Every month or so, we like to introduce a member of our Board of Directors to the community. This time, it’s Cora Coakley’s turn!
Cora Coakley was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, she moved to Silver Spring, MD to begin a career in retailing. It was there that she met her future husband, George. After marrying and deciding that the retailing field wasn’t for her, Cora returned to graduate school at George Washington University where she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching, and immediately embarked upon her 35 ½ year career with Montgomery County Public Schools. Cora taught all the elementary grades, K – 6, but spent most of her career in the Early Childhood grades of K, 1, and 2. In addition to being a classroom teacher, Cora was also a teacher-trainer, instructing fellow teachers in curriculum and methods for the MCPS Science Department. She served on the Leadership Team of her school as well as being First Grade Team Leader for many years.
Cora and her husband moved to Poolesville 48 years ago and raised their 2 sons here. While one son remains in the area, the other son and his family live in New York, near the Canadian border.
No stranger to volunteer work, Cora served on the Board of the Poolesville Community Pre-School, and on the PTA for both Poolesville Elementary and PHS. She and her husband are members of Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church (OLP), where they have attended and volunteered in many capacities since its founding. Most recently, Cora has assisted OLP as a Liturgy Volunteer, including with the Children’s Liturgy. After retirement, Cora volunteered with Historic Medley as part of the Seneca Schoolhouse project. She also initiated a reading and crafts program with the pediatric patients at Adventist Health Care, Shady Grove Medical Center, and looks forward to returning there when volunteers are welcomed back.
For Poolesville Seniors, Cora is on the Program Committee, and is Chairperson of the Quarterly Socials. She also writes the “Senior News” articles that appear in the Monocacy Monocle.
There are many interests Cora pursues in her spare time. Her favorite activity is spending time with her family, especially her (too far away) grandchildren. Travelling, swimming, playing bridge, exercising, biking, and enjoying the outdoors are her other loves.