M'Lissa Parker, Ed.S.,M.Ed

I attribute so much of who I am to my beloved momma. She was my greatest cheerleader—encouraging me, creating alongside me, challenging me, and believing in what I could become, sometimes before I could see it myself. Her influence instilled the creativity, perseverance, empathy, and sense of purpose I carry into my life and work today.

My success has also been rooted in relationships, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from every person, place, challenge, and opportunity I encounter. I value meaningful progress, remaining open to new perspectives, and having the courage to create, reflect, refine, and begin again. To me, success is less about reaching a destination and more about continuing to become—using what we learn and experience to contribute something meaningful to the lives of others.

Some of the most important advice I’ve carried with me is simple: Be kind. Be humble. Listen. Genuinely care about people. Everyone has a story, and we rarely know the whole of what someone else is carrying. My momma taught me that one of the greatest gifts we can give another person is to truly care—without judgment and without needing to have all the answers.

That wisdom has shaped how I approach both my work and my life. Step outside the box. Be bold. Be brave. Be open-minded. Stay curious. Listen before you decide what someone needs. Have the courage to approach things differently, and the humility to learn from perspectives beyond your own.

Be the kind of person you admire. And above all, be kind. Be real. Be you.

Build relationships. Have fun. Be silly. Connect across cultures. Follow your passion. And don’t be afraid to pave the way for what you believe in—or create something that doesn’t exist yet.

Know your value, trust your voice, and give yourself permission to do things differently. You can respect what has been done before while still imagining what else is possible. Ask questions. Stay curious. Engage genuinely with the people around you—especially the students, families, educators, and communities you serve. Some of the most meaningful ideas emerge when we are willing to challenge convention and remain open to where discovery may lead.

And wherever you are in your own journey, encourage others along theirs. Share what you know. Celebrate their wins. Recognize their strengths and help them discover those strengths within themselves. None of us ever completely has it all figured out—we are all still learning, growing, and becoming. We can do that while encouraging one another along the way.

One of the greatest challenges in education right now is the growing complexity of what students, educators, families, and schools are carrying. Academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs don’t exist separately from one another, yet we often try to address them that way. Educators are being asked to meet increasingly diverse needs while balancing instruction, relationships, behavior, documentation, accountability, and the realities students bring with them each day.

Evidence, funding, policy, systems, and data matter—but more importantly, people matter. Behind every data point is a student. Behind every program is an educator trying to make it work. Behind every need is a story, a strength, a circumstance, and a human being who deserves to be understood beyond what can be measured on paper.

That’s also where I see tremendous opportunity. We can use the evidence, work within the realities, and still keep people at the heart of the work. We can listen more closely, connect more intentionally, honor culture and individual strengths, and respond to what is actually happening in front of us. We don’t need one perfect program or one answer for every child. We need the willingness to stay curious, adapt, and discover what is needed—and what is already there to build upon.

Peace, love, and harmony. Faith, family and friends. These values have followed me through every chapter of my life, and they continue to shape how I live, work, and show up for others. I value kindness, compassion, authenticity, and genuinely caring about people. I believe in listening without judgment, giving grace, finding joy in the ordinary, and remembering that everyone we encounter is carrying a story we may know nothing about.

I also value freedom—the freedom to explore, create, laugh, change direction, take an adventure, learn something unexpected, and continue becoming. Whether I’m working with a student, traveling somewhere new, digging in the garden, creating something for home or school, exploring in the kitchen, or simply sitting near the water, I appreciate the little things, stay present through life’s ups and downs, and keep moving forward through whatever comes my way.

For me, a meaningful life is one lived with an open heart. Love people. Give grace freely. Lead with compassion. Fill everyone’s bucket with kindness—all day, every day, everywhere!