School of Education establishes annual award in honor of longtime dean who played key role in program’s accreditation

A visit to Liberty University’s campus in 1986 changed Dr. Karen Parker’s career — and Liberty’s School of Education — for the better.

As a K-12 instructor with a comfortable 16 years of teaching experience already under her belt, Parker wasn’t desperate for a career change. But when she visited her sister, a music education student at Liberty, another opportunity came into focus.

She was introduced to faculty members in the School of Education faculty during the visit, and a few weeks later received a job offer.

“I really wasn’t thinking about a change, and I really enjoyed K-12,” Parker said. “At first, it was hard to think about leaving that, but I really have enjoyed my time working with college students and graduate students. Looking back on it, I would say it was the Lord’s perfect timing.”

At Liberty, Parker has served as an instructor, the Teacher Education Department Chair, and dean, a position she held for 15 years. In 2016, she took a step back from her full-time load but has continued to serve as the accreditation coordinator and holds the title Dean Emeritus.

During Commencement in May, Parker was honored when the School of Education presented its first Dr. Karen L. Parker Future Educator Excellence Award to graduate Cole McQuaid.

“The School of Education proudly continues its national accredited status to this day from the incredible legacy she (Parker) has provided,” said Associate Dean Dr. Michelle Goodwin during the school’s degree presentation ceremony in Williams Stadium. “While in her role as dean, the School of Education’s candidate enrollment grew from hundreds to thousands and, through her visionary leadership and expertise of the accreditation process, Dr. Parker has faithfully committed to the School of Education’s mission to prepare competent professionals with a biblical worldview, and we are proud to establish this award in her honor.”

“I feel very honored,” said Parker. “It’s the type of thing that’s more commonly done after someone passes. I thought it was very kind and thoughtful of them to do it while I can appreciate it and enjoy it, too.”

Under Parker’s leadership as dean, the School of Education’s enrollment skyrocketed, in part because of Parker’s prowess in obtaining various forms of accreditation. Parker helped the school obtain national accreditation through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) — the gold standard of accreditation for teacher education.

She said one of the most enticing aspects of working at Liberty was founder Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr.’s vision of building an evangelical institution that would launch world-class Christian professionals into all academic disciplines.

“I always appreciated Dr. Falwell saying, ‘If it’s Christian, it ought to be better,’” she said. “I told him that that would be my goal: to seek national accreditation for the School of Education. He agreed with that goal and promised that the support would be there from the university. He kept his promise, and I kept my objectives, and we moved forward toward that goal.”

As the first award recipient, McQuaid said he was appreciative of Parker and other members of the School of Education for investing in his development as a teacher.

“I am thoroughly honored to be the recipient of the first ever Karen L. Parker Award,” said McQuaid. “Similarly, I am grateful for all of the relationships I was able to cultivate with faculty and administration throughout my time enrolled in the School of Education at Liberty University. The deans and professors took the time to get to know me personally, and I learned so much in the classroom and the field. I feel more than prepared to serve the Lord as a 5th grade teacher in a public school in Frederick County, Va. this fall.”

McQuaid received a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, with a minor in mathematics. He was a student worker in the School of Education office and worked closely with Parker on several tasks.

McQuaid also served as the treasurer of the Pi Sigma chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honors Society in Education. Under McQuaid and other student leadership, the chapter secured seven national awards.

“Cole is a very promising, bright young educator,” Parker said. “I am very pleased that the very first recipient is someone I know and have had the occasion to work with.”

McQuaid has accepted a fifth-grade teaching position in Frederick County, Va., for the fall and is excited to implement the skills he acquired at Liberty in his own classroom.

“So many children in the classroom don’t have a man in their lives at home,” Parker said. “It’s very meaningful to have some men at the elementary level. That’s a definite area of shortage and a definite area that’s recruited in Virginia. So, we’re very happy to have him there.”

The School of Education offers degree programs ranging from the associate to the doctoral level, preparing its students to assume roles in classrooms, school administration, curriculum development, and more. Graduates are licensed to teach in all 50 states, in Christian, private, and public schools. The School of Education is also home to six unique student organizations: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Student Chapter (ASCD), Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), Piedmont Area Reading Council (PARC), Professional Association of Christian Educators (PACE), and Urban Education Club.

Liberty’s School of Education programs are accredited by NCATE Standards through the CAEP Accreditation System. Liberty’s Teacher Licensure Program is approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI).