Marquis Cooper, Sr. is an award winning educator, Professional School Counselor in the Pulaski County Special School District, and the Executive Director of 12welve(www.12welve.ning.com), to provide youth and parents with thought provoking seminars and panel discussions to help alleviate some of the community problems. Marquis is a nationally renowned motivational speaker, and author of Guidance ~N~ Action (www.guidancenaction.com) a program designed for school counselors and educators. Guidance ~N~ Action has just been recognized a Model program for the National Dropout Prevention Center (www.dropoutprevention.org). His latest book Sista let me tell ya, Bruh if you only knew, Real Talk for Parents and Educators, From Me to You was just released July 2010. Over the past 14 years he has served as an advocate for children of all capacities from the elementary, middle and high school level. Marquis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Philander Smith College, a Master’s degree in counseling from UALR, and currently is working on his Marriage and Family Therapy Certificate, while finishing his doctorate degree in Education Administration at UALR.  He is a native of Marianna, AR where he is the youngest of 22 children.  He is the proud father of two loving children.    He has coined the quote, “If you leave and grow, you can come back and plant.” He continues to plant seeds of success and change by helping others to understand that your current circumstance does not dictate your future.

Teacher of the Year
Counselor of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Presenter for the National Center for Youth Issues Organization
B. A in Elem Education
M. Ed in Counselor Education
Obtaining Ed.d in Education Administration