Cheryl Parkinson, Roosevelt Elementary

“My mom has been a devoted teacher for 35 years in Weber School District. To say she is a lover of learning is an understatement. The majority of her career she has spent with 6th grade students, but she has taught 4th and 5th grades as well in that time. Some of her favorite years teaching were the 11 years she spent teaching the 6th grade gifted and talented class for the school district. She loved teaching kids who loved to learn and she swelled with pride watching them grow! She encourages each student to find their passion and pursue it, recognizing that we all have talents that are unique and help to make this world a better place. In her classroom she makes each child feel seen and heard and encourage them to be each others cheerleaders and work together to succeed. She encourages them to learn about their world through books. She helps to instill a life long love of reading and shows them the world that can be opened to them through books. My mom also believes in a well rounded education. When she is not doing classroom teaching you will find her devoting her free time to the school choir and musical theatre programs that she started. For the last 13 years she has lead groups of 4th, 5th and 6th grade students (sometimes in groups of over 60 children at a time) in finding a love of music. For many of these students this is their first introduction. She spends hours and hours teaching them the importance of accountability with making commitments, public speaking, singing, dancing and working together. Not to mention she does this on a shoe string budget and grant money that she applies for to keep these wonderful programs going. It is SO amazing to watch these kids grow and thrive in the weeks she spends with them. So many of her kids come back years later expressing gratitude and fond memories of these experiences. Her impact is so great in our community!
When summer finally comes and most teachers take a break, my mom gears up to teach a week of PAL camp in their Science category. Again sharing her love of learning with more children.
She is an active member of the UEA and WEA teacher association. She spends time lobbying for teachers and education here in Utah because she believes in investing in children’s futures.
She has spent multiple summers going on History trips for teachers continuing to her quest of life long learning.
My mom is the hardest worker I know, she is the first to show up and the last to leave. She devotes so much of herself to her school and her students. When I think about teachers who make a lasting impact on students she is at the top of the list. I would love to give her a small thank you back for her years of service to her profession, her passion to learning and to “her kids” who she claims as her own. Thanks for being a champion to your kids mom!”

Submitted by: Kyrsten

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