Archway Lincoln Teacher Scores Tickets to the Biggest Game in Town

Archway Lincoln first grade teacher, Cori Bagby, was surprised by representatives from the Arizona Cardinals, in partnership with Microsoft, to honor Mrs. Bagby as an excellent teacher with an inspiring and remarkable story of perseverance and courage. Marcel Shipp, former running back for the Arizona Cardinals, greeted her class and presented her with a gift card to purchase classroom supplies on behalf of the Cardinals, and shared the news that Microsoft will be sending her a new Microsoft Surface Pro. Bagby expressed excitement by this news as she announced that her laptop had recently broke.  But the biggest surprise came when she was presented with two tickets to Sunday’s Super Bowl game at State Farm Stadium.

Dr. Toyin Atolagbe, headmaster at Archway Lincoln, submitted this article in recognition of Mrs. Bagby.

On March 9, 2018, Cori Bagby waved goodbye to her kindergarten students and their parents that had attended a field trip to the Phoenix Zoo. She then caught a plane to Park City, Utah, where she planned to enjoy the snowy slopes for the much-deserved Spring Break.

While snowmobiling early the next morning, Cori rounded a curve and collided with an oncoming snowmobile. She was gravely injured, and mountain rescuers air-lifted her to the nearest hospital.

Her injuries were overwhelming. The left side of her torso had been crushed, which included 12 broken ribs on the back, two on the front, a broken clavicle and scapula, a lacerated spleen, and a punctured lung.

Recovery and rehab were difficult, with multiple surgeries and setbacks, including the non-fusion of bones and, a full year later, the discovery of additional broken ribs embedded in her spine. More surgeries, including spinal fusion, were endured.

In the blink of an eye, life had become very, very different for the 39-year-old mother of 3, and she knew things could never be the same again. This experience changed her. She moved differently, felt different, and had to rebuild her body and mind. Asking for help and learning new skills became a survival tool. It’s what she taught her students; now it was her turn to show them how to persevere. Nearly five years later, Cori’s doing great and continues to gain strength.  None of it has been easy, but with a supportive community, including her family, friends, and school team, she’s regained much of her former lifestyle.

This life-changing event did not deter Cori from continuing to pursue her passion for teaching. Cori is still busy sharing her love of learning at Great Hearts Archway Lincoln, where you can find her teaching first grade and promoting the power of perseverance and courage. Her passionate commitment to her students is unwavering as she continues to show up to teach despite all odds. She drives 45-60 mins from Phoenix daily to provide her students with the best education. Some days are hard because they are filled with pain, but this has not stopped her from continuing to be an excellent teacher who cultivates the minds and hearts of her scholars in pursuit of their moral and academic goals. We celebrate Cori Bagby as an outstanding teacher!

Bagby said she was both delighted and humbled by the recognition. “My injury 5 years ago was life changing, but with support from family, friends, and Great Hearts, I was able to persevere through the worst of it. The real reward was being valued when I was at my worst physically, and given the grace and support to remain at Archway Lincoln while slowly recovering,” said Bagby.

“This Sunday my husband Christopher and I will be rooting for the Eagles at the Super Bowl and relishing in this monumental opportunity.”

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