Charlyn Parks prefers to stay in the background, so she understandably app but unsuccessfully app sought people to accompany her Wednesday on a walk through the Southwick Elementary School hallways, which were lined with students and co-workers ready to celebrate her retirement from a five-decade career.
Parks accepted a flower bouquet and a tiara from Principal Megan Cripe before beginning her 10-minute solo parade with high-fives from kindergartners who cheered their congratulations. The song appCelebrationapp played over the public address system.
The send-off followed that format instead of an all-school assembly because the gym cannot accommodate all 720 students, Cripe said.
appThis is the best way to get everybody involved,app she said.
Parks spent her entire career at East Allen County Schools after graduating from Taylor University in 1969. She initially retired in 2012 but returned to the classroom five years later after receiving a call asking for her help, she said.
Colleagues gathered for her send-off described her longevity in education as unbelievable.
appThere are all kinds of ways you can serve our community,app Parks said after collecting flowers and handmade cards from the well-wishers. appFor me, the best way to do it is through education.app
Parks most recently taught kindergartners in the English language learner program, which is for students whose native language is not English. This year, that population represents 61% of Southwickapps students, according to state enrollment data.
Teaching such students English involves repetition along with visual, auditory and tactile learning, Parks said.
appWhen it finally comes after weeks and months of waiting, there isnappt a better feeling in the world,app she said. appThere just isnappt.app
Longtime colleague Christine Brames said Parks encourages students to take chances and shares anything she can to help them learn. appShe will laugh with them, and she will cry with them,app Brames said. appShe can be their cheerleader, she can be their coach, and she can also be their mom.app
Teaching wasnappt Parksapp first career choice. She wanted to be a forensic pathologist, she said, but she instead honored her fatherapps request to pursue education.
appI guess God had another plan in it for me because I became a teacher, and I havenappt got one single regret,app she said. appThis was my calling. I just didnappt know it at the time.app
