Brynn Leonard ‘26 and Emma Fitzpatrick ‘26
This year, St. Mark’s welcomes two new Penn Fellows: Mr. Parks, a French teacher, and Mr. Brandt, a U.S. History teacher.
Mr. Parks initially wanted to become a doctor. However, after an internship at a hospital during his junior and senior years of high school, he realized the economic complexities of medicine, which turned him away from that path.
Similarly, Mr. Brandt initially pursued a pre-anesthesia route, but his love of music pulled him in a different direction. However, a discouraging professor who viewed music as a mere work without passion led Mr. Brandt to abandon his music education major. Despite these detours, he had always known, deep down, that teaching was his true calling—it just took him a while to figure out what subject to teach.
When asked for something students would find interesting about them, Mr. Parks quickly told us that he could name every single Pokemon character. Mr. Brandt, meanwhile, shared his behind-the-scenes experience with a 90 Day Fiancé. While working at a tuxedo shop during his senior year of high school, Mr. Brandt observed the show being filmed. He even met the couple featured on the show and correctly predicted that their marriage wouldn’t last!
If ever trapped on a deserted island, Mr. Parks would choose to bring The Awakening as his book and Notting Hill as his movie, while Mr. Brandt would bring Kindred and the movie Hairspray.
In addition to their unique backgrounds, both teachers offered valuable advice to the St. Markers. Mr. Parks said that by not learning a second language, the students are doing the world a disservice. He speaks English, French, and is currently learning Arabic. Mr. Brandt encouraged the St. Markers not to be afraid to do what makes them happy, even if they are the only ones doing it. He acknowledged the human desire to have the comfort of doing things with someone else but explained that stepping outside of your comfort zone and expanding your interests will be better in the long run.
Even though they have just begun their teaching careers, both have already experienced memorable moments in the classroom. Mr. Parks shared that he fell backward while scooting backward in a chair in front of his class. Mr. Brandt didn’t have an embarrassing story, but he did tell us about a proud moment when casually kicked a music stand after knocking it over, all without stopping teaching.
Did you know Mr. Brandt is a huge Whitney Houston fan? You heard it here first. When asked what his go-to karaoke song is, he said it was anything by Whitney Houston and Mr. Parks' go-to song is “When Doves Cry” by Prince.
So far based on their sampling of the Flik menu, Mr. Brandt’s favorite Flik dish is the chicken parm sliders, while Mr. Parks likes the classic chicken tenders with fries.
Looking ahead, Mr. Parks is excited to watch his students grow, both academically and personally, during their time at St. Mark’s. Mr. Brandt is looking forward to Prize Day, eager to celebrate his students’ achievements and see them embark on their individual paths.
As their journeys in St. Mark’s begin, both teachers are eager to guide and support their students’ growth. Mr Parks wants his students to remember that their actions and attitudes define them far more than appearances. Mr. Brandt hopes students will embrace their authentic selves and always prioritize self-care.