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HAZEL GREEN'S PARKER NAMED ALFA TEACHER OF MONTH
 | | Veronica Parker |
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- What do contraction bugs,
highlighted newspapers and
applesauce have in common?
Students at Hazel Green Elementary
know the answer to this -- Veronica
Parker."Children should use all of their
senses to learn, so teachers should
provide many different learning
styles," explains Parker, who has
taught second grade at Hazel Green
since 1997. Prior to this assignment,
she taught kindergarten for seven
years. In the past, lessons about Johnny
Appleseed included books about
apples, apple cutting and tastings,
apple art and even applesauce making. For her second-grade reading classes
today, Parker utilizes PowerPoint
presentations, newspaper scavenger
hunts and lots of creativity to ensure
that her message gets across to the
students in whatever way they need
to receive it. Though her
instruction includes
core curriculum, the
lessons she teaches
surpass the four
walls of her classroom.
When teaching
young children
rules, norms and
proper behavior, parents and teachers
alike frequently utilize a special
tool in their vocabulary -- the word
'no.' For Parker, however, 'no' is ideal
to use in certain instances . . . but
certainly not when it pertains to her
students' ability to excel. Parker's love of education and
people, as well as her academic preparedness
and willingness to serve
her community, helped her earn
her designation as Alfa's Teacher of
the Month for January. As January's
honoree, she will receive $1,000 from
Alfa Insurance. Her school, a division
of Madison City Schools, will receive
a matching award from the Alabama
Farmers Federation. Though she's
humbled by this designation, Parker's
day is made each time she steps into a
classroom. A graduate of Alabama State University,
Parker received her Bachelor
of Science degree in early childhood
education in 1990. She also received
her masters and education and educational
specialist degrees in early
childhood education from Alabama
A&M University in 1995 and 2003,
respectively. A member of the Madison
County Education Association
and Alabama Education Association,
she also serves in her church, PTA
and Girl Scouts. During 2011, Alfa Insurance and
the Alabama Farmers Federation are
honoring one outstanding teacher
from each of Alabama's eight state
board districts, two principals and
two private school teachers. Application
information is available under
Ag Links in the Ag Resources section
of AlfaFarmers.org.
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