EDUCATION Angela Parsons: Principal of The Brown School HOME LIFE Angela lives in Valley Station, Louisville, with her husband Ted, and their younger son Caleb, 13. “I’m a South End girl, and I’ve lived there most of my life,” she says. “I really love the community.” Her passion for education is infectious: Angela’s husband became a teacher after marrying her, and their older son, Chandler, 19 — a rising college sophomore — plans on teaching, as well. FAMILY TRAILBLAZER Angela’s is the first generation in her family to graduate from high school and college. “As a kid, I felt amazed when I would get good grades,” she says. “I didn’t have anybody in my family as a role model, so I really didn’t think that I would be able to finish school and go through college.” It wasn’t until she participated in the Governor’s Scholars Program in high school that she realized she could actually go to college. “I think I just had tremendous teachers. They really pushed me.” Angela went on to earn a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and a doctorate from the University of Louisville in the fields of business and educational leadership. WORK ETHIC “I’m one of those people who refuses to quit. Once I start something, I keep going until it’s finished. That focus is especially important if you’re pursuing higher education. You have to make it your number one priority and remain focused to persevere.” Angela credits her parents for instilling in her the qualities she has relied on to achieve her goals. “My mom and dad are the hardest-working people I’ve ever met. And it’s important to me to make them proud.”
HIDDEN TALENT
accounting, and business law.” Angela served as assistant principal at The Brown School for seven years and became principal in July 2015. UPS AND DOWNS Morning is Angela’s favorite part of the work day. “I like to stand out on the front sidewalk before school when our families are dropping off their kids. It’s my time to have some conversations, and it’s wonderful to see the happy kids come in. I get a lot of hugs. It’s kind of magical.” Not so magical is the five-minute interval when the students transition to lunch. “We like to be up in the building when that happens to make sure it flows. When you’ve got 700 bodies moving at once, it’s a little bit chaotic. It’s probably my least favorite part.” TIME OUT “We’re a smaller school and keep many of the students for 13 years, so they really become a part of our family. I enjoy my job passionately. I love it so much that it can quickly take over my life.” To make sure she gets some downtime, Angela schedules time to exercise. “The elliptical is my main go-to. I get on and listen to music or watch TV, and all those cares just go away.” Angela and her husband are also involved in their younger son’s lacrosse and orchestra activities. “I love being with my family. I try to balance time with them and time with my school family.”
I feel like my “spiritual gifts are in administration. ”
THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION “I had thought about teaching when I was in high school, but my dad thought that going into something else would be a better career decision financially,” Angela says. Taking her father’s advice, she turned to business and marketing. “I worked in retail management for seven years, but I was not really happy with that field. What I did really like about it was training and motivating people, so I thought I would like to go into teaching after all.” Angela’s previous experience was put to good use during her years as a business education teacher in the Jefferson County Public Schools system, but she came to realize she could do more in a leadership position. “I feel like my spiritual gifts are in administration. I guess that’s why I taught subjects such as business management,
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MORNING RITUAL Angela’s family likes to start the day early so they’re not in a rush. “I get up at 5:15, and my son gets up at 5:30. We have a hot breakfast every day — oatmeal with fruit or omelets — which is probably unusual. I like to watch the morning news with my husband and my son, and we enjoy having time to start the day off peacefully.” Angela usually cooks breakfast, but she and her husband take turns with dinner. “I don’t really like to cook,” she admits, “but the worst thing in the world is buying groceries.” ROOFTOP DREAMS If she had unlimited financial resources, Angela says she would use it for the school. “I would put some money into an auditorium renovation and pour the rest into building a soccer field and playground on the roof for the students to enjoy. It would be incredible! I’m really passionate about students getting out and being physical, but we’re an urban school and don’t have any green space.”
“I can’t dance, but I can roller skate. I was on a team as a kid and skated competitively all over the country for six years,” Angela says. She looks forward to the school’s skating parties. “A lot of the parents are surprised when I put on a pair of skates and go out there with the kids. But the only thing I can do now is spin. I don’t try any other tricks — I’d be afraid to break something at my age!”