the Year’s term will continue through the end of December 2025.

Additional information about DoDEA’s Teacher of the Year Program may be found at www.dodea.edu/toy.

DoDEA 2026 District Teachers of the Year Recipients