I am Mrs. Karla J. Parker.  I have been teaching for 13 years...starting my second year here in Swan Valley.  I am excited to be in the middle school this year full time.  I have always loved the life of a middle school...never knowing from one day to the next what to expect!

For formal education, I attended Saginaw Valley State University.  I graduated in 1993 with a Bachelors in Elementary Education; focus in Language Arts and Math grades 6-8.  I continued on and received my Masters degree in Special Education; focusing on Learning and Behavior Disorders.  After that...I decided that I was interested in the administrative world of education; so I also hold a Education Specialist degree from SVSU.  It's focus is Public School Administration, focusing on Principalship.

My experience includes teaching in Saginaw City, Sanford Meridian, and mostly Chesaning at the Middle School.

After all of that education...I became a stay at home mom for my two kids!  That was the one degree I didn't get in college and it has been the most challenging and rewarding of them all.   Currently, Victoria is 11 and entering 6th grade and Ethan is 7 entering 2nd grade.  My husband, Chad, in an engineer.  We live in James township on the family farm with our 3 cats and new puppy teddy.

I have lots of hobbies and not much time to do them.  I enjoy reading and walking, but lately, my garden seems to be taking lots of my time.  Oh, did I mention that I also love shopping...for shoes!

Family is very important to me and I would like to think that as a teacher I try really hard to help my students feel as comfortable with their learning environment as family would. 

I am excited to be back to education in Swan Valley Schools and look forward to having you in my class this year!