If you take a peek inside the gym at the intermediate school you will find a very special teacher. This year is the 30 year mark for BISD teacher Karen Cook.
Mrs. Cook is the Health Fitness teacher and her passion is to teach the students a balance of good nutrition, exercise and rest and how to maintain a healthy body throughout their life. Teaching each and every student that “they are fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) 
For the past 10 years, Mrs. Cook has headed up the “Jump Rope for Heart”, something that she considers to be her ministry as she strives against the battle of heart disease and stroke, engaging her students in the fight. 
She has sparked an eagerness and awareness in the hearts of her students to give forth the effort for this cause, in both the physical (jumping) and financial (getting pledges). 
And their eyes have been opened to their own world, a world where heart disease and stroke affects everyone of us and she gives each child the opportunity to tell their own stories of how they have been affected by these deadly diseases.
And some have put together a poster of a loved one that has battled heart disease and it is displayed on her wall of hearts. 
And our very own beloved teacher is there on her wall. 
When she first started the “Jump Rope for Heart” it was an after school program with a hand full of children participating and they raised $2,056.49 in donations for the American Heart Association.
But her passion and enthusiasm was contagious and she worked hard to encourage the students to participate. 
Because of her devotion and hard work she has turned this program into the successful, thriving event that we see today.
This year 333 student participated in “Jump Rope for Heart” and it was an amazing event. They raised a total of $18,243.28, setting an all time record! 
Over the past ten years, under the direction and tutelage of Mrs. Cook, she and her students have raised $130,679.08 for the American Heart Association! 
And this year, out of 2000 candidates, Mrs. Cook was one of the 35 recipients of the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance/Jump Rope For Heart grants for her outstanding work in educating our children about heart disease. 
The article commended Mrs. Cook saying, “The community of Bridgeport and the American Heart Association owe Karen Cook a debt of gratitude for her continuous efforts to raise funds and educate our children and community on the hazards and prevention of heart disease and stroke. With enough dedicated teachers and individuals like Mrs. Cook, we may just have a fighting chance to eventually conquer the epidemic of these deadly killers.” (Bridgeport Index-by Jeff Johnston)
It was an honor for me to witness the Jump Rope for Heart event. It was a grand, spectacular event and I was overwhelmed with emotions and I felt privileged to be a part of such an amazing cause.
I am thankful for my dear friend and teacher Mrs. Cook, who loves her students and challenges each of them to follow in her footsteps and to dare to be different and to make the change.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14
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