The Teacher Spotlight for February shines on Kevin Parsons. Mr. Parsons, 45, has been teaching at Central School School for 16 years and has earned a reputation as an excellent teacher and friend.
Mr. Parsons teaches AP Language as well as Computer Science and has mainly worked with upperclassmen in his years at Central. Many of his students describe him as intellectual, funny, sophisticated, and a great ear for when you just need to talk.
Junior Aryana Williams said her favorite attribute of Mr. Parsons as a teacher is his, “proper use of sarcasm,” and many of her classmates agree. Parsons has a great sense of humor with his students. Some might even say he is still sixteen at heart. Being able to relate and laugh with your students is an attribute we do not see very often in teachers and professors.
When asked the question, which teacher cares about their students the most, Parson was a common name to pop up. “He is passionate about his work and what he does, and he cares about his students,” junior, Aubrey Burdette says, “and he makes learning fun.”
Parsons checks every box when it comes to being a good teacher according to students and faculty. Ronye Watson, star wide receiver for the Central Pounders football team last year, gave his jersey to Parsons because he was Watson’s favorite teacher.
Some teachers don’t take the time out of their day to get to know their students, but ask any student who has been in Parsons’s class, and they will tell you the exact opposite. When a student needs someone to talk to or needs help with school work, Parsons is there. He even pulls students aside and talks to them about their future. He encourages them to do better in school and to care about what their future looks like. He notices little details about each student, whether it’s how well they read, how effective their writing is, or their attention to detail.
Parsons has a daughter and a wife, whom he cares for outside of school. His daughter is an advanced reader at a young age. One would only guess it’s due to how much Parsons believes in teaching. Reading is important in his family, just as much as it is in school.
