Finding a job that is up to Parr

Walking through the door, students are immediately greeted with a warm and welcoming classroom decorated with a variety of posters and a panorama of lights. The room, which belongs to Jennifer Parr, one of Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s newest science teachers, serves as a safe space for students to maximize their learning. environment to learn.. When entering her class room, there is a panorama of lights and posters hanging on the walls.

“I like to give the students a place where they can feel comfortable and want to learn,” Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School teacher Jennifer Parr said. “The environment you learn in is a key factor and I like keeping the classroom cozy.”

Despite joining the Eagle’s nest this year, being on the grounds of MSD, Parr has been teaching for seven years. She previously taught at Coral Springs Charter, and is currently teaching a junior marine science class. Parr grew up in Gwinnett County near Atlanta, Georgia and received a bachelors of science in biology as well as a bachelors of arts in spanish at Barry College. In addition, Parr also received a masters of divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary.

Before Parr took interest in teaching, she was a youth minister in Atlanta, an accountant for Blue Bell Ice Creameries, and a security guard in many different countries.

Parr worked as a security guard at many concerts and Miami Heat basketball games. Sometimes, Parr’s job as a security guard has allowed her to travel to different countries. In addition, she enjoys traveling in her spare time and has been to many parts of the globe, including: Mexico, Jamaica, Kenya, Vietnam, Turkey, Canada, England, Scotland, France. She has plans to go to the Dominican Republic and Alaska.

After her journey as a security guard and traveling around the world, Parr fell into teaching. Parr became a teacher because she feels it is always best for students to learn science from teachers that are familiar with the material. She loves to see students learn and enjoy what they’re doing, even if they don’t particularly like the subject. Using her personal teaching methods, like letting her students learn from their mistakes, Parr has seen significant progress in her students over the years.

“In science it’s important to be hands-on when learning, I try not to be too harsh and let the kids make mistakes,” Parr said. “If they mess up, they should learn from them.”

Since this is her first year at MSD, Parr is enlightened by the diversity and enjoys the environment that surrounds her.

“My students are very lively,” Parr said. “It’s great seeing such diversity when I walk in class everyday. Coming from [Coral Springs] Charter, everyone had to wear uniforms so being able to see students’ personalities in what they wear everyday helps you get to know them on a different level.”

Parr really enjoys how welcoming everyone has been to her.

“The staff has been so kind and supportive,”Jennifer Parr said. “I really enjoy them checking up on me and making sure everything is going okay.”

The amount of clubs and sports well as the number of students on campus fascinates Parr, due to the fact that she came from a significantly smaller school. All these activities are new and surprising to her.

“One of the first things I was introduced to here was the garden club,” Parr said. “It is great because it is an outdoor area for students to just go outside, study, and take in some natural light which is great to see at a school. The science staff has put in a lot of effort out there.”

Parr is eager to make memories here at MSD. She hopes to get involved in more activities, like spirit week, clubs and marathons. Most importantly, Parr hopes to excel her students’ education in Marine Science.