October is National Principals Month, and we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the amazing principals who lead our schools. Their dedication, passion, and commitment shape the educational experiences of our students and foster positive school cultures.
Kristen McClanahan-Parkes has been with Summit Academy Middletown (SAM) for seven years, leading with a unique blend of empathy, dedication, and personal connection to her community. During her first two years at the school, she served as the math instructional coach and oversaw all math curriculum. After that, she became the principal at the K-6 building. In 2023, she was named the K-12 principal.
As she steps into her second year as K-12 principal, her journey as an educational leader is deeply rooted in her passion for nurturing young minds and building strong relationships within the community.
“What really drew me to Summit Middletown was the small school size. This is my community; I live 10 minutes away,” she shares. “There are so many students with exceptionalities here, who are just so unique and special, and I’m always drawn to those students. I love being around them.”
Kristen’s path to education was shaped by her upbringing; she had opportunities that others in her family did not. As the first in her family to attend and graduate from college, she understands the importance of providing students with the chance to focus on being kids while navigating the challenges of life.
“My mom had me when she was a senior in high school, so I spent a lot of my childhood with my grandma,” she says. “It’s important to me to make sure that students get to be a child and only worry about what their job is: learning and being a good human without having to worry about other issues. Being able to work with kids and make sure that barriers are taken away is why I wanted to be in education.”
When asked about the most fulfilling aspect of her role, Kristen emphasizes the relationships she builds with both students and their families.
“I’m surrounded by a great group of people who truly care about the kids at both of my schools,” said McClanahan-Parkes. “Being a school of choice, it’s special to me knowing that adults in the community make the decision to send their children to our school. They recognize that they want to advocate for their child and take the next steps to figure out the appropriate way to serve them. I want our students and families to know that we’re here and that they can count on us, whether it’s help with academics or something more personal in life.”
She is particularly excited for graduation this year, as the graduating class includes a group of students Kristen worked with during her first year at the school. She jokes that she won’t be able to speak, as she will be tearing up during the entire ceremony.
“Our seniors this year were 6th graders during my first year at the school. Part of the class included a particularly challenging group of boys who I got really close with,” said McClanahan-Parkes. “They would occasionally be kicked out of class, and I would take them so that they would still be in school instead of being sent home. I would sit with them and teach math all day; so they are all really good at math! I’m really looking forward to graduation this year and seeing my first group of kids graduate.”
Kristen never imagined working at a charter school, especially given her background in public education and involvement in her union during her teaching years. However, she has since embraced her role at SAM and is passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding charter schools. “We’re not in competition; we all have the same end goal. We’re here to serve our kids and our community,” she says, describing her collaborative efforts with local public school leaders to serve the community’s children.
“I’ll meet with our local public-school leaders to collaborate about what we can do to serve the kids. Being able to come from a different perspective (at a charter), and be another resource for our community has been really impactful and eye opening for me,” said McClanahan Parkes.
The partnership between SAM and other local schools has blossomed under the new superintendent, who has fostered strong relationships through regular meetings and collaboration.
“It’s been great to talk with everyone, and I’ve even had principals from other schools call me to talk about kids they think would thrive at our school.”
A typical day for Kristen includes constantly moving, greeting students by name every morning and checking in throughout the day. “My office has kind of turned into a storage room,” she jokes. “I’m hands-on, which is what our students and teachers need.”
Whether it’s sitting in the back of a classroom with a struggling student or setting up her mobile desk in the hallway, Kristen is always present and involved. Her approach to leadership reflects the culture of compassion she has worked hard to instill at SAM. She and her staff have worked with a consultant on mindset.
“All my teachers come from love and empathy first, rather than focusing on punishment and a punitive mindset. It’s been a good mindset shift for everyone here,” she says. This philosophy has helped relieve some of the pressure educators feel, particularly when serving a high-needs student demographic.
Kristen’s proudest moments are often the small, heartfelt connections she makes with her students.
“A moment that really sticks out to me was an interaction with two twin brothers who were in fourth grade,” she recalls. “They were new to us, so after school I walked them out to their parents’ car. One of the boys had told a joke and made me laugh really hard that day. I told his mother, ‘I need you to know – he’s one of the funniest kids I’ve ever interacted with’. She was kind of taken aback and started crying. She thanked me and said that no one at school had ever complimented this boy before. She said they always compliment his brother, but never him.”
For Kristen, moments like these are reminders of the impact that a supportive and inclusive environment can have on a child.
“In our intake interviews, we hear from parents that their kid is ‘an outsider’ and doesn’t ‘fit in’. So, this experience was kind of a full circle moment for me, because a lot of our kids have similar stories, and they always find their people here at our school,” she explains.
Looking to the future, Kristen has ambitious goals for SAM. She hopes to continue expanding the school’s impact on the community, organizing food drives and filling local blessing boxes.
“The class that brings in the most donations for community blessing boxes gets a pizza party and a drawing to pie me in the face at a school event,” she said. “We will also donate some of the food to a local pantry. We have one drive in the fall and another after the holidays. The students get really into it.”
Academically, she is proud of her strong team of instructional coaches and teachers who continue to seek new credentials and training. “Our report card this year was very comparable to our public schools, and we even exceeded them in a couple of places. I’d like us to continue doing that,” she notes.
Going into her second year as a principal, Kristen’s advice for newer school leaders is simple: “Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something.” She stresses the importance of vulnerability and relying on the community for support. As a woman in leadership, she understands the pressure to appear infallible but believes that authenticity and empathy are the keys to success. “It’s so important to rely on your community and have that vulnerability and let people show up and guide you. Have empathy for other humans.”
Outside of her role as principal, Kristen is married with two children, Izzy and Jude, as well as 3 dogs and 2 cats. She spends her free time fostering dogs, being outdoors, and attending live music events. Sundays are reserved for family dinners with her extended family, where 30 relatives gather at her grandmother’s house every week. “It’s chaotic but wonderful,” she laughs.
Kristen’s life and leadership are shaped by her deep commitment to others—whether it’s her students, her family, or her foster dogs. As Summit Academy Middletown continues to grow, her compassionate and hands-on approach ensures that the school remains a welcoming space where students can thrive both academically and personally.
Through her work, Kristen is creating a community where students are empowered to be themselves, embrace their uniqueness, and understand that they deserve to take up space in the world.
“I’m so proud of our loving and welcoming community. We teach our kids that above being great scholars, they need to be good humans. They don’t need to ‘fit in’ They just need to find the right space.”