Trustee to Represent South Region

Fred Parker

Letter of Recommendation 1
Letter of Recommendation 2
Letter of Recommendation 3

Biographical Statement
Fred Parker is a professor of education at Teachers College Henderson at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He is currently teaching the Introduction to Middle School and the Integrated Curriculum/Practicum courses for middle level education. He also supervises five middle level interns at various public schools. He is the sole advisor for all middle level candidates at his university.

Parker spent 17 years as a teacher in the middle school classroom prior to entering a university setting. He is active in the Arkansas Middle School Association and has presented at state, regional, and international conferences on middle school topics. He has recently been appointed to the NCATE Board of Program Reviewers to review middle school submissions.

Briefly describe how, if elected, you would promote NMSA's mission.
Parker feels that, if elected, he can greatly enhance and promote the awareness of National Middle School Association's mission and initiatives along with promoting middle level concepts to parents and school boards within his state, region, and at an international level.

In light of NMSA's mission, identify one challenge facing middle level education today and give an example of how NMSA could help its members respond to that challenge.
Fred Parker sees a challenge in middle level education today as one where teachers need to show more relevance within the curriculum along with a more constructivist approach to teaching. He feels that NMSA can help its members along these lines by seriously looking at excellent programs and teachers and holding more workshops in local, state, and regional areas to promote more relevant and hands-on teaching.

Professional Contributions to NMSA

• NCATE Board of Program Reviewers
• NMSA Board of Trustees nominee
• Promoting middle level education by presenting at local, state, national, and international meetings
• Preparing preservice middle level teachers in three states

Most Noteworthy Achievements in Middle Level Education

• ASCD, NALS, ATE, SRATE, NSTA, NCSS workshop presenter
• Working with AAHERD in promoting development skills in middle level students
• NCATE Board of Program Reviewers
• Assistant baseball coach at University of Hawaii-Hilo and head softball coach at Henderson State University
• NMSA review training in Denver, CO, preservice and in-service workshops for teachers
• ASCD national presentations