Parker, in her earlier days, wanted to become a nurse. "My first choice for a profession was nursing," she revealed to The Star. "However, when I sat my CXC (Caribbean Examination Council) examinations, I was unsuccessful in passing biology, which is a requirement for that profession."

She then related how, on the advice of Joycelyn Valentine, one of her teachers at her alma mater Old Harbour High School, she made an application to enter a teachers' college.

She was successful in her application and she started her studies at St Joseph's Teachers' Training College in September 1992. She graduated from that institution in June 1995 with a diploma in primary education. It was in that same year that she got her first teaching job at Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School. Buoyed by the zeal of success, she later completed, through part-time studies, a bachelor of science degree in psychology at the University of the West Indies in June 2003.

This quiet, unassuming teacher has been troubled by a few occurrences in the education system.

"I teach a grade four class and I thought it would have made things easier if the Education Ministry had informed us earlier of the fact that this year's grade four Literacy Test would have a numeracy component to it. Workshops and seminars would also assist greatly in this regard," she noted.

Another of her worries has to do with the shift system. She said that she has observed that students on the afternoon shift appeared tired and listless by the time they got to class. She believes this is because many of the students left home early and wandered about until it was time for the start of their shift.