BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Dr. Robert “Bob” Parks, a dedicated champion of education and a fixture in Broward County’s school system, died late last month at the age of 76, according to his online obituary obtained by Local 10 News Wednesday.
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Parks’ decades-long career in education left a lasting impact on students, teachers, and the community.
Born in Key West, Parks was a proud Floridian who devoted his life to improving education. His obituary states that Parks “died after a brief illness on Nov. 29.”
After graduating from Mary Immaculate High School, he earned a history degree from Belmont Abbey College and pursued advanced degrees in education and business from Florida Atlantic University. He later completed a doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Miami.
Parks taught at Pompano Beach and Boyd Anderson High Schools for 17 years before transitioning into higher education roles at Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University.
In 1986, he was elected to the Broward County School Board, where he served for 24 years.
Parks’ memorial page states that during his tenure, he championed technology integration in classrooms, health and wellness programs, and environmental education. He also played a key role in launching the Urban Teaching Academy, which trains future educators for urban schools.
One of his most notable accomplishments was the reopening of Pompano Beach High School in 1994 as a magnet school specializing in international affairs and technology.
As a tribute to his contributions, the track at Coconut Creek High School was named in his honor shortly before his retirement in 2010.