Salem Parris

Dynamic educator with expertise in classroom management, lesson planning, and fostering student participation. Committed to enhancing critical thinking and collaboration among students. Committed to professional development to add resources and sources in the classroom for students.

• 2019-2020 Haywood County Beginning Teacher of the Year

• Lead and mentor student-athletes through practices, performances, and competitions while promoting teamwork, leadership, sportsmanship, academic responsibility, and school spirit; coordinate schedules, events, safety procedures, and communication with students, families, and school staff. 2020-2026
• Coordinated and facilitated an educational field trip to Washington, D.C., managing student logistics, safety, scheduling, and learning experiences to provide meaningful connections between classroom instruction and historic sites. 2025-2026
• Participation in 2025 The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) "Teaching the Holocaust: Resources and Reflections" at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
• Selected to participate in 2025, an intensive, weeklong professional development seminar hosted by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in partnership with SMU’s Center for Presidential History, engaging in advanced study of the Declaration of Independence and primary-source analysis while developing strategies to incorporate historical scholarship and inquiry-based learning into classroom instruction.
• Coordinate and lead the schoolwide Veterans Day ceremony, collaborating with students, staff, veterans, and community members to plan and execute a meaningful program honoring local veterans and promoting student engagement in civic responsibility and community connections. 2021-2026.
• Participated in an intensive one-week Holocaust education seminar and study experience in Poland, engaging with historic sites, educators, and primary sources to deepen understanding of Holocaust and genocide education and strengthen classroom instruction. 2026.