Douglas Parker
Douglas Parker, M.S., M.S.Ed. has worn several hats in his twenty-six years as a teacher, coach, development director, educational administrator and mentor to thousands of boys and girls over the many years. He holds dual Master’s degrees in counseling and educational administration and has taught English on the 6th, 7th, and 10th grade levels along with AP Literature. He has been a principal of an elementary, middle and high school, has directed several summer camps, has led numerous annual fund and capital drives and raised significant sums of money for non-profit educational purposes, has been a curriculum coordinator, and has been a director of technology and athletics along with holding certifications as a School Administrator and Supervisor (SAS), School District Administrator (SDA), and in 7-12 English in both New York and Florida. During this time, Mr. Parker has worked with hundreds of bright and gifted children as a mock trial, Model UN, Odyssey of the Mind, and television academic quiz bowl coach, along with directing numerous theatrical productions. He also coached college and high school Debate and Speech, where his team was four times the American National Champions representing America at Finals in London, England, at the English Speaking Union where he coached the American Team.
Mr. Parker is a member of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the Florida Association for the Gifted (FLAG), and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) among others. Also, as a member of American Mensa, Mr. Parker has access to some of the leading brain-based research on gifted and talented education from around the world.
He has also been a member of the New York State Middle School Association, the New York State Department of Education School Quality Review Team, and was an associate of New York State’s Curriculum Framework Design Team where he helped draft New York’s Language Arts Standards.
Mr. Parker has authored two communication textbooks used in high schools, along with a professional text used in teacher training classes at the college level all around the world. His work has been featured in the Buffalo News, Florida Today, the Albany Times–Union, The Washington Post, the New York State English Council Journal, Hometown News, and Family PC Magazine. Recently, Mr. Parker finished his first novel, Pulp Science Fiction, which has received praise from critics, teachers and students from around the world! Currently, Mr. Parker has founded an organization, Bright Pennies, to support bright or gifted and talented children and their families and teachers.
Latest Articles
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Gifted Study of the History of Neighborhoods
Gifted students plan for visiting their chosen neighborhoods to prepare information for inclusion in a technologically supported display to learn more about history.
Sep 21, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Hands-On History
Gifted students can learn more about the history of their communities and cultural diversity by using technology to help them explore their neighborhoods.
Aug 17, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Futurology in the Classroom
Given the intellectual and emotional needs of gifted students, having them focus on the future can help prepare them to solve tomorrow's problems today.
Jul 7, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Gifted Children and Creativity
Bright, advanced or gifted and talented students enjoy finding ways to express themselves, and like acting and improvisation, storytelling can be very fulfilling.
Jun 30, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Advanced Ability Grouping
Allowing gifted students to study and work together, even if they are clustered together or spend only a few periods per week in a pullout class, can make a difference.
Jun 9, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Is No Child Left Behind Unfair?
Schools in America are not being evaluated equitably, and the gifted children are among the ones who are suffering.
May 25, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Communicating about Tragedy
As an important part of a crisis management plan, middle and high schools should have generic communications ready to send out to parents.
May 14, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Dealing with Disaster at School
Once a school has made the decision to move ahead with writing a crisis management protocol, several common issues should be considered for inclusion.
May 14, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Defining Gifted Students
Since there are so many descriptions of what it means to be gifted, it is important to note the similarities and differences in each.
May 5, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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Changes to the NCLB Act
While the stated goals of the No Child Left Behind Act seem reasonable at first glance, as the years pass educators and parents have come to question its effectiveness.
Apr 27, 2008
- Douglas Parker
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