Before becoming a teacher at Pioneer High School, Mary Park was a researcher, EMT and even a small business owner.
Originally from Southern California, Park headed north to attend UC Davis where she double majored to earn her bachelor's degrees in animal science and English. After graduation, Park spent some time working as a postgraduate researcher for the Wildlife Department at UC Davis and had a short stint as a business owner when she owned and ran her own pet store in Davis for about five years.
Park then decided to go back to school to get her teaching credential and master's degree in education from UC Davis before landing her first teaching position at Pioneer High School. Park, who also has about 20 years of experience being a certified EMT, spent 14 years teaching in Pioneer's agricultural department before transferring to the science department about four years ago to begin the Medical Pathway program.
"I've always enjoyed teaching and early on as an EMT, I would always help with the different teaching programs," Park said. "I love that I get to take on this program where I can actually use both my medical knowledge and teaching and get these guys ready for the real world."
Park now teaches Medical Biology, Emergency Medicine 1 and Emergency Medicine 2 at Pioneer High. In addition to all her teaching duties, Park also serves as the school's athletic trainer.
According to Park, students enter the pathway as a medical biology student where they are introduced to the anatomy and physiology of humans and basic medical care including first aid and CPR. As students progress through the pathway and enter Emergency Medicine 2, they dive deeper into medical and trauma patients and explore athletic training.
"This is also the year students work as athletic trainers for various sport teams on campus, serving their medical and training needs," Park explained. "This is the year where students can truly put their learned classroom skills into action in the field as they assist their patients with their medical needs."
Park said she loves getting to see her students apply the skills she teaches in the classroom to real patients.
"The first time they treat a patient on the field, you can watch them go into action almost automatically," Park said. "You can see the surprise and pride in their eyes when the call is finished and they almost can't believe what they have just been able to do. And the confidence that is built within each student with every patient that is cared for is so amazing to see."
Within the pathway, Park is also the advisor for Pioneer's HOSA (Future Health Professionals) organization. The student-run organization organizes different community service activities and fundraisers to send their members to health-related competitions at the regional, state and national levels. Park coaches these academic teams that focus on medical topics such as CPR and first aid, sports medicine, medical terminology and medical math.
As if Park isn't already busy enough, she's also the head coach of the varsity water polo and swim teams. The water polo program just finished up their second year. However, Park has headed the swim program for over 10 years.
Principal of Pioneer High School Sandi Reese spoke highly of Park, praising her for the impact she leaves on her students.
"The footprint Mary leaves on this campus every day is huge. She does so much," Reese emphasized. "She uses hand-on and engaging methods, but she makes her curriculum relevant as well. Many students are now looking at careers in sports medicine as a direct result of their interactions with Mary Park."
With her classroom designed around hands-on activities and exposing students to what they might come across in the "real world," Park said she hopes her students realize that education is not "just something you do in the classroom."
"You are constantly going to be learning on the outside and actually using what you do in the classroom on the outside," Park said. "It shouldn't just be this divide of 'Oh this is just class. It's just school. I'll do something different in the real world.' No, what you are doing in the classroom translates to the real world, so utilize that time wisely and take everything in that you can so you are ready for that real world experience."
In her free time, Park still commits her time to teaching. On the weekends, Park can usually be found teaching EMT and CPR classes or training with the Yolo County Search and Rescue team. During the summer, she coaches the Woodland Wreckers, the city's recreational swim team.
"I'm just really proud of the kids and the training program we have established here at Pioneer High School," Park said. "It's very rare to see a full program out there like this out there. So to have my kids signing up for their own shifts and getting out there and gathering equipment in their uniforms, they do look very impressive.
"To also see that look in their eyes and wonderment when they're like 'Wow I actually helped someone!' That is so amazing to see and it just furthers their own want to continue helping people because that's the basis of what we are teaching them. You know, let's help people. Let's do what we can for each other. I really do enjoy hanging out with these guys at the games and teaching them all of this."
No comments:
Post a Comment