Brad Parkinson
Brad has spent all 75 years of his life in the Rexburg area and has spent his life trying to help the community and its citizens. He and his wife Marie, now married 52 years, raised four of their children who also graduated from Madison High School.
Brad was born and raised in Rexburg, attending Adams Elementary, Madison Junior High, and graduating from Madison High School in 1964.
In 1971, he returned to Madison High School to teach Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and coach basketball and baseball. As JV basketball coach under Norm Holman, his teams had four winning seasons. In baseball, his teams won the conference championship three years in a row.
In 1987, Brad returned to teaching IPS and later biology. In 1994, he was given the assignment to develop a ‘school within a school.’ He developed “Environmental Solutions” where an English teacher, a Biology teacher, a Chemistry teacher, and a Math teacher take 50 students in the fall semester and give them real-life experiences in learning. Half the students would stay at the school and do class work in these areas. The other half went with ‘Mr. Parkinson’ where they started at the Jackson Pass and went all the way to Birch Creek doing biological, chemical, and physical assessments of the watershed of the area. If you were to ask Brad his greatest thrill of starting and teaching “ES”, he would proudly say that after he left eleven years ago. Now preparing for its 27th year this “bon-a-fide” (his word) program is still going strong.
Brad was given one of the ‘teacher of the year’ awards at Madison High School in 1998-99. In 2002, he was awarded the “Science Teacher of the Year” for the state of Idaho. In 2003, he was awarded as the Micron Science Teacher of the Year for Idaho.
On his return to teaching, Brad coached girl’s basketball and volleyball and in 1990 became the head tennis coach; a position he poured his heart and soul into at Madison High for 20 years, winning several district titles, two state championships, and as he put it, “giving a lot of non-athletic students an athletic experience.” Brad started a free summer program where three days a week, he came to coach and play with all who would show up in the early morning. After coaching his team on two little city courts in the park for seventeen years, he set things in motion for the money to be raised, gifts in kind to be given, and oversaw the project of building 6 lighted courts now named the ‘Brad and Marie Parkinson Madison High School Courts.’
He was awarded Idaho Athletic Association ‘Coach of the Year’ in 2009.
In 1991, Brad started an ‘Outdoor Club where he spent two weekends a month cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in the area. They even made their own show shoes. He has always loved being with the students and helping them create a love of nature and activity.
Since Brad always had the ability to find extra time, in 1995, he brought back the intramurals program where he got six table-tennis tables and set up activities for the lunch area. They were also playing pickle ball, badminton, and basketball. Intramurals was a huge success.
After retiring, Brad came back twice and helped teach the ES class – everyday – for free. Since he has served three missions in various parts of the world that doesn’t always work, but if he is in the country, he is ready to help whenever needed.
Brad Parkinson loves Madison High School and the Rexburg Community. He loved teaching and truly loved to watch students progress. Just yesterday, he was golfing with a student from 1972. Students don’t seem to forget Mr. Parkinson, and while Mr. Parkinson may sometimes forget their names, he always has an appreciation for the opportunity he had of being their teacher.
Brad was born and raised in Rexburg, attending Adams Elementary, Madison Junior High, and graduating from Madison High School in 1964.
In 1971, he returned to Madison High School to teach Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and coach basketball and baseball. As JV basketball coach under Norm Holman, his teams had four winning seasons. In baseball, his teams won the conference championship three years in a row.
In 1987, Brad returned to teaching IPS and later biology. In 1994, he was given the assignment to develop a ‘school within a school.’ He developed “Environmental Solutions” where an English teacher, a Biology teacher, a Chemistry teacher, and a Math teacher take 50 students in the fall semester and give them real-life experiences in learning. Half the students would stay at the school and do class work in these areas. The other half went with ‘Mr. Parkinson’ where they started at the Jackson Pass and went all the way to Birch Creek doing biological, chemical, and physical assessments of the watershed of the area. If you were to ask Brad his greatest thrill of starting and teaching “ES”, he would proudly say that after he left eleven years ago. Now preparing for its 27th year this “bon-a-fide” (his word) program is still going strong.
Brad was given one of the ‘teacher of the year’ awards at Madison High School in 1998-99. In 2002, he was awarded the “Science Teacher of the Year” for the state of Idaho. In 2003, he was awarded as the Micron Science Teacher of the Year for Idaho.
On his return to teaching, Brad coached girl’s basketball and volleyball and in 1990 became the head tennis coach; a position he poured his heart and soul into at Madison High for 20 years, winning several district titles, two state championships, and as he put it, “giving a lot of non-athletic students an athletic experience.” Brad started a free summer program where three days a week, he came to coach and play with all who would show up in the early morning. After coaching his team on two little city courts in the park for seventeen years, he set things in motion for the money to be raised, gifts in kind to be given, and oversaw the project of building 6 lighted courts now named the ‘Brad and Marie Parkinson Madison High School Courts.’
He was awarded Idaho Athletic Association ‘Coach of the Year’ in 2009.
In 1991, Brad started an ‘Outdoor Club where he spent two weekends a month cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in the area. They even made their own show shoes. He has always loved being with the students and helping them create a love of nature and activity.
Since Brad always had the ability to find extra time, in 1995, he brought back the intramurals program where he got six table-tennis tables and set up activities for the lunch area. They were also playing pickle ball, badminton, and basketball. Intramurals was a huge success.
After retiring, Brad came back twice and helped teach the ES class – everyday – for free. Since he has served three missions in various parts of the world that doesn’t always work, but if he is in the country, he is ready to help whenever needed.
Brad Parkinson loves Madison High School and the Rexburg Community. He loved teaching and truly loved to watch students progress. Just yesterday, he was golfing with a student from 1972. Students don’t seem to forget Mr. Parkinson, and while Mr. Parkinson may sometimes forget their names, he always has an appreciation for the opportunity he had of being their teacher.