On Monday, June 19, Mr. Rawlin Parker will turn right out of Sale Creek Middle/High School’s parking lot for the last time as the assistant principal of that school. Mr. Parker has devoted 47 years of his life to the Hamilton County Department of Education as a teacher, a coach, and an administrator.
I have had the privilege of working with him for the last eight years. Upon my promotion to principal of Soddy-Daisy Middle School in 2009, I received a congratulatory phone call from a mutual friend of ours, Mr. Steve McClure. Mr. McClure is also a lifelong educator for whom I also have the utmost respect. During our conversation, the question was asked who my assistant principal would be, and I told him, Rawlin Parker. His response was, and I quote, “You can’t go wrong there. He's a good man!"
During those eight years:
I have seen him go to his wallet countless times so that no student goes hungry.
I have seen him huddle siblings together to pray after they had received the devastating news that a parent had died.
I have seen him involved in hours of conversations with students that just needed to know that someone really cared.
I have seen him “dig down” to handle gut wrenching situations that an ordinary person like myself could not handle.
And I have seen him bring in brand new shoes to replace the tattered ones worn to school by a student that day.
He's a good man!
I will surely miss:
Spotting that car sitting in its parking spot well before teacher/student arrival time.
Those early morning coffee sessions enjoyed by he, myself, and our SRO, T.J. Pickens, where we discussed Tennessee/Georgia football, politics, and the roller coaster rides of education and law enforcement.
Those “Good Morning Teachers and Students” sessions that he and I conducted every morning at the school’s main entrance.
His unwavering loyalty.
Working those late night athletic events.
And most of all, without a doubt, working each and every day alongside this gentleman, because
He's a good man!
So, Mr. Parker, as you embark upon your retirement, just remember that you alone have positively impacted the lives of thousands of people, and I bet that if asked, each and every one of those people would agree on one thing about Rawlin Parker:
He's a good man!
Good Luck and God Bless You,
Tobin Davidson