An eighth grade Language Arts teacher at Kirby Smith Middle School is Duval County’s 2015 Teacher of the Year. WJCT’s CydHoskinson sat down with Kifimbo Holloway-Parnell Monday afternoon to talk about her classroom philosophy and teaching style.
Holloway-Parnell says that one thing that sets her apart from other teachers is that she looks at her students as if they were her bosses. She says she doesn't waste their time emphasizing theory. Holloway-Parnell says that she shows students how to apply the skills she teaches to real world applications, like rèsumè and cover letter writing.
The most important message she tries to communicate to her students is learning is a work-in-process that takes time, Holloway-Parnell says. She said students often expect learning "to be like a Hot Pocket: two minutes flat, and I'm done."
"Life is not like that," Holloway-Parnell said. "They have to allow themselves time to grow."
