John Cockrell

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEPARTMENT - Music

John Cockrell is a head teacher in the Early Childhood Dept., whose life and career have brought him continually - and happily - back to Diller-Quaile. Since graduating from Trinity College (CT) with a B.A. in Music longer ago than he cares to admit, his professional life has walked a landscape fertile for performing (stand-up comedy, theater and a smattering of dreadful commercials) and, most recently, writing.

Having worked as a writer/producer for three seasons on USA Network’s witness protection-themed program In Plain Sight, John wrote multiple episodes, including two season finales and the series finale. He has since worked on multiple TV shows for CBS. In 2012 and in 2020 he wrote and produced two campaign shorts, which reunited the cast of The West Wing, begging the question, “Um...should I just retire now?”

Fortunately for his wife Theresa and their 12-year-old son Theo, John did not retire. And fortunately for him - and for his sanity - Diller-Quaile and its faculty, staff and families remain a reinvigorating touchstone; a constant and calming source of music and joy in his life.