Joseph Ocol, a math teacher at Chicago Public School, has been making headlines recently after coming to the school alone despite the school’s decision to practice remote learning due to the pandemic.
Ocol has been with the Chicago Public School System as an algebra teacher and after-school chess mentor since 2005. He has promised himself and his students that he will come to class whenever possible.
He was left traumatized after one of his students was shot dead while leaving a school building in 2005. After this heartbreaking incident, his life was changed completely, and his love and affection for students have grown highly.
Who Is Joseph Ocol? Chicago Public School Math Teacher
Joseph Ocol is a math teacher at Chicago Public School who has been a part of the school family for 17 years.
He is trending all over the internet after he decided to cross the picket line to organize a chess practice program. He was expelled from the student union in 2016 after he crossed the picket line set by the school union due to a pandemic.
He told the media that the most vulnerable time for students to be outside is 3 pm to 6 pm, so he decided to start the chess program to keep the students inside the school building.
HE BROKE THE STRIKE.
“Why dangle the plight of the kids? Why make it hard for them?”@cbschicago is sitting down with the teacher who crossed the picket line, Joseph Ocol. pic.twitter.com/1OmeqAHnUL
— Tara Molina (@TaraMolinaTV) October 22, 2019
Joseph Ocol: Is He Suffering From Cancer?
Joseph Ocol, battling cancer for a long time, shows up in school despite the Chicago teacher union surge to remote learning due to the COVID-19 fears.
Joseph is in the last stage of his life, and he said that he knows what is the most essential thing in his life. He loves his students very much, but he believes that there are other ways to protect the students’ health.
He is also a Chess coach, and he said his focus will always remain on students. He also noted that remote learning is harmful to students and their parents.
Teacher, Chess Coach Joseph Ocol Comes To School Despite Remote Learning Vote, Says COVID Safety Measures Should Not Be Done In ‘Sweeping Way’ https://t.co/MQNWviNsga pic.twitter.com/zLAKHryZAV
— CBS Chicago (@cbschicago) January 6, 2022
Joseph Ocol Wife And Family: Where Is He From?
Joseph Ocol is originally from the Philippines and shares Filipino ethnicity, and is currently residing in the United States of America with his wife and family. Ocol is a math teacher in Chicago Public School.
However, he was in the US for quite a long time and held an American identity.
However, the media hasn’t disclosed further details about his personal life. He feels that students are essential in his life and doesn’t want to be away with students in his last days of life.
He told the media that he wanted to do something for whatever time he had in this world.