Hey!  Ms. Cook here!  Just want you to know I love you and can't wait to meet you!  Let's work together.  You won't believe all of the amazing things YOU will do in my class! Trust me, you are amazing and your talent is beyond what you even imagined!

This is Maria Cook's fourth year teaching Interactive Media for Wicomico County's Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. She teaches all four levels of interactive media and prepares students for careers as well as continued education. She has an Associates of Art degree in Commercial Art from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, a Bachelor's of Art degree in Fine Art from Salisbury University, and a Master's of Art in Teaching degree from the University of MD, Eastern Shore. Before teaching, she worked as a free-lance commercial artist and illustrator. In 1999, she started her career as an art teacher in Wicomico County. She taught twenty years at James M. Bennett High School.  From 2004 to 2011 she published and designed a regional magazine called Delmarva Youth and Family Magazine. The magazine’s core mission was to highlight the accomplishments of Delmarva's youth and provide resources to parents, teachers and all who work with youth.  The magazine featured stories about Delmarva's young people and published informative parenting articles, upcoming events and family resources. She wore many hats as publisher including writer, editor, photographer, researcher, layout artist, ad designer, web designer, public relations & social media marketer, event planner, and business manager. During this time, she worked closely with the community as it was integral to the magazine’s overall success.  Since teaching interactive media at Wicomico High School, she has held multiple art shows, instructed students as they learned digital art, design and interactive media, and assisted students in marketing and selling their work. Ultimately, her mission is to help students graduate and move forward in their careers, whether that means a job in graphic design, photography, videography and editing, or animation or college / vocational training.  Ms. Cook loves her students and thanks God for having the privilege to help prepare students for a successful future.