At Enid High School, Gabriella Cotarelo helps ninth-grade students find confidence in both their ideas and their voices. As a Pre-AP English I teacher, Cotarelo uses reading, writing, and discussion to challenge students academically while giving them room to think creatively and express themselves.
Cotarelo teaches Pre-AP English I to ninth-grade students at Enid High School. Although this is her second full year teaching, her career began midway through a semester, giving her two and a half years of experience in the classroom. Enid High is the first school where she has taught.
“I decided to be an educator because I wanted to enter a profession where I would be able to leave a lasting impact, and I believe there is no better fit for that than an educator,” Cotarelo said. “English was always the subject that I gravitated towards in school, so I always knew that would be the one I would want to teach. I love it because it’s a subject where I have the opportunity to really challenge students to think critically, but I also can give them a space to express themselves creatively.”
Her passion for education was shaped by teachers who made students feel seen and heard. Cotarelo especially remembers her fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Corderman.
“She was one of the first teachers who truly made me feel like I had a voice that was valued in her classroom,” Cotarelo said.
Now, Cotarelo works to provide that same sense of belonging for her own students. While she enjoys watching students understand an important classroom concept, the everyday conversations often mean just as much.
“I have students from last year who will always come up to say hi, to talk about their classes, or to even just tell me about their days,” Cotarelo said. “These moments show me that I’m forming connections and reaching them in a way that extends beyond English.”
Cotarelo carries simple advice into every school day: “control the controllable and take it one day at a time.”
Outside the classroom, the English teacher enjoys reading, continuing the lifelong interest that helped guide her toward education.
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