Beau Hunter | The Marshfield Times

Luke Parrish took an untraditional path toward becoming a teacher.  He started teaching at the age of 40 after pursuing other professions, including being a founder and partner of the local South Coast Shopper weekly paper in 1992.

After realizing he needed to pursue a different career to support his family, Parrish determined he wanted to choose a long-term satisfying career, and he felt that he would enjoy teaching.

“It just at some point kind of dawned on me that I would enjoy it,” Parrish said.

Parrish, now an English teacher, has been working in education since 1994 after earning his teaching degree from Warner Pacific College in Portland.

Prior to teaching at MHS, Parrish taught at Douglas High School in Winston, the former Charleston Elementary School and Millicoma. Although his current teaching assignment includes English and College Prep English courses, Parrish originally worked in special education.

Throughout his career, Parrish has taken pride in the way he treats his students.

“I try to treat every one of my students in my classroom as closely as I can, as though they were my own son or daughter, and that means that I love them all the same, and that I love them all differently,” Parrish said.

Parrish is regarded by many as a caring person who tries to help his students to improve their skills.  Senior Agustin Cervera appreciates this concern, as well as Parrish’s sense of humor.

“He explains things good and wants us to learn,” Cervera said.

Sophomore Lane Mitts elaborated on that love of humor and the atmosphere of laughter students are exposed to in Parrish’s classroom. However, he said that humor is exposed only at appropriate times, and Parrish spends most of the class time explaining and helping students understand their work.

“He assists us on our work and explains,” Mitts said.

Colleagues appreciate these same qualities in Parrish. Social studies teacher Debbie Brown knows Parrish treats his students well. She said he shows his fellow teachers the same respect and helps them when they are in need.  She realized this shortly after meeting him nine years ago when she first started teaching at MHS, and he helped her set up her classroom.

“If I ever need anyone, I know Parrish would be there for me,” Brown said.

Aside from teaching, Parrish enjoys playing the guitar.  He has 35 years of experience playing.  Parrish has even acquired his own form of music, which he refers to as “country punk fusion.”

Parrish also enjoys reading during his spare time.

“I read all the time, but I don’t regard that as a hobby. It’s more of a staple,” Parrish said.  “It’s as important to me as eating breakfast.”

After many years, Parrish has not lost his passion for how he teaches his students.  He believes if a student tries hard, they should be rewarded for it.  He said he recognizes that all students learn differently, so he strives to keep that in mind to help them achieve.

In return, Parrish’s life has been enriched by being a teacher and has helped him overcome difficulties.

“I think being a teacher has helped me grow up,” Parrish said.