Parker, the Champion

Today marked a milestone for Parker.

But first, a little background.

Parker is finishing up 3rd grade, having completed almost 4 years in the public education system. He is as sharp as a tack, but hasn't always been able to hold himself in check as much as some teachers require!! He has a great sense of humor, but not all teachers appreciate a great sense of humor!! He doesn't always see things exactly like everyone else sees them, and this presents a challenge for some teachers.

I will say this - every year has gotten better for Parker in the citizenship area. Grades have never been a problem, but his conduct ... well, that's another story.

Parker has gotten into trouble for dancing too much, singing too much, being too "helpful", talking too much, hitting, being mean, and making girls cry!!

But this year ... this year has been a totally different year for Parker. This year, Parker has Mrs. Deaton!! We know Mrs. Deaton because we go to church together and she knows Parker well!! She has said since Parker entered Kindergarten, that when he got to third grade, he had to be in her class. As the years progressed, I thought she might change her mind!! I didn't have a lot of teachers asking me if Parker could be in their classes! But she never changed her mind and Parker landed happily in her class on the first day of school this year!

It was then that the magic began. Parker has never had a negative thing to say about this year. He has loved Mrs. Deaton and Mrs. Roark as teachers and has really blossomed under their direction. And the patience that they have shown Parker is really amazing! They tell me they love his sense of humor and they are impressed with the way he sees things in a different way. When he loses his focus, they understand and patiently help him get back to where he needs to be. They see him as an asset, not a liability and what a difference that kind of attitude makes.

In all four of Parker's years, he has never managed to earn the coveted Character Champion. This is an award given each six weeks to a boy and a girl in each class for demonstrating a character trait that particular six weeks. So, he has six chances a year to earn this, but has never managed to demonstrate the proper trait at the proper time for a long enough time span to get it. (This is an easy-to-attain award for those kids that always do a good job - the A-B students, pleasers, etc. Not so much for Parker) He has been disappointed a few times, but really more disbelief that he has never gotten it!

OK - back to today! Deneise and I went up to the school for the big Power Rally to motivate the kids to do well on the TAKS test tomorrow. Marcy (aka Mrs. Deaton) and Emily, along with pretty much every other teacher, were doing a little American Idol spin-off, and actually had to sing/rap/dance in front of the whole school. But at the beginning of the rally, they announced the Character Champions for last six weeks and guess who got it for the first time in his school career??? None other than PARKER!! He was SO excited, yet remained cool, as though it was no surprise and it happens all the time!! And the trait this six weeks was Caring - something Parker can do well (when he wants to!!)

We were talking about it tonight and I was asking him how he felt about it all. He said, "I'm happy - I'm really happy that Mrs. Deaton chose me!"
Me: Why do you think she chose you?
Him: Well, I'm caring - duh!!

So, there you have it - Parker is caring and Mrs. Deaton is the best teacher to ever come across Parker's path! She is the reason Parker has had such a great year! And she and Mrs. Roark and Ms. Gavin totally rocked their song today - very impressive ladies!!


That's Parker in the bright yellow shirt.

Oh yeah - go to Marcy, Emily, and Deneise's blogs for all the pics! Super fun!!