After former assistant principal Cindy Parravano took over as interim principal following the sudden departure of Moussa Hamka, her former position was left open. Katie Parent, former English and psychology teacher at South stepped into the interim role due to her requisite skills and experience, allowing her to help the building in a time of need.
With now an open position in the English department, Parent and Parravano decided to contact Tex Profitt, Parent’s former student teacher. With the experience she gained from student teaching and as a recent graduate with her masters of arts in teaching, the decision wasn’t hard to make.
“Ms. Profitt was chosen because she was my student teacher in the first semester and has since gotten her teaching certification and masters degree,” Parent said. “Not only is she qualified from an educational and certification standpoint, but she already has preexisting relationships with my students, so it made the most sense to ensure a seamless transition.”
This past semester was Profitt’s first exposure to a classroom as a student teacher, but she has since taken over the prior English and psychology courses Parent was teaching. Because of her exposure under Parent’s guidance, she feels ready to lead her classes with proper qualifications.
“I felt pretty prepared to take over for Ms. Parent because of the learning experiences I gathered under both Ms. Parent and Taryn Loughlin (another South English teacher) along with the knowledge of how Ms. Parent teaches and her learning style,” Profitt said.
The students affected in the transition are also excited to have Profitt back for the rest of the year. Her Honors American Literature students including Lydia Prysak ’27 feel challenged yet comfortable with Profitt taking over for Parent especially because they have already built a solid relationship and know what to expect because of her past student teaching.
“She leads discussions well and helps us understand what we’re learning about, along with quizzing us to make sure we know everything,” Prysak said. “It also helps that no one has to learn new faces because of her student teaching and I think everyone is happy she is back and I hope she can get a long term job to stay at South.”
With the first full week starting, Profitt is easing into her new position well. It is unclear whether Parent and Parravano will hold their new positions in the following school year so that leads to a gray area in Profitt’s new position as well. Although the positions could all change next year, it seems that everyone is enjoying their new setting at South.
“I am very excited to take on this amazing opportunity and position,” Profitt said. “With the guidance and support of Ms. Parent and also different teachers, especially in the English department, they have been very helpful and informative to me.”
