yvonne parks, m. ed

Yvonne Parks has been an educator for 30 years and is currently employed by the Canton City

School District. She began her career as a title math teacher in Massillon City Schools and

served there for eight years. Over the next 22 years she has taught title reading, Reading

Recovery, 2nd grade and 3rd grade with Canton City Schools. She is now a virtual teacher at

Harter Elementary Reading and Math Preparatory School.

Yvonne received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Malone University and her Master’s

Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Kent State University. She completed the Principal

Licensure Program through Cleveland State University in 2011. In 2015, she obtained her

Reading Recovery Certification through The Ohio State University. Yvonne has accumulated

many hours of professional development covering a wide range of topics that are pertinent in

maintaining best practices in education.

Her record of educational leadership is expansive; having served, led and collaborated on

numerous committees and leadership teams. She has served on the Canton Professional

Educators’ Association (CPEA) building leadership team and is a delegate for the Ohio

Educators’ Association. The highlights of her work with CPEA include being recognized by the

Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association for her public relations

committee work. Yvonne also received the prestigious Sam Dorto Jr. Service Award from CPEA

in 2011. Besides these professional organizations, Yvonne is a member of the NAACP and the

Reading Recovery Council of North America.

Yvonne is the current president of the Leila Green Alliance of Black School Educators and has

served in this role for the past six years. Her role as president has afforded her the opportunity to

become even more involved in the community. She successfully helped plan and execute

Canton’s first ever Town Hall on Women and Girls of Color in collaboration with Dr. Kimberle

Crenshaw and the African American Policy Forum. She spearheaded the campaign to change the

name of Allen Elementary School to Stephanie Rushin Patrick Elementary School in honor of

Leila Green’s co-founder Stephanie Patrick. Most recently, she has been named to the Board of

Directors for ABCD Inc.

Yvonne is the daughter of James and Ruth Slay and is a proud lifelong resident of Canton, Ohio.

She has been married to her husband Victor Parks for 29 years. Together they have three

amazing children, two grandsons, and two delightful grandbaby pups!