Chapin Intermediate School student Coco Li and teacher Jennie Goforth have been recognized as the Student and Teacher of the Month by the Chapin Chamber of Commerce.
“Coco Li is a sixth grader who possesses an impressive range of talents,” said Principal Brent Davis. “She sings, plays both the piano and violin, and even composes her own music.” Davis noted that Coco has shared her musical gifts at numerous local and regional events, including the Columbia International Festival, and earlier this year earned a spot in the 2025 Region 3 Orchestra.
Academically, Coco was recently invited to serve on a panel at an annual conference in Denver. Although she was unable to attend due to orchestra commitments, her book review—created as part of an English Language Arts assignment—was shared at the conference. “We are proud of Coco’s academic and artistic accomplishments as she continues to model for classmates what it means to earn your W.I.N.G.S.,” Davis said.
Jennie Goforth, the school’s Reading Interventionist, was named Teacher of the Month and is also the current Chapin Intermediate School Teacher of the Year. She was a finalist for District Teacher of the Year and earned recognition from her peers during her first year in her current role.
“Jennie goes above and beyond every day for her students and staff,” Davis said. “She provides targeted interventions for students reading below grade level and shares effective strategies with classroom teachers, resulting in tremendous student growth and achievement.” He added that students in her classroom are eager to demonstrate their progress and consistently praise her encouragement and instructional approach. “She is a tremendous asset to the Chapin Intermediate School community.”
