Years teaching: 32

Years at Parker: 3

Classes you teach: 7th grade life science, 6th grade earth science, and grades 5th-8th math foundations class.

What do you enjoy about teaching? I enjoy the “ah-ha!” moments in teaching, as well as the “ha-ha!” moments, especially since I believe learning at school should be a fun experience. I love how Parker gives me freedom to teach and explore and learn alongside the students, and the Learner Centered Design is a great model for empowering students. And as for the students themselves, it has been wonderful for me to see their creative spirits soar, and to witness so many kids bringing enthusiasm and positive energy to class each day.

Favorite Parker Tradition: Picking a favorite tradition is a hard one since I have not been here very long, but the Parker staff is incredibly thoughtful and supportive of one another and that’s so important to me. I think it could be considered a tradition.

Years teaching: I have been teaching interns, research assistants, students and volunteers in a variety of field research contexts for over 20 years.

Years at Parker: 12

Classes you teach: I teach middle and upper school students in Earth science, biology, AP biology, and Hawaiian studies.

What do you enjoy about teaching? I suppose it is the “discovering together” that I love most about teaching. I love to share (and learn) what is amazing in this world. Teaching is an ideal path toward comprehending just how much we still don’t know. The responsibility and reward of being a teacher is what drew me to Parker. What keeps me here is an environment that allows teachers and students alike to be our imperfect selves, be creative, be vulnerable, and feel safe being vulnerable. Here we can feel comfortable taking risks, learn through failing, and then try again.

Parker students: I love that Parker students are simultaneously boldly diverse, fiercely individual, frequently hilarious goofballs, and truly loving humans. They embrace individuality. They seem not to conform to anything but kindness. They are colorful, intensely curious people that I want to hang out with. They keep me showing up every day.

Favorite Parker tradition: It is very hard to pick just one Parker tradition. I love Campout, of course. However, I’ll pick Interim as it’s such an incredible opportunity for us all to try new things or dive deeper into our passions, together. Like so much at Parker, it is a challenge without intimidation.

Years teaching: 26

Years at Parker: This is my 18th year teaching at Parker. I am also an alum of Parker School Class of 1981, the first alum to be hired at Parker and the first teacher to be hired in Lower School when we expanded in 2005. We are also honored to be the first family of three generations to attend Parker.

Grade you teach: I am Parker’s Kindergarten teacher.

What do you enjoy about teaching? I enjoy working and teaching in the community that I grew up in and being able to give back to my community. I really appreciate that my family is able to enjoy the Parker experience as well.

Parker students: I love how all of our students are so eager to learn and take care of each other.

Favorite Parker tradition: As a student I really enjoyed Campout, the small class size, ‘ohana feeling and off-campus privileges for lunch. I also enjoyed having all our classes in the morning and only electives in the afternoon.

Years teaching: 35

Years at Parker: 29 years (more than half of my life has been spent at Parker)

Classes you teach: English 9, Philosophy, and Songwriting.

What do you enjoy about teaching? Shared moments of insight, inspiration, and laughter.

Parker students: How kind they are, how truly filled with love for one another and for our school they are.

Favorite Parker tradition: ‘Ohana Night for seniors and their families the night before graduation.

What makes Parker special? The unrestricted safety the kids feel to be true to themselves.

Years teaching: 12

At Parker: 9

Grade you teach: I am Parker’s 4th grade teacher and I also teach 5th grade science.

What do you enjoy about teaching? I enjoy working with our kids! Being a teacher has so many rewards that happen throughout the day. Seeing kids excited to learn is the most rewarding part of my job.

Parker students: I love that the students at Parker care about their education. They want to be at school and are so eager to learn new concepts across all subjects. Parker kids are also compassionate, they care about our little school family and they look out for each other. At the lower school, we truly have a safe place for students to learn and thrive.

Favorite Parker tradition: I would have to say the winter concert (pre-covid), where the lower school students put on a fun performance in our school theater for friends and family. It is a special moment where we can celebrate the end of the first semester together before winter break.

Grade: 7th

Joined Parker: In kindergarten

Clubs or sports: Dramatiques, Volleyball, Basketball, Cross country

Favorite class: Dance even though I haven’t been doing it for a while.

Favorite subject: I love learning about history. It’s really fun to see what the past was like.

Favorite Parker tradition: Interim because it’s two days that we all get to do fun activities together.

What makes Parker special? Its size! It is small enough that we can do way more activities and get to know EVERYONE (I’m friends with people from all different grades).

Grade: 2nd

Joined Parker: I started in Kindergarten (2020)

Clubs and sports: Little Techies

Favorite class: I loved first grade. I liked learning in the loft. This year, my favorite class is PE because we do fun stuff and Coach D is a really nice teacher.

Favorite subject: I like to learn about math because I’m really good at solving problems.

Favorite Parker tradition: My favorite tradition is when students get picked as Leaders of ALOHA. I was chosen as a Leader of ALOHA because I help my friends with homework.

What makes Parker special? I like all the space that we have to learn in. When I’m here, I feel happy.

Grade: 11th

Joined Parker: I entered Parker as a freshman in the 2021-2022 school year.

Clubs and sports: I’m in the investment club and Olelo Hawaii club. I am playing volleyball and hopefully basketball and track soon.

Favorite class: My favorite class is honors algebra 2 and trigonometry because I love when logic wins.

Favorite subject: I’ve always been intrigued with languages.

Favorite Parker tradition: Playing slippery chicken at annual Campout.

What makes Parker special? Parker allows you to discover what type of learner you are. It’s a safe place of supporting students through their journey of stepping out of their comfort zones and into newness. Whether it’s a new skill such as a sport, or an interest such as photography, or maybe even something you didn’t even think about, like the investment club.

Grade: 11th

Joined Parker: I joined my 6th grade year in the fall of 2017.

Clubs and sports: I have co-started an Environmental and Sustainability focused club called Eco Club with my friend Isabella Russo. I am on the tennis team, I am also a part of leadership in the Student Council, National Honors Society (NHS) and Amnesty International. Additionally I am participating in Debate, National Arts Honors Society (NAHS), and Parker Press as graphic designer and photographer.

Favorite class: US History and Computer Science Principles (CSP) are my favorite classes this year. I really enjoy Mr. Tichy’s discussion based history class. His very open-ended questions like “What is an American?” always keeps me engaged. I love my CSP class that is taught by Ms. Futrell because of its hands-ons learning. I am currently learning how to code with a computer I built with an easy to understand computer kit.

Favorite subject: I enjoy learning many subjects but I excel most in Math. To me math makes logical sense and comes easily to me. This year I really like Mrs. Mannion’s Pre-Calculus class because of her teaching style. She always takes the time to make sure you understand the material before moving on.

Favorite Parker tradition: Campout! Campout is a memorable way to start the year. You meet so many new friends and create strong bonds with old friends. One of my favorite campout memories is staying up all night to talk story, then waking up to the delicious smell of fried rice and sausage!

What makes Parker special? The people. The small school size creates this sense of ‘Ohana. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone is seen and pushed to be their best self.

Grade: 10th

Joined Parker: In 7th grade. I started Parker during the COVID-19.

Clubs or sports: I have done basketball, volleyball, paddling, student council, honor choir, several musicals, debate, Dramatiques, and more during my time at Parker so far.

Favorite class: Chorus, it’s a stress reliever and it’s just the most chill class you can take. In addition, I absolutely love singing, and Ms. Lilley is a phenomenal teacher, and Ms. Duggan, the new chorus teacher, is exceptional.

Favorite subject: English. Consistently throughout my years at Parker I’ve had different teachers, and have had very different class styles, all of which developed a different crucial piece of my writing. That’s where I developed this distinct voice in my writing that I didn’t previously have. Not only is this my favorite subject, but it’s the subject I’ve had the most growth in since coming to Parker.

Favorite Parker tradition: Either Campout or Stealing of the Bull. Campout is held at the beginning of the school year where everyone goes somewhere for a couple days and gets to make new connections with people they may have never talked to. Stealing of the Bull is where the seniors steal the school’s Bull mascot and redesign it as something to represent their class. Later on, there’s an event where they reveal the Bull and the new design along with honoring a couple teachers. Both are unique events that I look forward to every year.

What makes Parker special? I have had more growth at Parker than I did at any school and I think that’s because I knew I was safe and part of a family. The Parker ‘ohana is a real thing, you feel it from the first day you step on campus, and I think that family-like atmosphere is what makes Parker unlike any other school.

Grade: 9th

Joined Parker: in Kindergarten

Clubs or sports: Debate, cross country, soccer, basketball, volleyball

Favorite class: History with Mr. Ruderman  because he lets us connect with ancient history by connecting these events with current problems or issues.

Favorite subject: I have a really good understanding of math. It comes easy to me (currently taking Alg 2/ trig) and I feel really confident with it.

Favorite Parker tradition: ‘Ohana Day and Chili Cook Off because my dad is a really good baker and has won a couple of the pie competitions at Cook Off.

What makes Parker special? Intramurals during lunch led by Coach D. I enjoy sports and intramurals are a great way to play and engage with the sports that I am passionate about.