Craig Parkes Ed.D

Education

B.A., Physical Education, University of Wolverhampton, 2011
M.Sc., Health Education, Ithaca College, 2012
Ed.D., Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2018

Teaching Philosophy

I believe my role in higher education is to encourage and support my students in becoming critical thinkers, who will graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary to become outstanding physical educators and kinesiology professionals. As professionals in this field students must be able to apply theoretical and pedagogical knowledge within a real world setting. I like to develop the application of pedagogical content knowledge and instructional methods through early field experiences, such as peer-to-peer teaching, P-12 teaching, and internship opportunities whenever possible. I firmly believe that students should become independent learners, and hold themselves accountable for their learning and professional development, while I facilitate the process. Employing a range of instructional strategies, and providing students with detailed feedback in a timely manner are key components of my teaching. Students’ should be motivated to come to class, want to ask questions, get involved in discussions, and absorb as much information as possible, before making informed decisions on how they decide to perform their professional roles and responsibilities. What works at one school/facility may not work at another, and what works with one child/client may not work with another. Therefore, students are encouraged to be reflective, and to critically evaluate their teaching and instructing practices, because even the most experienced professionals can still make improvements!

Research

I primarily investigate the influence of Lawson’s Occupational Socialization Theory on physical education teacher education recruitment/retention and physical educator pedagogical behavior. I have also published research on preservice and inservice teachers’ perceptions of edTPA and use of the teaching games for understanding (TGfU) model. I have published 26 peer-reviewed academic manuscripts and have received external grant funding from the Spectrum Institute for Teaching and Learning and ASAHPERD.

Outreach

At South, I have served as Health and Physical Education Program Coordinator, CEPS Faculty Council Committee Member, and Second Year Experience (SYE) Faculty Fellow. In addition, I have served the Gulf-Coast region and the professional community by working closely with local school districts, the Alabama State Department of Education, and numerous professional organizations and academic journals. Between 2022-2023 I served as ASAHPERD Vice President for Physical Education.

Biography

I was born in Wolverhampton, England, but have spent most of my adult life living in the United States. Prior to accepting the position at USA, I spent six and a half years as an assistant teaching professor in the kinesiology department at Penn State University. Early in my career I taught physical education in the British public school system, and also have over 20 year's soccer coaching and coach education experience. I currently reside in Pensacola, Florida, with my wife, sons, and dogs. My hobbies include soccer, golf, fishing, and spending time at the beach. I also enjoy watching sports, and my favorite team is the England national soccer team.

Courses

HPE 506, Physical Education Curriculum, 1 course.
HS 365, HPE Curr/Methods-Elem Teachers, 1 course.
KIN 201, Orientation to Kinesiology, 3 courses.
KIN 351, Sports Skills, 1 course.
KIN 370, Basic Motor Learning, 1 course.
KIN 429, School Lab Experience-PE, 1 course.
KIN 452, Methods of Teaching PE-W, 1 course.
KIN 506, Physical Education Curriculum, 1 course.
PE 100, Concepts of Health and Fitness, 1 course.
PE 201, Orientation to HPE, 1 course.
PE 351, Sports Skills, 1 course.
PE 370, Basic Motor Learning, 1 course.