Stella Parker – Capital High School Senior Achieves Despite Adversity with Epilepsy

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By Katie Doolittle

color graphicsWhen Stella Parker graduates from Capital High School later this year, her diploma will symbolize years of determination and learning. In this, she’s just like other members of the class of 2015. But since Parker’s road to academic achievement has been a little bumpier than most, her arrival at this educational milestone will be all the sweeter.

Why is that? Parker has epilepsy.

“To be honest I don’t even know how hard my life is because I’m constantly living it,” she says. Yet Parker is fully aware of the gifts she’s managed to wrestle from her challenges. “I am assertive and strong with the initiative to get where I need to go and do what I want to do.”

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After graduating from Capital High School, Stella Parker plans to attend South Puget Sound Community College.

Capable and committed students like Parker are the reason American public education offers Individualized Education Programs (or plans), otherwise known as IEPs. Think of an IEP as a contract drawn up and then revisited annually with input from family members, school staff, and the learner herself. Ideally, the goal is to provide the lightest support needed for the greatest success possible.

Unfortunately, that ideal is not always realized. Parker’s mother, Govinda Rossa, shudders to remember what her daughter experienced before entering the Olympia School District. Rossa says, “I’ve lived in a lot of places and I don’t know if people around here realize how lucky they are. This is the best school system I’ve ever seen.”

Parker’s out-of-state educational experiences could best be summed up as ineffective, insensitive, and sometimes unsafe. One school even kicked her out, telling Rossa, “It’s just too hard on us. Keep her at home.” Rossa recalls past IEP meetings as occasions for shame, frustration, and tears.

But when Parker started at Capital in January 2013, Rossa was shocked by the delightful difference. Their first IEP meeting opened with these welcome words: “‘Well, we’ve explained to all the teachers how to handle a seizure. Here’s our plan.’ I had never been treated so respectfully before. My daughter had never been treated so kindly and they had never been so accommodating.”

Principal Chris Woods has a simple yet poignant explanation for why the staff works so hard to support students. “We often talk about what we would want done for our own son or daughter if they were the ones we were meeting about or teaching in our classes.  It’s pretty easy to go the extra mile for a student when you view them through the lens of a parent.”

He adds, “Capital High School belongs to our students and we want to help create an environment where they feel valued, free to learn and cared for.”

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Capital High School teacher Donna McPeak describes Parker as “a young lady with an awesome personality, great sense of humor, and strong will and determination to achieve.”

Certainly, this has been the case for Stella Parker. She says, “I really appreciate how understanding the teachers and students are. The day after I have a seizure, nobody says anything except ‘are you okay?’ and that’s just the way it should be.”

Holly Steele, school nurse, describes it as a “privilege” for the whole health room staff to have watched “Stella blossom over the last two years… we are very proud of her and believe she has a bright future ahead.”

For Parker, that bright future will begin at  South Puget Sound Community College. And after that? “I would like to maybe teach children or help disabled students learn,” she says.

As Transition Coordinator at CHS, it’s been Pam Tebeau’s job and pleasure to assist Parker with this next step. Tebeau says, “Together we have been working with the Disability Service Coordinator at SPSCC to learn about accommodations, supports and career options. Stella has been steadfast in self-advocacy and I believe that through this process, she has grown tremendously.” Tebeau describes Parker as “an extraordinary young lady” and finds it powerful that “instead of asking the question, ‘Why me?’, she asked the question, ‘Why not me?’”

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Pam Tebeau is the Transition Coordinator at Capital High School.

Tebeau also mentions fellow staff member, Donna McPeak, who’s provided constant support and encouragement to Parker. McPeak was Parker’s first case manager as well as one of her classroom teachers. As Tebeau notes, “She did not give up or give in when things got tough for Stella and believe me, things got tough. Donna expected nothing less from Stella than her very best.”

As Parker’s high school career winds to a close, McPeak has nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to work with her. “Thank you Govinda for trusting in CHS and sharing your daughter with us. What an honor!” This supportive teacher goes on to say, “Stella, you have made CHS a better place by your presence. You model every day the following traits at CHS: perseverance,  positive attitude, strength of focus, sense of humor, and the power of the support of family. You are a powerful young woman and I have been honored to work with you. You have taught me a lot and I can honestly say as you travel onto your next challenge, Stella, you will not be forgotten here at CHS, but especially not forgotten by me.”

Congratulations, Stella Parker, and best of luck in all your future endeavors!

 

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