Parker: My mom always supported me. She really has pushed me in a lot of different areas to be who I am today. She always told me to follow my dreams and be whatever I wanted to be in life. She has been so supportive of me and my teaching. I also had incredible teachers growing up. Christiana instructional coach Amy Patterson has really encouraged me to become a better teacher. Amy says often that I remind her of a younger her. Her encouragement and help in developing me has been amazing.
Parker: I love to come to work every single day. No matter if the previous day was hard, I love coming back every day. I love getting to know my students and being able to create an individualized plan to help them succeed. I love working at Christiana. I feel so supported by my administration. Christiana principal Mr. Lafferty and Amy Patterson have pushed me so hard to become a better teacher. The staff here is just incredible. I am able to have ownership over my area here. I feel like this administration trusts me and allows me the space to excel. Likewise, my students push me every day. On the other hand, this school understands that I am a human and that I mess up and make mistakes but still encourage my development. I really love it here.
Parker: I hope my students know that I care about them as a human. I want the best for them. While I was their teacher, academics were important but I challenged them as a person too. Hopefully they will say I made learning fun and that I made school a place that they loved coming to every day. I enjoy helping them grow academically but I get just as much enjoyment out of
Parker: Education is a challenging environment to be in but it’s extremely rewarding at the same time. Don’t let social media influence your calling to be a teacher. You don’t have to know it all. Welcome growth and be a learner. Learn from the teachers and educators around you - that’s the best professional development possible.