- Special Events
- Teacher of the Year
Justin Parker
Frankford Middle School, US History / PACE Teacher
Teaching Philosophy
Being nominated for my school’s teacher of the year is a great honor; but my real measure of success comes from the lives that I impact.
Last May, I received a letter that will always be posted in my classroom as a reminder of why I teach. The student who wrote the letter was a part of my first group of eighth graders at Frankford Middle School, and they were also my first group to be graduating high school. The student recalled three classic examples from her year with me that can be paired with characteristics to define my philosophy of teaching.
The first is flexibility. This student wrote about how our PACE class would always debate about the bell work and that “One time we went an entire class period over a question you had asked us.” Learning history’s value is not done by maintaining a minute by minute timeline of events. I affirm it is my job to teach more than just content and students should walk away from history class with the skills to engage in proper discourse. I am astonished by the considerations brought up in conversations surrounding the bellwork question. A trait of a strong teacher is the ability to be flexible and keep the class engaged for an entire class period, something I strive for.
Another characteristic that makes me a successful teacher is my ability to build and foster relationships. In our many conversations during the Constitution unit, I would pull out my pocket Constitution to attempt to answer student questions using the text of the Constitution. This led to a running joke with the class about how I probably carried my pocket Constitution with me wherever I went. As a way to build community within the classroom, I found a printable version of the pocket Constitution and had everyone in the class make their own. The activity also served a practical purpose (the students could sift through the Constitution to answer some of their questions), but it also became a bonding experience. I was delighted to read in my former student’s letter, “Plus, I still carry my pocket Constitution in my pencil bag with me.” This student had an experience in my classroom that they carried with them for years, and that is a testament to my ability to build rapport and a sense of community with my students.
Most importantly, what makes me a successful teacher is my ability to see the bigger picture. Along with the lighthearted story of the pocket Constitution was a more serious one about this student going to vote for the first time last March. The student thanked me for sparking her interest in politics and for teaching her the importance of being educated about current events. News and current events have become an increasingly important part of my teaching. Most Friday’s I play a few current event videos and I choose current events that are popular, important, and can be connected back to the content that we study. When a student asks, “Why does history matter?” and another student eagerly replies, “So history doesn’t repeat itself”; I think that this unfairly puts history in a predictable cycle. One of my aspirations is to change their answer to because history is relevant to our lives today. I strive to foster students’ productivity so that they depart into the world as productive and informed members of society, with skills necessary to make informed decisions.
Seeing the bigger picture does not just stop with my PACE and on-level students. My passion for working with Emergent Bilingual students was sparked after identifying their vulnerability within the classroom community. I ended my first year of teaching in Plano with students in my classroom who spoke very little English, and I remember being drawn to them. Though they might not learn every single detail of American history, I knew they’d leave my classroom feeling like a vital part of our classroom community. This aspiration to make sure these students had the most positive experience possible led me to developing lessons for my campus’ Emergent Bilingual students. Consequently, I taught summer school to Emergent Bilingual students in 2019.
The letter I received last May will always be in my classroom. On good days, it will serve as a reminder of why I love teaching. On bad days, it will assure me that I can be flexible, that the relationships I establish with my students are impactful, and that there is a larger picture. Not only that, I’ll be reminded of a student whose life I shaped almost as much as she shaped mine.
Principal's Recommendation
Dear Plano ISD Teacher of the Year Panel,
It is my great joy to write this letter on behalf of Justin Parker, Frankford Middle School’s Teacher of the Year for 2020-2021. Justin is a crucial part of the Falcon Family and sacrificially gives to our entire school community daily.
Justin joined the Plano ISD team in August 2015 after a year of teaching in Ohio. Prior to that he earned a double major in Young Adult Education and History from the University of Dayton where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He has taught social studies and PACE at Frankford Middle School since his hire date. After a few years of teaching, Justin chose to continue his own education. He graduated in August 2020 with his M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a social studies specialization.
Justin continually seeks professional growth opportunities based on the needs of his students. When he felt challenged with how to best support newcomer ELL students, he developed a partnership with the district ELL instructional coach to grow in his skill set. His desire to reach each learner is evident in all he does.
During our voting process, several staff members shared powerful words about Justin. I’d like to share just a few:
I’m not saying Justin is a super hero, I’m just saying you’ve never seen him and Superman in the same room; Spider-Man either. Justin is a quiet leader, who really goes above and beyond to serve all of his students. But to watch him teach, is like watching a superhero. He knocks down any struggle with ease. He isn’t afraid to bring in other superhero’s , in the interest of supporting and growing all learners. Our falcons are better because of his creativity and dedication to them.
He is so dedicated and is always looking for better ways to do things, and he helps teachers and students. I think he's someone who isn't always recognized because he can be kind of reserved, and he doesn't brag about himself.
He always has the interest of the students at heart. With his quiet yet commanding demeanor he has the students captivated and willing to learn. He is always trying to expand their knowledge of history and how it impacts the present. He is also incredibly generous to those teachers around him who need help with classroom discipline or content help. He also is guiding the next generations of honor society students into a path of generosity and service.
Justin has really stepped up and taken the lead on pdh for the staff as well as NJHS. He's been forced to find very creative ways for NJHS students to live and succeed in our virtual world. He's someone the students would want to be like when they grow-up!
Professional, Authentic, Great Work Ethic, Scholar, Intuitive and Kind Hearted!!
Justin Parker is very generous with his time and works hard to inspire students to excel.
When you watch Justin work, you feel a sense of calm and peace. His demeanor puts students at ease and he is known for de-escalating even the most heightened students quickly. Relationship building is at the heart of everything he does and he quickly wins over students, staff and parents. He knows how to form strong connections while maintaining high expectations.
While his student connections certainly cause him to rise to the top, the academic coaching he displays also shines bright. Justin consistently evaluates the academic state of his classroom and looks for ways to further his effectiveness. Furthermore, he has sought out new teachers in need of coaching and has helped with providing instructional support. Both of these endeavors were self-initiated which further shows that when Mr. Parker sees a campus need, he acts on it. Justin works well with teammates to plan instructional activities that engage, push and grow our students.
Justin’s heart for Frankford and Plano ISD extends beyond the classroom walls as he serves in many capacities at FMS. Justin joined our campus leadership team this year and has led our campus Responsibility Center Discipline focus. Mr. Parker has presented several all staff inservice presentations, facilitated small group sessions and coached colleagues. In addition, Mr. Parker serves as our National Junior Honor Society and Whiz Quiz sponsor. He continuously looks for ways to serve the Frankford community beyond his assigned role and is willing to jump in wherever needed to serve the campus. At the district level he has served on the Faculty Council and COVID advisory council. He sees the big picture and looks for ways to problem solve for our community.
It is an absolute joy to serve alongside Justin Parker. His passion, commitment and enthusiasm is contagious to kids and staff alike! I have worked with many educators through my time and I believe Justin to be among the top with his unwavering commitment to the Frankford Family being unmatched. With great pride and admiration, please accept my highest recommendation for Justin Parker to be considered for Plano Independent School’s Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Thank you,
Melanie Schulte
Principal
Frankford Middle School