Dr. Robert Parks has served on the School Board of Broward County, Florida since 1986, throughout which time he has proven a staunch advocate for children and families. His focus has always been, and will continue to be, the education and well being of all students. He believes that with the collaboration of the School Board members and the Superintendent, visionary leadership, combined with keen educational acumen, has led our District to local, state, and nationally replicated initiatives and policies that have benefited students in urban school districts.

During his tenure he served three times as Chairperson of the Board of Broward County Public Schools, the School District has made significant advancements in student achievement, professional development, school-based reforms, and community engagement.

He has initiated several policies and programs that have improved the quality and stability of leadership provided to Broward County’s 275,000 students and over 30,000 employees. Some of those initiatives include:

• The design and implementation of the Innovation Zone, which calls for cohesive, family-centered learning strategies and a continuum of services within school feeder patterns. This concept proved so successful that Broward County was awarded Chapter 2 funding for $125,000 to sustain the initiative and provide support under the Title VI Program. The Panasonic Foundation awarded additional monies for the expansion of this initiative. Through the continual leadership and collaboration of all stakeholders, the Broward County School Board adopted the Innovation Zone Policy in 1995.
• Professional Pathways Policy, approved unanimously by the Board in 1996, which directs schools to develop a comprehensive, systemic process for professional development based on their school improvement needs. Revisions to the Professional Pathways Policy in 2001 addressed the professional development of school-based administrators known as the leadership development continuum. The leadership development continuum addendum to the Professional Pathways Policy provides a well-defined method of identifying educators who possess the necessary personal and professional attributes to become outstanding administrators. Through the innovative design of Professional Pathways, Broward County earned national distinction as the recipient of the National Award for Model Professional Development, granted by the United States Department of Education in 2001. The award was granted on the basis of documented results linking the district staff development system to increased student achievement.
• Establishment of the Broward County Educational Consortium that provides institutions of higher learning and the Broward Public School District the opportunity to work collaboratively to address specific needs of the District. Specific needs that are continually addressed include teacher shortage in an urban school district, urban teacher training and development, leadership development for school-based administrators, research and evaluation, student and school improvement, alternative certification, and innovative technology in the classroom.
• The Office of Research, Evaluation and Assessment provides knowledge and support that will strengthen decision-making of the Superintendent, the School Board, and district and school-based administrators. The Office ensures the integrity of all data collection activities, and identifies methods and strategies that assist and support student learning. The Office gathers and analyzes data, providing crucial information on student performance and issues of educational quality in Broward County.
• To ensure an equitable distribution of School Board business, Dr. Parks initiated the Technical Support and Business Training for Minority Contractors. This initiative provides technical support and business training to minority subcontractors through an agreement with Nova Southeastern University and the Association of General Contractors. The program facilitates minority participation in the school construction arena.
• The Community Initiatives for Families provides services for students and their families through the establishment of Family Resource Centers throughout Broward County. Dr. Parks been instrumental in the design and implementation of the Centers, and in securing initial funding for them through a Pew Charitable Trusts’ family support grant. The services are comprehensive, cost effective, and client-focused.
• As a member of the National American Diabetes Leadership Council, he was honored as a recipient of the 2005 Valor Award presented by the American Diabetes Association. His efforts are toward improving public awareness regarding adolescent diabetes. He combines school district resources and community contributions to implement initiatives such as the “Walk for Diabetes” and the awareness of insulin pumps for students.
• In collaboration with various business and community organizations, Dr. Parks has worked to establish “Commit 2B Fit” an educational, grassroots youth fitness and nutrition program designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity for both parents and children. This multi-faceted campaign has reached 138 Broward County elementary schools and 28 high schools totaling over 25,000 students and is continually reaching more families yearly.
• In 1996, Dr. Parks launched The School Board Web Site that was overwhelmingly embraced by the Board and the public. This site has evolved into a resource of information about Broward County Public Schools, while providing Board members with an additional avenue of communication to respond to inquiries about schools and leading initiatives. It also provides links for parents, community partners, and highlights employment opportunities, and future programs.
• Dr. Parks authored the Communication and Public Engagement Policy to streamline the communication process used to provide consistency throughout the district for all stakeholders in developing major changes, programs, procedures, and policies.
• In cooperation with his colleagues, he has initiated an array of Board policies that generously support teacher and student initiatives. His efforts have supported the expansion of the Teacher of the Year Recognition Program, in accordance with public and business leaders’ confidence, donations from Apple, Riverdeep, Bank of America, Bell South, Cingular, amounting to $45,000 have been secured. Net proceeds of the funds raised are used as matching grants for UTAP students to become teachers in urban schools. In addition, his commitment to provide the community with improved school sites and program options have led to the re-opening of Pompano Beach High School; the creation of the International Studies Magnet Program; and the acquisition of lands for expansion of Pompano Beach Middle School and various other elementary schools and high schools in the Pompano Beach and Deerfield areas.
• Dr. Parks has served as the State Legislative Liaison for Broward County Public Schools, District Director of the Florida School Boards Association, and member of the Board of Directors for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and has been instrumental in Broward County seeking district-wide accreditation. He received the Chairman's Award for participation in the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce. He also participates in the Pompano Beach Community Exchange Club, a service organization to raise funds for local charitable organizations, and has served as a member of the National School Boards Association.

While advocating for Broward’s urban educational initiatives, the following programs, policies, and organizations have emerged to national recognition for urban educational reform. As a champion for the urban student Dr. Parks has initiated the following:

• Urban Teacher Academy Program, a district-wide initiative that engages high school students in a rigorous four-year plan of study to prepare them for teaching in urban schools, has grown to national recognition. This program received initial support from the Council of Great City Schools and Recruiting New Teacher, Inc.
• Broward Teacher Fellowship provides a four-year college tuition scholarship to successful high school graduates of the Urban Teacher Academy Program. This scholarship program helps deserving students pursue careers in education. These students are committed to becoming teachers who upon completion of their degree will teach in Broward County Public Schools. The goal is to produce 150 teachers a year who will be highly trained to work with urban students. My commitment to this program has raised approximately $100,000 for scholarships.
• Teaching and Leadership Center (TLC) is a collaborative initiative of Broward County Public Schools, Florida Atlantic University, and Broward Community College to meet the challenges of attracting, developing, and retaining qualified educators for Broward’s urban school district. TLC initiates, develops, and implements programs designed to recruit and prepare non-education graduates to become highly qualified teachers. TLC has prepared over 300 teachers to work in Broward’s critical need and Title I schools.
• Digital Education Teacher Academy (DETA) is a standards-based professional development program designed to assist teachers in transitioning their classrooms into digital learning environments and providing access to technology that facilitates bridging the digital divide. The DETA model is replicable, research based, student oriented, and consistent with the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Teachers in Broward receive three-hours graduate credit for completing DETA at no cost to them. An evaluation report conducted by University of Miami has concluded that DETA has created a favorable impact on daily classroom activities and the pedagogical approaches used by teachers.
• Digital Learning Environment Study (DLES) was initiated to assist Broward County Public Schools to implement its vision of empowering students to become lifelong learners capable of using technology for critical thinking, problem solving, virtual learning, and enhancing student achievement. The study has been established at four urban school sites, with 5200 laptops having been assigned to students. Parents and students have received training in the use of a laptop as a learning tool. Initial findings indicate an increase in student learning gains.
• Education Summit on Teacher Shortage in Urban Areas comprised of business and community leaders, K-12 educators, university and college presidents and professors, college students, local government officials, and state legislatures. Culminating from this Summit was a strategic plan of initiatives to address the teacher shortage.
• WorkForce Housing is a multi-million dollar joint initiative with Bank of America and the School Board of Broward County to create a “Teachers Village” that will provide fifty residences for Broward Teachers that work in high need schools.