MRS. JAYNE PARKER

Lower School Grade 3

Mrs. Parker has been teaching at SA since 2001. She grew up in Pleasant Hills, a town in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, with four siblings including a twin brother. She and her husband, Dan, have one son, Eddie, who is a paramedic for the city of Pittsburgh, and Mrs. Parker could not be more proud of him. At SA, she particularly loves her colleagues from whom she has learned so much, getting to know her students and reaching them so that they may gain a love of learning.

Where is your favorite location on campus?

The Lower School Library. Each week the students are so excited to check out books. Also, our librarians support our curriculum with fabulous book choices. Storytime in the library is a favorite time for both the students and the teachers. The books Mrs. DeMicheli [the librarian] chooses to share with us support an inclusive community.

What part of your classroom best represents you and why?

The classroom rug where we have many lessons and meetings together. I love to share stories with my children that teach life lessons. We come together for read-aloud, which is so relaxing and fun. And lastly, the rug is where the children receive “The Parker Lecture.” Often I will share stories from my past that model mistakes I’ve made. This supports students as they learn and grow. What is your teaching style or philosophy?

My philosophy is to really get to know my students and find out their interests, what challenges

I try my best to reach each child so that they can reach their full potential both academically and socially.” them, and how I can help them face those challenges. This requires a safe environment where children reflect on their learning. I try my best to reach each child so that they can reach their full potential both academically and socially. Creating a classroom setting where the children really know each other and feel safe in taking academic risks supports growth in learning.

Share a defining (or ah-ha!) moment in your career. There are many little moments that make me love teaching, but one stands out. There was a student that was really struggling to understand what he was reading, he could decode and read, but was not taking it in. One day he was reading to me and started crying at a sad part in the book, and I started crying, too. He looked at me and said, “you are crying, too?” Yes, but not because of the sad part in the book, I was crying because the text had meaning to him. He was understanding what he was reading and now could read for joy.

What quote or philosophy do you live by?

Be YOU! I live by that. And if you are feeling down, find a way to put a positive spin on it and learn from your mistakes.