WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
A single word unexpectedly and beautifully burst from the mouth of a non-verbal teenage girl in a class for students with profound special needs, igniting a surge of joy and excitement through the heart of Pam Parmenter in the early 1980s.
The sound, “Vickypoo,” floated out assertively and purposely into the busy classroom and commanded attention like a surprise visit from a four-star general.
“She was a non-verbal student, and then all of a sudden, she said her name – the nickname we called her,” said Parmenter, who had just relocated from Pennsylvania and jumped into substitute teaching the final 13 weeks of the school year. “We all got so excited. We just had a party!”
The language milestone captured Parmenter as she reflected on the year. Her eyes glowed at the memory of the quadriplegic student she wheeled on stage so he could debut in a Singing in the Rain performance. She celebrated submersing each student outside every day to feel the warmth of nature, despite physical and emotional limitations. She thought about tiny seeds of progress that – in this special class of six young people age 14-21 – bloomed like a vibrant sea of Colorado wildflowers.
Thoughtfully crafting each student’s IEP that June, Parmenter discovered inspiration that propelled her nearly 40-year career in education: Every single child deserves support and learning opportunities.
“I have always had a passion for championing the underdog,” said Parmenter, whose career culminated as Director of Early Learning at the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. “I actually don’t see people as underdogs. I view them as people in need of opportunity.”
Like a fairy godmother of education, Parmenter has sprinkled her magic across Manatee County – dedicating her career to encouraging life-long learners in both children and adults. Tirelessly advocating early educational programs and essential support for students, parents, and teachers, Parmenter has served in positions ranging from preschool director to trainer for educators. Now this mystery-book lover and board game night owl who tackled a master’s degree at age 61 faces a new chapter at the end of June: Retirement. And scores of people are going to miss her generous smiles, layers of knowledge and experience, and insatiable drive to enhance the quality of early childhood programming in Manatee County.
“Pam is going to be very much missed not just by myself and all of our staff, but also by the wider local early learning community,” said Paul Sharff, CEO of the Manatee County Early Learning Coalition. “She has been an outstanding advocate for our youngest learners in what has been an amazing career. Pam has tremendous knowledge of the programs and requirements that our local children need most. She has been a fountain of knowledge for so many people in the early learning field, and we have been lucky to have such a talented, dedicated, and caring lady on our team. We will miss her greatly – but wish her well in her well-earned retirement.”
Listening to history and stories of people morph to life, Parmenter absorbed the talented energy of her high school social studies teacher – a man who inspired her to pursue a degree in teaching. However, early childhood education ultimately grabbed her heart. She indulged in six years stacking blocks, reciting poetry, and creating masterpieces alongside young children while she served as preschool director of Cape Vista Learning Center – the first for-profit subsidized childcare program in Manatee County.
“I had the ability to see the changes and progress in young children,” said Parmenter, who speaks in a soft, calming tone with a healthy dose of humor. “It’s fun. I get to play. Play is how children learn. Play is how adults learn. If we encourage learning at a young age, and we are doing our jobs right and teaching through intention to keep children motivated, then we are teaching lifelong learners.”
With eyes sparkling at the memory, Parmenter recounted teaching her preschoolers how to recite the poem “Rain” by Robert Louis Stevenson and exposing them to quality literature.
“It doesn’t really matter if you can read or not,” said Parmenter, who confesses Fred Rogers is her ultimate hero, and she is known to roll with laughter at a good, clever book. “You can still encourage a love of literacy in children by curling up with them beside you. They feel warmth and moisture from your breath. Books are not only about literacy. There is an emotional attachment to books.”
Raising two sons, Eddie and Joey, who shine as the lights of her life, Parmenter now relishes bonding with her almost-three-year-old grandson, Patryk. Whether it is a walk around the neighborhood or rolling a toy bus across the living room floor, Parmenter cherishes one-on-one connection. Many afternoons, the pair will journey into a good book while Patrick curls up in a rocker that belonged to Parmenter as a little girl.
The emotional attachment and quiet moments between parents and children form the base of Parmenter’s strategy to empower and support caregivers and teachers as well as the students. Grateful for this perspective, Dr. Sheila Halpin, Manatee County’s Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and volunteer coordinator, echoes Parmenter has been a servant leader and champion for children and families.
“Pam empowers families to be their child’s first and best teacher,” said Halpin. “She provides opportunities and gives support to classrooms through professional development opportunities to improve student outcomes, particularly for students experiencing poverty. Pam invests in networking to solve problems using evidence-based interventions for students with effective approaches that can be replicated. She also trains and prepares teachers to better serve students.”
Like a solid support beam bridging islands, Parmenter exudes a talent for motivating people to work together and enhance the quality of early childhood programming.
“Pam is an asset to our community and has contributed to the success of educators and the positive trajectory of families,” Halpin said. “Manatee County is indebted to the selfless and tireless work Pam has done for all and her unwavering belief that all children can succeed.”
Blinking from Parmenter’s computer screen and highlighting an image of children holding hands is a quote from the book “Intellectual Emergencies: Some Reflections on Mothering and Teaching” by Lillian Katz. It provides daily inspiration for Parmenter.
“I believe that each of us must come to care about everyone else’s children,” the quote reads. “We must come to see that the well-being of our own individual children is intimately linked to the well-being of all other people’s children.”
Parmenter stresses a healthy society depends on community members embracing every child.
“I think of all children in Manatee County as my children,” said Parmenter. “How we treat them now will determine how they relate with society. It will help to allow them to have a relationship with society.”
This philosophy formed the backbone of Parmenter during a 16-year position as Director of Education and Director of Quality Assurance for Resource Connection for Kids. Along with a laundry list of responsibilities, Parmenter assessed and supervised the quality of contracted childcare programs throughout the county. Supervising child progress in these programs, she also oversaw training programs for teachers.
“In this county, we have worked hard to help provide improved teacher/child relationships,” said Parmenter, a Sudoku and crossword puzzle extraordinaire. “You can have all the tools, but if you don’t know how to implement them, that is the missing link.”
Decades ago, Kristi Mellin, who now owns Kids Academy Plus, cherished the influence Parmenter gifted her. As a 16-year-old Manatee High School student, Mellin arrived each afternoon to work in the one-year-old classroom of Parmenter’s school. Wide-eyed and eager to learn, Mellin soaked in Parmenter’s sheer love for the children along with vigorous support for her teachers.
“Pam has always been a huge support system for me,” said Mellin, who believes Parmenter inspired her to carve out a lifelong career in early childhood education, too. “She’s the one I still reach out to for advice – the one I call. Even if she won’t know the answer, she always knows how to find the answer. I told her I’m not ready for her to retire and that I hope she’s still a phone call away.”
When Parmenter is not analyzing educational data, she indulges in coastline sunsets from her Clearwater Beach condo. You might find her lost in a game of Candy Crush or blazing through Trivial Pursuit questions. Not many people will agree to a Scrabble match with her.
“My sisters won’t even play me in Scrabble,” said Parmenter with a chuckle and a twinkle in her eye.
A giant white-board calendar stretches impressively across the back of her office, which serves as a tool to train her replacement. As retirement creeps closer, Parmenter feels a mix of emotions percolating inside her.
“There is sadness – absolutely. Though I now can confront each day with the freedom to decide what I want to do, even if that is nothing,” said Parmenter, who has invested in a “decent starter camera” to flirt with the art of photography.
Eager always to learn new skills, she often wakes memories of her first Manatee County job, teaching special needs kids so many years ago.
“I remember everything about that class as if it was yesterday,” said Parmenter. “I remember all their names. That class changed and inspired me. From that experience, I saw how all children could grow.”
