'Backbone of Department' Chosen as Parkway Central's Standout Teacher

Carol Simpson, a Special School District (SSD) teacher, is Parkway Central High School’s Teacher of the Year.

Simpson, who has been with the district for 28 years, said she was pleasantly surprised to be selected. “It’s an honor to be chosen because I really care about my students," Simpson said.

“Carol is the backbone of the Special Education Department,” said Deb Henrichs, a special education teacher’s assistant. “She is competent and knowledgeable in working with staff and students. Carol is so supportive of other teachers. She has a great deal of wisdom to share.”

Simpson said her selection as a Teacher of the Year was especially meaningful because teachers nominate, vote and make the final selections in the competition. "It's nice to be recognized by my fellow teachers," she said.

With a background in music and music therapy, Simpson began her career as a teacher’s assistant in special education. She said she found satisfaction in working with students and realized that education was the career she should pursue. After earning a master’s degree, she began teaching. 

“I never assume that the kids I’m instructing have all the skills they need in a particular subject," Simpson said. "I try to meet each student where they are. Support and encouragement are important so students can grow,” Simpson said.

“Carol is so patient, and she always has time for students,” Henrich said. “There’s a great deal of paperwork to be done by teachers, but Carol sets it all aside for her students.” 

Simpson said parents and educators need to work together, and urged parents to have trust in the teaching team. In some ways, she said students are like a bamboo plant. "Bamboo farmers work and work, water and water, and don’t see any growth in their crop. But they don’t give up. They work and water some more, and suddenly the bamboo shoots up.”

Students develop at varied rates. Simpson said neither educators nor parents should give up if they don’t quickly see the improvements or skills they expect. “Just keep working and supporting, and students will develop academically,” Simpson said.

How Parkway teachers of the year are selected:

“Being selected as a nominee is a big responsibility and requires a great deal of time,” said Deb Difani, chairperson of the committee which oversees Parkway School District’s Teacher of the Year competition. The process for being chosen as a nominee is lengthy and thorough.

A total staff list is distributed to all teachers in each school. The teachers then vote to choose the top three candidates. The top three, if they wish to be nominated, respond in writing to a question about education. Each school’s Teacher of the Year is chosen by the teaching staff, which bases its selection on the nominees’ written response.

The building Teachers of the Year are then asked to respond in writing to questions about teaching philosophy. A committee composed of teachers, as well as previous Teachers of the Year, chooses 12 candidates to interview based upon the candidate’s essays. After the interviews, the committee votes—without discussion—to select the District Teacher of the Year. “These teachers are the best of the best, and the chosen teacher will represent Parkway in the state competition,” Difani said.