About Mrs. Parks
Rob, Ella and I (July, 2012)
I live here in Ashland with my husband Rob and our daughter Ella. I moved to Ashland in 2006 from, most recently, Miami, Florida.
This is my eighth year teaching at Walker Elementary and I am thrilled to be a part of such an amazing school, and district! Prior to joining Walker, I taught a 4/5 blend at Sacred Heart and previous still, I taught 8th grade Social Studies and Advanced Literacy at McLoughlin Middle School. Each of these unique experiences has helped in my growth as a teacher and built on the education I received earning my masters degree at Southern Oregon University. I also have a B.A. from Portland State University in Business Administration: General Management and a Masters in Teaching from Southern Oregon University.
I am licensed in the state of Oregon to teach grades three through nine and am endorsed for the middle grades in Social Studies and English Language Arts. Language Arts and Social Studies offer countless opportunities to integrate curriculum to enhance students' overall learning and increase engagement. I have been able to focus on this integration in both a self contained classroom and at the middle school level when working with an interdisciplinary team. It definitely takes additional time and effort but the payoff is incredible! Also, having had the opportunity to teach in both a public and private setting and in different grade levels has been instrumental in developing my classroom management and the effectiveness of my instruction.
I entered the teaching profession after spending over a decade in the banking and finance industry. Throughout the course of my business career, I had the opportunity to live in numerous states throughout the U.S. and to work with a wide variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds. I feel that this experience strengthened my ability to be a strong teacher. I believe in a classroom that celebrates the uniqueness of each student and that operates on the principle that we are stronger as a unit because of each of our contributions. My business experience taught me this lesson firsthand.
In addition to my time in the business world, I spent a term living and studying in Spain and also had the incredible opportunity to work as a White House Intern. Both of these unique and distinctly different experiences contribute greatly to what I offer my students as their teacher.
I love to cook, read, and to spend time outdoors. In the summer, I focus on being a mom, taking my now seven year old daughter to do all the things that I can't do during the school year- classes, events, and playdates. It feels amazing to simply focus on my family and it allows me to start each school year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated! I do manage to sneak in classes, seminars, and other learning opportunities to grow as a teacher. Attending professional development offerings such as August Institute (a collection of seminars and field trips focused on environmental education and hands-on, exploratory learning) or Keeping Learning on Track (strategies and techniques for formative assessment) helps me to stretch my thinking and improve my teaching. In addition, this past summer I completed my Initial Administrative Licensure program through Southern Oregon University. I'm excited for the 2019-2020 school year. What a wonderful adventure it is sure to be!
This is my eighth year teaching at Walker Elementary and I am thrilled to be a part of such an amazing school, and district! Prior to joining Walker, I taught a 4/5 blend at Sacred Heart and previous still, I taught 8th grade Social Studies and Advanced Literacy at McLoughlin Middle School. Each of these unique experiences has helped in my growth as a teacher and built on the education I received earning my masters degree at Southern Oregon University. I also have a B.A. from Portland State University in Business Administration: General Management and a Masters in Teaching from Southern Oregon University.
I am licensed in the state of Oregon to teach grades three through nine and am endorsed for the middle grades in Social Studies and English Language Arts. Language Arts and Social Studies offer countless opportunities to integrate curriculum to enhance students' overall learning and increase engagement. I have been able to focus on this integration in both a self contained classroom and at the middle school level when working with an interdisciplinary team. It definitely takes additional time and effort but the payoff is incredible! Also, having had the opportunity to teach in both a public and private setting and in different grade levels has been instrumental in developing my classroom management and the effectiveness of my instruction.
I entered the teaching profession after spending over a decade in the banking and finance industry. Throughout the course of my business career, I had the opportunity to live in numerous states throughout the U.S. and to work with a wide variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds. I feel that this experience strengthened my ability to be a strong teacher. I believe in a classroom that celebrates the uniqueness of each student and that operates on the principle that we are stronger as a unit because of each of our contributions. My business experience taught me this lesson firsthand.
In addition to my time in the business world, I spent a term living and studying in Spain and also had the incredible opportunity to work as a White House Intern. Both of these unique and distinctly different experiences contribute greatly to what I offer my students as their teacher.
I love to cook, read, and to spend time outdoors. In the summer, I focus on being a mom, taking my now seven year old daughter to do all the things that I can't do during the school year- classes, events, and playdates. It feels amazing to simply focus on my family and it allows me to start each school year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated! I do manage to sneak in classes, seminars, and other learning opportunities to grow as a teacher. Attending professional development offerings such as August Institute (a collection of seminars and field trips focused on environmental education and hands-on, exploratory learning) or Keeping Learning on Track (strategies and techniques for formative assessment) helps me to stretch my thinking and improve my teaching. In addition, this past summer I completed my Initial Administrative Licensure program through Southern Oregon University. I'm excited for the 2019-2020 school year. What a wonderful adventure it is sure to be!