Enterprise teacher has hands full at work and home

Pinedale Elementary School teacher Carolyn Cooke Green instructs first grade students in reading. Green and husband Steven, who is in the U.S. Army, stay busy at home with two sets of twins.

By Carole Brand
Published: September 25, 2009

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It was a toss-up for Carolyn Cooke Green regarding whether she would teach, be a nurse or a stay-at-home mom. For Green, the choice became easy after she had two sets of twins.
“My number one goal was always to be a mommy and I was torn between nursing and an education career because I have always loved working closely with people and kids. Teaching won because I knew I would be able to spend summers with all the babies I’d have. Little did I know the babies would come two at a time.”
Today, Green teaches first grade at Pinedale Elementary School. She has 17 years in education, including teaching at Solomon Elementary in Hawaii, Pulaski Elementary in Georgia, Nelson Elementary in Virginia, Georgetown Elementary in Georgia and Summerville and Beech Hill in South Carolina. Green graduated from Benedict College in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in science.
“My husband, Steven, is U.S. Army and we’ve moved a lot,” she said. The couple has twin 15-year-old daughters, Imani and Imara, and twin 5-year-old daughters, Hannah and Hayden. Green says she is “step-monster” to Jayson, 22, who is in the U.S. Navy.
Green’s favorite moment in teaching is “after staying after school several days to help a student with some math, she sent me a card that said, ‘thanks for hanging in there with me. I know I’m not easy, but I try.’”
Green said, “‘try’ became my favorite word.”
As a legacy in teaching, “I want to have not only provided students with a firm education foundation, but also positive self esteem, sense of wonder and wonderful first-grade memories.”
Past and current role models include: My 10th grade English teacher, Mev Shieder and our President Barack Obama, who said, “when faced with adversity, consider all options!”
Favorite music: Gospel music and anything by John Legend.
Pastime: Watching college football, especially University of Georgia, and spending quality time with my family.
Books: Thorn Birds, Memoirs of a Geisha and Green Eggs and Ham.
Talents: Cooking and cake decorating.
Pet peeve: People who are mean to children or old people.
Values most important: Honesty and loyalty.
How would your friends describe you to a stranger? Kind, energetic, witty and happy.
Worst fear: To lose my ability to talk; to be trapped with all of my thoughts.