Rodney Cook attended John Wetten Elementary, Kraxberger Middle School, and Gladstone High School, where he graduated in 2000 as one of the school’s few Black students. Rodney had many wonderful mentors and coaches in the Gladstone community who encouraged his growth as a student, an athlete, and a citizen.Mrs. Buchanan, his 5th-grade teacher, urged Rodney to read books that inspired him, and he found himself gravitating towards books documenting the Civil Rights Movement. Mrs. Wilson, his neighbor and high school English teacher, introduced “To Kill a Mockingbird” as a summer read in the 6th grade. This book profoundly impacted Rodney and would later guide his pursuit to help those who have been marginalized by society.
Rodney naturally excelled in high school mathematics, which would help him in his career as a Certified Financial Planner™. His father, Rodney Sr. impressed upon him the importance of giving back to the community as he served on the Gladstone School Board for 8 years.
He studied business at Linfield University and earned a Masters degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from Warner Pacific University, He is now the Director of Financial Planning at Roswell Wealth Management in Bend, Oregon.
In July 2020, he shared shared his thoughts and feelings in a blog post Superintendent Bob Stewart recently shared with all staff. We invite you to read and share Rodney’s words:
https://www.cascadeae.com/