Mr. Parsons: A Teacher Who Will Go Down In WallKill History
by Lucca Sousa - Junior
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Mr. Parsons, a beloved history teacher at Wallkill Valley Regional High School, didn't always plan to be an educator. Initially, his dreams soared on the baseball field; playing for seven years in the minor leagues. However, fate had different plans, nudging him towards teaching after a pivotal history class reignited his passion for learning.
Throughout his 29-year tenure, Mr. Parsons' proudest achievement has been the opportunity to impact the lives of numerous young students. Junior Dafina Konushevci has been lucky enough to have Mr. Parsons as a teacher for the last 3 years. "Despite Mr. Parsons' serious demeanor, he likes to crack jokes and he really cares about his students. He will be greatly missed and I appreciate all of the good memories I have from his class. So many of my current friends were made in his class."
His dedication to education extends beyond the classroom. Mr. Parsons advocates for smaller class sizes, believing they enhance the quality of education, a testament to his commitment for student success.
Mr. Parsons’ journey as a teacher has been filled with memorable moments, difficult topics, troubling issues throughout the nation, and many students who have influenced Mr. Parsons as a teacher and a human. In 1999, an historical event known as the Columbine school shooting, devastated our nation. Students and teachers everywhere were left feeling helpless and scared. The dynamic of the school setting shifted dramatically, including class discussion. During a particularly difficult lesson, Mr. Parsons asked, "If there truly is a higher being, a god, how could he let something like this happen?" and the student responded with, "Something had to make everything, so no matter how bleak things seem, there has to be somebody in charge.” This student's perspective on the existence of a higher power left an indelible mark on Mr. Parsons' worldview. He found reassurance and peace in the notion of a creative force behind existence, and describes this as a moment where he learned from a student.
Born and raised in Livingston, NJ, Mr. Parsons has countless fond memories of his childhood, but one particular memory stands out, his friendship with Harlan Coben. This friend of Mr. Parsons is an esteemed author, known for making some great mystery novels and thrillers. In fact, one of his novels has been turned into a recent Netflix series thriller, Fool Me Once.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Parsons finds solace in home projects, like redoing his garage, "making it more efficient" as Mr. Parsons states. He also enjoys gardening and books. More specifically, books of the mystery thriller genre. An avid reader, he cherishes Harlan Coben's works. Fun fact: Mr. Parsons’ name was actually used for one of the characters in one of Mr. Coben’s books!
As Mr. Parsons embarks on his last year at Wallkill Valley, he reflects with humor on his nearly three decades of teaching, summing it up as "mostly good." His departure marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration and knowledge for generations to come.
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