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Subjects: Advanced Placement literature, advanced composition and sophomore English
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English from Purdue University and teacher’s license
Years teaching: 2 1/2
City born: Tipton
City raised: Gaston
Current hometown: Gaston
Family: Engaged
Last book read and what you thought of it: The last book I read was “Today I Made a Difference,” which is a collection of narratives from teachers all over the United States. They write of hardship, struggling with it and overcoming it to make a difference in students’ lives. Their accounts were inspiring!
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher inspired me to be a teacher. Mrs. Pamme Meier-Fisher at Wes-Del Junior-Senior High School pushed me and encouraged me to push myself to reach a potential I never even knew I had.
Favorite teaching memory: My favorite memories stem from watching students turn their lives around. I’ll always remember a particular student from my first year of teaching who gave me a hard time about how school, especially English, wasn’t important for “real life.” Through our study of poetry, this student found his voice and the desire to always seize the day. From that point on, he was a completely different student. I recently ran into him, and he said he hoped to attend college and major in English. I have watched more students like him make the same transformation throughout these 2 1/2 years, and they constantly remind me why it is I became a teacher in the first place – to inspire my students to find their voices and realize their potential and to always seize the day.
Nominated by: Kylie LaFevers, student
Nomination: “In my eyes, Ms. Parton is the BEST teacher I’ve ever had. She made class very interesting and enjoyable. I’ve always loved English, but she made me want to pursue my dreams of being an English teacher, just like her. She listened to our ideas, was patient with us, and she really cared about her students. Outside of class, I always knew she was the one I could talk to about my problems. She had a great way of making you feel like you mattered. She is trustworthy, caring, and has a great attitude toward life.”
Do you have a favorite teacher? Please send us your nominations, including the teacher’s name, school, school district and grade/subject taught as well as your name, phone number and reason for your nomination. Nominations can be sent to Sarah Janssen at The Journal Gazette, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802, faxed to 461-8893 or emailed to teacher@jg.net.
•Xavier University student Shenitria Myles of Fort Wayne is one of 30 students who received a $2,500 Anheuser-Busch scholarship through United Negro College Fund.
•Vice President of Finance and Treasurer Jack Gochenaur was named a 2012 Chief Financial Officer of the Year honoree by the Indianapolis Business Journal.
