Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
“For starters, most people know me as Bull Corry’s daughter,” Chloe Corry begins. “But Dad was very adamant that I become my own person.”
Bull Corry always said Chloe would become a teacher. Bull – a coal miner, radio personality, former mayor, and local business owner – was well-known around Walker County before his passing in 2023. However, he always encouraged Chloe to step out from under the Corry name and become someone of her choosing. Today, Chloe – an educator, avid Taylor Swift fan, and ray of sunshine to those around her – is giving back and embracing life in her own way.
For years, local couples have called on Chloe to babysit their children; thus, her love for children began at a young age. She worked throughout high school and college, babysitting, dog sitting, waitressing, cleaning – anything to put herself through college.
Upon graduating from Oakman High School, Chloe planned to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a nurse, working in pediatrics. However, she soon discovered this was not the path she wished to take.
“My entire life, I wanted to do something with kids. I thought that would be pediatric nursing, but the pieces weren’t fitting together the way they should. So, when I realized I didn’t want to do that, my dad knew he was right. All the Corry women are teachers, and though Dad never pushed me in that direction, he somehow knew I would choose it on my own,” says Chloe.
In December 2023, Chloe completed her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She had gained previous experience in the classroom at Jasper First Methodist Daycare and as a Teacher’s Assistant at T.R. Simmons Elementary. In January 2024, she began her first full semester in the classroom as Miss Corry.
“When people say everything is going to be okay, it’s because everything is going to be okay. I was able to really connect with my students, especially in my first days of teaching. I didn’t dump my grief over my dad’s death onto them, but some of those students related to me because they had also experienced loss,” says Chloe. “The kids that I have in my classroom are not perfect, but I love that because I have such a variety of kids. It blew my mind how they loved one another and supported one another. For a lot of students, this is their happy place. And for me, it’s an honor to give them a space where they feel safe, happy, and loved.”
Chloe says she chooses to live by the Taylor Swift song ‘I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,’ persevering through difficulties and letting her passion for children drive her to become a better educator and person. As Chloe continues to honor her father’s legacy, she fully embraces the future while staying true to her calling. WL
