During her 18 years at Cooke, Mary wore many hats, and she made multitasking look easy. At times, an educator, school administrator, or mentor; at other times, a friend and cheerleader. But also a humorous, humble leader who cared deeply for every child, parent, and friend who passed through Cooke’s doors.

We honor Mary for the way she used all her talents to cultivate, create, and implement new programming, strategic initiatives, and organizational growth. As each year passed, our board, families, supporters and students had new, bold dreams, and Mary worked tirelessly to make those dreams a reality.

She looked forward to the future while still cherishing the presence and potential of each individual student, as they were, in the present moment. Right before she left, she said, “I am so proud of the work we do here. Know that even when I am not here in the building every day, I am always cheering for all of you, for all of Cooke, and for all the things yet to come.”

We honor Mary for her determination and insightful leadership; she exemplifies the Cooke spirit, and under her direction, our school became a “home” for generations of students. She helped us build community, and together we watched students learn and grow, spreading their wings and exploring the world of possibilities that lay before them.

Mary continues to play an important role at Cooke as an Education Consultant, while teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses as an Adjunct Professor at New York University and an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Empire State University.

Beyond her professional work, Mary remains a busy wife and mom. Both Jamie and Alice are steadfast Cooke supporters and can be seen at every school musical and basketball game. Her 9-year-old daughter Alice sums up her mom’s contributions best. In a recent writing assignment on “inspiration,” Alice described Cooke students as “nice, funny, creative and good people,” adding that her mom’s work as a “princable” inspires her to be her best self.

Comedian, actress, author, and Daytime Emmy Award–winning talk show host Sherri Shepherd holds a title she values just as deeply: Cooke parent. Her son, JT, is a student in the Transitions program, where he is building the vocational and communication skills that define Cooke’s approach to young-adult success.

When JT joined Transitions, Sherri quickly became an active partner. After learning about Cooke’s vocational training model, she offered internship placements at her talk show studio. Over the past three years, Transitions students have joined her production team, contributing to a variety of projects, including distributing audience give-aways and designing cast & crew printed menus. These hands-on experiences reflect the real-world preparation at the heart of Cooke’s mission.

With a three-decade career spanning television hits such as 30 Rock, Friends, and Everybody Loves Raymond, as well as her current talk show, Sherri, film projects, podcast, and children’s book, Sherri has built a platform that reaches millions. She uses that platform not only to entertain, but to advocate for inclusion and opportunity.

Through her partnership with Cooke, Sherri helps ensure that students like JT gain the confidence, skills, and professional exposure needed to thrive beyond the classroom.