Cecilia Parkes Will Graduate With Teaching License

A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student is set to earn her K-12 theater education credential this spring.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Secondary Education

Gouache-painted editorial illustration showing a wooden theater mask and paintbrush on a desk, representing theater education. — University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student Cecilia Parkes is preparing for a career as a K-12 theater educator after completing her student teaching. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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This spring, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student Cecilia Parkes will graduate with a K-12 theater teaching license. Parkes has gained classroom experience through student teaching placements at two Milwaukee Public Schools.

Why it matters

Parkes pursued this teaching path to help students feel seen and supported as they navigate their own emotional struggles. Her career choice reflects a dedication to theater education as a tool for student development.

Parkes has built her pedagogical foundation over three years of university study and four years of independent teaching experience. Her training included student teaching placements across two Milwaukee Public Schools.

The players

Cecilia Parkes

She is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who is completing her K-12 theater teaching licensure.

Lisa Vondra

She is an educator who mentored Parkes as she gained early teaching experience by leading classes.

The details

Parkes has long-standing ties to the local education community, having worked as a madricha and specials teacher at Congregation Sinai, which she has attended since age five. She currently balances these responsibilities with her role in the before- and after-school program at Cumberland Elementary.

Parkes began attending Congregation Sinai at age 5.
She has taught on her own for the past 4 years.
She has attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for 3 years.
She will graduate with a teaching license this spring.

Culture Shift

The transition from student teaching to licensed professional reflects a broader shift toward integrating specialized arts education into primary and secondary curricula. This trajectory highlights the growing professionalization of theater education within the state's public school system.

Students within the Milwaukee Public Schools system benefit from the influx of newly licensed teachers prepared in local university programs. This licensure ensures that classrooms have qualified staff members capable of supporting students' emotional and academic needs through theater.

The takeaway

Educators often draw on lifelong personal experiences to shape their approach to student support. A consistent commitment to one community, such as Parkes has shown at Congregation Sinai, can provide a stable foundation for a long-term teaching career.