. >> reporter: early on cockrell's grandmother swooped in to save him. >> she had to do so much, getdid everything by herself. sorry. >> reporter: eventually school and sports became his refuge, in eighth grade he was adopted by his football coach. >> no, not from "the blind side,". >> reporter: became a teacher, landing here at crestwood elementary school. how did you get to crestwood? >> i took a cab. >> reporter: that laugh makes the fun infectious in his classes. >> whenever you're sad, he cheers you up. >> reporter: how can a teacher tell when students are sad? >> i have no idea, it's a magical power. >> he teaches us to stay healthy and have fun at the same time. >> reporter: something cockrell shares online, workouts with son and daughter. now competing for national teacher of the year. only been an educator for under a decade but in reality, mr. d.c. brings a lifetime of experience. >> seen so many bad things and glad i have a job i love. if people are tired of me laughing and giggling all the time, just got to get used to it. >> reporter: for "cbs this morning," i'm air ol b

cockrell, i'm chok choked up looking at your face, teacher of the year, mr.t wood elementary school in st. louis. your coworkers who know you best say you always know how to put a smile on a person's face. what do your family and friends, and education community as you know, what have they said about you being teacher of the year? >> they know how goofy i am, and how silly, and i think that's the reason why. i think with me, i'm just so grateful to be alive. i have a job that i love. i love the people i work with. and i'm always just so happy, and i want to push positivity and love and happiness on everyone else, and i think, you know, that's a reflection of why i'm missouri teacher of the year. >> help us understand that because there's a lot of people out there, especially now, who feel hopeless. in your acceptance speech you talked about what it was like as a child when you were in a gang. can you speak a little bit about your path because some people can't see the light. you always have. >> you know, there were some tough times, and i can honestly say the

teacher darrion cockrell said educators saved his life and that inspired him to help a new generationies. errol barnett shows us his against-the-odds journey to success. >> reporter: it's easy to see why mr. d.c., as his students call him. >> he gone, he gone. >> reporter: was named missouri's teacher of the year. >> who is the most popular teacher in school? >> mr. d.c. >> reporter: but some students at crestwood elementary school near st. louis were surprised to learn recently mr. d.c. used to go by a much different name. >> six deuce kitchen gangster. your 2021 teacher of the year used to be in a gang. >> reporter: a gang he joined at just 9 years old in this north st. louis neighborhood that's 15 minutes and what seems like a world away from the suburban school where he teaches today. >> i felt like i was born just to fail. like my mother was a drug addict, my father was murdered when i was 4 years old. >> reporter: he felt sdin tinned for that fate or jail. >> this is where my little brother was murdered. >> reporter: early on his grandmother swooped in to save him. >> i feel sor