Growing up in Cook County I always felt supported by not only teachers and coaches at school, but by the entire community. I remember great conversations while getting my haircut at Chuck’s Barber Shop, the fun of exploring what was new in Joynes’ Department Store, buying baseball cards at Leng’s Fountain, and eating my first slice of pizza at Sven & Ole’s. Many of these community members went on to cheer for my sports teams when I was a student-athlete at CCHS.
While the years have passed, I realize that the entire community came together to help me grow, learn, and succeed. Much of the reason I came back to my hometown was because of the people of Cook County. Some of you know me as the kid who broke your backyard window with a foul baseball. Others know me because my dad was a deputy or because my mother was a nurse at the hospital. Many of you now know me as a teacher and coach at Cook County Schools. I am proud to know all of you as fellow residents of Cook County whether you have known me since I was little, or whether you are new to the community.
As a parent, I hope that my children will experience some of the great opportunities that I had as a student at Cook County Schools. From relationships with great teachers like “Mr. A” (Gerald Anderson) to moments like homecoming week where businesses were adorned with blue and white to cheer on the local sports teams. My hope is that my kids will get to experience some of the truly great moments I was blessed to have as a youth.
I ask you to please consider voting for the school district’s upcoming levy referendum. Like many of you, I too am fiscally conservative. I want to know where my tax dollars are being used, and I want to be assured my dollar is being wisely spent. The fact remains that rural schools in Minnesota are just not being funded by the state at a level that helps our children compete with their counterparts in wealthier districts in the state. Please consider taking the time to vote for the future of our children in Cook County.
For 31 of my 41 years of life, I have been inside the walls of Cook County Schools as either a student or teacher. My heart bleeds blue and white, and I can’t imagine a better place to raise my children. Please join me in supporting the future of our school, and ultimately, our county. I hope you will consider voting yes for our school system and to giving our youth the same support and acceptance you have shown me as a young person growing up in Cook County.
Mitch Dorr
Proud Cook County resident
CCHS graduate of 1993
Current CCHS teacher and coach
Proud parent of four
Cook County students
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