By Lili Metanovic and Sadie York
As the school year waves goodbye, another familiar face will too. Christian Parks, more commonly known around campus as Señor Parks, says goodbye to Westmont as he leaves a remarkable legacy with his well fulfilled career. Parks’ time here at Westmont has left many students yearning to learn more with every engaging lesson he teaches. In room 41, students are able to express themselves and grow to their fullest potential. Read more to gain a better understanding about the man himself and how he came to be.
Name:
Christian Parks
Years in education:
33 years overall
Subjects taught:
Elementary and high school spanish 1&2 (3 subjects)
Schools taught at:
Elcorn, 2 schools in Peru, Soquel High, Ohlone elementary, Watsonville High, Westmont High, Branham High (8 schools)
Classrooms:
10+ overall
Number of students taught:
6,000+ students overall
Favorite lesson/book/unit:
teaching spanish verbs
How many years at Westmont:
20 years
How will you spend your retirement:
“I will move to Seattle with my wife, where she lives, and probably teach there.”
Favorite Westmont memory:
“My favorite Westmont memory is all of the wonderful Westmont students who have sat in my classroom over the years.”
What will you miss about Westmont:
“I will miss the community, the colleagues, the friends, and the students.”
What did students teach you:
“I learned more from my students than they learned from me. I remember one student who arrived in my classroom and yelled “I hate school!” Not only did that student do well in my class, but I also stayed in touch after graduation.”
Number of meetings (staff, department):
A billion.
Number of students taught, whose parents you also taught:
0- but, I’ve taught children of people I went to college with.
Students whose grandparents you also taught:
0
Former students who became colleagues:
0
Days missed:
For many years, I missed 0. I will retire with 200+ sick days banked.
Number of detentions given:
Not many.
Homework questions assigned:
2 billion.
# of spanish units taught:
1000+ (1096)
Why did you want to work in a setting with high school students?:
“I wouldn’t know what to do otherwise, I love it. I learn so much from them. I always wanted to become a teacher growing up.”
What’s the weirdest experience that you’ve had in school?:
“Teaching remotely during COVID.”