Dr. Jerry L. Parks
Social Studies, Grade 7, Georgetown Middle School, Georgetown, Kentucky
Total years as a classroom teacher: 24
EDUCATION
| 2003 | National Board Certification | NBPTS |
| 1974 | Eastern KY. University | Ed.S, Education |
| 1973 | Eastern KY. University | M.A., Education |
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
| 1994-Present | Grade 7, Social Studies, Georgetown Middle School, Georgetown, Kentucky |
| 1980-1990 | Grades 7-8, Health Education, Tates Creek Middle School, Lexington, Kentucky |
| 1978-1980 | Grades K-6, Physical Education, Russell Cave Elementary School, Lexington, Kentucky |
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
| 2007 | USA TODAY Award "All American Teacher Team" |
| 2003 | National Board Certification |
| 2000 | State Teacher of the Year - Teacher of the Year |
| 1989 | Teacher of the Year, Fayette County Schools |
| 1988 | Top Ten Teacher in Kentucky, Golden Apple Award |
- Dr. Parks believes there are three important components to the teaching profession: teaching is a serving profession, no teacher is indispensable, and rewards in education are not measured on the gold standard. He empathizes with his students and understands what it is like to not enjoy the learning process. Parks has grown professionally through helping others grow, which he believes is what teaching is all about.
- In his classroom, Dr. Parks encourages engagement among his students. Parks truly thinks there needs to be a productive relationship between teacher and students—a relationship comprised of modeling, motivation, and management. One of his teaching strategies is the acronym: C.R.E.A.T.E., which stands for: Creativity, Relevancy, Adaptability, Training, and Enthusiasm. Dr. Parks is immensely involved inside and outside the classroom. His classroom is a model learning lab for teachers in training, and he has authored numerous books for parents and teachers.
“Dr. Parks makes a classroom come alive with rich learning situations that change the way children learn and instills in them the desire for lifelong learning. He is a role model of character, and has touched thousands of lives—inspiring many of them to become teachers. He loves teaching and makes learning ‘contagious’, and has given his time to support young people beyond the classroom.”
David Andes, Former Principal
“Mr. Parks cares for his students as if they were people. He not only listens when kids have opinions, he makes us feel it actually matters. He not only loved what he taught, he loved us, and made us love to learn, sometimes in spite of ourselves. Mr. Parks made every student and me in his class feel important, and that we could reach just a little further than we thought we could. He had a way of making us see how social studies affected our life.”
Lauren Ishmael, Former Student