Dr. Robert Delaney Parks

Dr. Robert “Bob” Parks, whose distinguished career in education spanned more than two decades on the Broward School Board of Education died Friday, Nov. 29 after a brief illness. A native Floridian, born and raised in Key West, he was elected to the school board for three terms beginning in 1986 and ending in 2010 when he decided to retire and not seek reelection.

Dr. Parks, graduated from Mary Immaculate High School, in Key West before attended Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He received his Master of Education and Bachelor of Business degrees from Florida Atlantic University in 1995. He received his doctoral in Education Leadership from the University of Miami.

Prior to his election on the school board, Dr. Parks taught in the Broward County school system for 17 years at Pompano Beach and Boyd Anderson High School. He is a former Program Professor at Nova Southeastern University, a former Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic University and a former Director at the of Teaching and Leadership Center at Florida Atlantic University.

While on the school board, Dr. Parks is credited with leading the school district to invest in technology, health and wellness and environmental stewardships. He took the lead in bringing an Urban Teaching Academy program to the district.

It was Dr. Parks whose vision led to the reopening of Pompano Beach High School as a magnet school for international affairs and technology, back in 1994. Just before his retirement, school board members voted to name the track at Coconut Creek High School after Dr. Parks.

He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Linda. He is also survived by brothers John Parks and Alex Parks; nephews, John (Marisol) Whitman Parks and Patrick (Chelle) Parks.

He was predeceased by this parents, Gilmore and Louisa Parks, his in-laws Joseph and Marie Hentges, and his sister-in-law Georgia Parks.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetics Association (Click link below for online donations). No funeral services are planned at this time.

Kraeer Funeral Home is honored to assist Bob's family in their time of need.