Webpage of Jerry L. Parks, Teacher: Georgetown Middle School, Georgetown, KY
Some of my favorite things...
This is what I really enjoy!
Goals for me...
Last but not least...
This was cool...
A REALLY Proud moment...
This past school year, I was selected to play "Daddy Warbucks" in our GMS presentation of Annie! Well, I've done theater before, but I didn't realize how much I enjoyed it till this production! (I'm the bald guy!!)
When I'm out and about...
I love photography! Here are a couple of my favorite photos! I haven't quite worked up to digital yet, but I'll get there! These shots were taken in my neighborhood.
But THIS is my treasure!
This is one of the hand paintings of my Grandmother Julia Fisher Parks, from 1913. She died in 1977.
So, who is this?
"Yep...It's Me Alright!!"
So, who is Jerry, and what are YOU doing here? And I know you're asking: "Is this dude for REAL?" Well, as you can see, I AM a major motion picture star, but I do like to take time to 'mingle among the mortals'! I am Dr. Jerry Parks, and if you're here on purpose--thanks! If not, stick around, and make yourself at home! Besides making zillions of $$ on the silver screen, I teach 7th Grade Social Studies at Georgetown Middle School, in Georgetown, KY. Now believe it or not, I really was in a movie! It was called "Steel", and Lee Majors and George Kennedy were in it with me! If you rent it, I'm the foreman with the hard hat on. Look fast, it's over quick!!
I was born in 1950, so, as you can imagine, to my students (yes, that's me and my students in Re-Play Magazine), I'm as old as '...rocks & God'! Georgetown is 'small town USA', and is 15 miles north of Lexington--(where I live) right in the heart of the Bluegrass Country! Georgetown isn't Mayberry, but it's pretty neat! As you can imagine, basketball (go 'cats!) is king around here! My highlights? My proudest moments in teaching have been the many local, regional, and state "Teacher of the Year" honors I've received, but THE most special one was receiving a national award from Bill Clinton! I also just certified as a National Board Certified Teacher on my National Board Certification (NBPTS). HOORAY!! But having been named Wal Mart "Teacher of the Year" through my students' nomination was WONDERFUL!!! My most embarrassing moment was when someone actually BELIEVED I was Harrison Ford! (The resemblance IS striking though, isn't it?!) I'm 5'11--just tall enough to see over the stuff my 7th graders try to pull on me!
No, they're really GREAT kids this year, and teaching ancient civilizations like Sumer, Egypt, Greece & Rome to them is fantastic! I try to help them see what our country could be in for if we follow ancient examples. I'll have to admit though, some of my best school times are spent socializing with our resident scientist (Michael Farr) and mathematician (Billie Travis). We do get into some deep discussions on women's rights, evolution, etc, but we always end up seeing eye to eye, especially we they discover I'm right! (Just KIDDING!). I teach a Saturday evening Bible Study class at Southland Christian Church here in Lexington. We meet at 6:30, so come on out!
About Jerry...
The world of teaching...
That's about lt...
Well, that's about it for Jerry! I hope I can be as good a teacher as I can possibly be, and that God will one day say:
"...well done, good and faithful servant."
Who could ask for anything more?
I'll take you there!
Besides teaching ancient civilizations to thirteen-year-olds, I enjoy studying my Bible (I am a Christian). I guess you can see the tie-in between my two hobbies! I also love to play table tennis, and in 1974 with my college roomie (back in the dark ages!), once set a world record for continuous play! Unfortunately, the record was broken within a week! I really dig (excuse the pun!) archaeology, and have traveled the Middle East.
The coolest things I've done there were to nearly fall off the great pyramid, and nearly get arrested by the Arabs when I tried to sneak up on the hill where Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem!
I love "Lord of the Rings", and all the wonderful Christ-pictures Tolkein put into the story! I also love doing REVIEWS on Amazon.com (check 'em out!). I really like to watch TV Land too--especially "My Three Sons" (yes, I saw it BEFORE it was a rerun!!) and "The Andy Griffith Show". I also LOVE sports cars! I own TWO MR2's (one's a turbo, the others a bright yellow Spyder!) and a 'pocket-rocket' yellow CRX! I positively LOVE to write, and have written a zillion-page manuscript on the Book of Romans called 'Godstudy'. I also review on Amazon.com. I also love to present teaching seminars at national middle school conferences, and have done so each year for the past few years!
My next major goal is to write a book on exceptional teaching methods for classroom teachers--based on the methods of the Master teacher, Jesus Christ.
Cool movies? I'm single, so I still love the romantic types--"Peggy Sue Got Married", and "Somewhere In Time" always leave me weeping! And I could probably watch "Andy Griffith" and "Leave It to Beaver" around the clock! My secret wish is to have one date with Ashley Judd (go UK!), but the chances of that are...well, you know! I'm not really into the Star Wars thing, and definitely not Pokemon. I love tennis too, and like to write poetry. I'm sure this is really boring to most people, but that's fine by me!
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem..."
February, 2004
OK, I'm really proud of the publication of my new book on the life of Joseph the Hebrew! If you'd like an insightful look into lessons we can all learn from Joseph's hardships, I think you'll really like this one! GREAT for graduates, those going through hard times, or for those seeking to understand the mind of God when we can't seem to figure Him out.
