Parks Preparatory Academy

Meet the Founder

As the eldest child in my family, I am guilty of forcing my younger siblings to play school with me on Saturdays. Although young, I was serious about my craft and knew teaching was my calling, which meant that almost every Saturday, you could find me homeschooling my three pupils. Together, we would work through their most challenging tasks such as placing spelling words in alphabetical order, composing sentences, and tying shoes, and to this day, it remains a memory that my siblings bring up over dinner.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was following a need. My siblings needed extra time to hone their skills; homeschooling was the answer. I needed to further develop my love of teaching; homeschooling was the answer. And even in my career as an educator in public schools, I continue to follow the need, but more importantly, I strive to follow GOD’s instructions. I believe those to be the most essential directives to live a meaningful life, with peaks and valleys that always manage to get you exactly where HE wants you to be.

Perhaps you are here because you desire to homeschool your child, providing him or her with an enriching learning experience that is rooted in the Christian faith, or maybe your child would greatly benefit from self-paced, learning with a homeschool feel or appropriate guidance from our fun, innovative teacher-leaders.

I pray that you and your child’s experience at PPA and with our products further fuel the Faith and energy that brought you here.

Thank you for your interest in PPA!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jalesa Parks

Our Mission

The mission of Parks Preparatory Academy is to produce transformational leaders by facilitating and providing quality and academically rigorous homeschool materials and learning experiences that build in students the capacity for innovation, cultural awareness, social change, and post-secondary success.

Our Vision

To be an exemplary organization committed to identity development and the spiritual, academic, professional and personal growth of faculty, students, and the larger community.

Photo by Katerina Holmes on

Core Values

Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity

Develop a moral compass rooted in Christianity and a deep appreciation and knowledge of respective cultures through culturally-validating and exploratory practices

Critical Reflection & Action

Develop skills necessary for conducting research and discussing social issues plaguing the global society, critiquing social inequalities and inequities, properly reflecting on our individual positions within society, and advocating for social change

Inclusivity & Democracy

Respectfully, openly, and freely discuss controversial topics and include practices that cater to the diverse learning needs, cultures, and histories of students, faculty/staff, and the larger community

Innovation & Preparation

Incorporate instructional strategies that work to engage students in the learning process and are applicable to students’ academic, personal, spiritual, and future professional lives

Family & Community

Facilitate a safe learning environment that promotes growth, student-student/student-teacher/student-administrator/administrator-teacher/administrator-teacher-parent interaction, mutual respect, accountability, and positive, Christian fellowship

Statement of Faith

We believe:

in the Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelations.
in the Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7).
that every believer must repent of their sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, according to Acts 2:38 and Romans 10:9.
in the Baptism with water and of the Holy Ghost, according to Acts 1:5.
in worshipping the Lord “in spirit and in truth,” as stated in John 4:24.
in nurturing, serving, and bearing witness to the fruit of the spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23; 25.
in contributing to the building of God’s kingdom through tithes and offering (Malachi 3:10).
in the Holy Communion (The Lord’s Supper) in remembrance of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:26-28).
in extending an invitation to all people (Matthew 11:28).
in exalting, building, and sustaining God’s kingdom (Matthew 16:18).
in obeying the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17).

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY

Parks Preparatory Academy is committed to providing and maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from any form of illegal discrimination or harassment in accordance with federal, state and local law, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and their implementing regulations. Specifically, the organization does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state and local law in recruitment, admission, educational programs, school activities or employment. There will be no retaliation against any individual who makes a good faith report of discrimination or harassment or participates in or cooperates with any investigation of alleged discrimination or harassment.