2023 Locals Love Us Favorite School Teacher: Allison Pike Parker

Allison Pike Parker’s love of teaching has been strengthened by her 17 years in the same classroom at Packsaddle Elementary School in Kingsland. The Picayune Magazine readers and KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune showed their appreciation for her dedication by voting her a 2023 Locals Love Us Favorite School Teacher.
“This means the world to me,” Parker said. “It just verifies that I must be doing something right.”
Parker has been teaching Kingsland kiddos long enough that she now has the children of former students in her classroom. Two of her former fourth-graders are now colleagues at Packsaddle.
Parker’s favorite subject to teach is science, or anything hands-on. Her current fifth-graders do everything from dry ice experiments to ecosystem boxes and even have an upcoming field trip planned to iFLY in Austin, where they will experience simulated skydiving.
“I just get so much joy from seeing the kids lighting up and learning,” Parker said. “It keeps you young.”
Parker attended Llano Junior High School and Llano High School. She is tied to the Kingsland community on both sides of her family and sees the Highland Lakes as a slice of heaven.
“I love the water and I love that it's a little community,” she said. “I grew up in Kingsland on the lake. I was even on the water skiing team back in the '80s. We moved from New Mexico, where there was no water, and it was a wonderful change.”
Parker taught in two other Texas school districts before taking a spot at Packsaddle 17 years ago. She has no plans to leave anytime soon. 
“I get so excited when I see former students in their 20s and 30s. I even have some in their 40s!” Parker said. “I just love seeing that my students find success after they leave me.”
Flip through the digital 2023 Locals Love Us magazine for a full list of winners.
dakota@thepicayune.com