Meet Kathleen S. Young-Parker, Pinellas County Schools’ new minority achievement officer, who aims to close the achievement gap between Black and white scholars.
Dear Pinellas County community,
My name is Kathleen S. Young-Parker, and I would like to introduce myself as the new Minority Achievement Office for Pinellas County Schools. As a native of St. Petersburg, I am deeply honored to serve my community in this capacity. As I step into this role, I am filled with enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility.
Most recently, I served as principal at Campbell Park Elementary, where the collective efforts of teachers, families, and community partners resulted in significant gains in student proficiency and a school grade of ‘B’ for the 2023-24 school year. With over 29 years of experience in education, my professional credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Florida A&M University, as well as a master’s in education and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from accredited institutions of higher education.
I am committed to overseeing the successful implementation of the Bridging the Gap (BTG) plan, which focuses on six key goals to positively impact Black student achievement across Pinellas County Schools:
- Increase the graduation rate for Black students.
- Increase reading and math proficiency for Black students on state and national assessments.
- Increase participation and success of Black students in advanced courses.
- Reduce disparities in disciplinary actions against Black students.
- Reduce overrepresentation of Black students in programs for emotional and behavioral disabilities.
- Increase the number of Black teachers and administrators.
The BTG plan is critical to the district’s commitment to closing achievement gaps for every student and in fulfilling our vision of 100 percent student success. Leveraging my knowledge and successful experience as a school leader, I will work closely with principals, educators, families and community members to ensure every student has access to the resources and support they need for academic success.
In 2023-24, Pinellas County Schools demonstrated growth in student achievement for all students, but there is still much to be done to ensure all students graduate prepared for career, college and life. I am steadfast in my dedication to this work.
I encourage members of the community to reach out to me directly and look forward to partnering with each of you to elevate the excellence of our students. Give me a call at 727-588-6436 or shoot me an email at young-parkerk@pcsb.org.
Sincerely,
Kathleen S. Young-Parker
Minority Achievement Officer
Pinellas County School District
