Ms. Tara Parsons
Principal
Tara Parsons grew up in Sharptown and is a lifelong Wicomico County resident. She is a proud 1991 graduate of Mardela High School, and is also the proud mother of a daughter who was a 2018 Mardela High graduate. Mrs. Parsons attended Washington College in Chestertown, earning a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1995. She worked in the legal field for several years, and her experiences working in courtrooms and with families led her to decide to pursue a career in education. She attended Salisbury University and earned a second bachelor's degree, in Elementary Education, in December 2001. Mrs. Parsons began teaching at Pemberton Elementary in January 2002, and continued to teach there through June 2015. While teaching at Pemberton, Mrs. Parsons taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grades and worked with both traditional and magnet students. She was honored to be named the school's Teacher of the Year and a semifinalist for Wicomico Teacher of the Year during three different school years. From 2015-2018, she served as a math intervention teacher at Glen Avenue Elementary, working with students in grades 2-5. While teaching at Pemberton and Glen Avenue, Mrs. Parsons served in many leadership roles knowing that she wanted to be promoted to the administrative level during her career. In July 2018, she began her tenure as Assistant Principal at East Salisbury Elementary, where she enjoys working in a Title 1 school serving a diverse group of students in grades 3-5. Mrs. Parsons enjoys going to the beach, reading, and traveling with her husband of more than 25 years, Danny, who was her high school sweetheart and is a proud Mardela High School graduate as well.
Ms. Tawanda Small
Assistant Principal
Tawanda Hunt-Small grew up in Sharon, Mississippi and graduated from Canton High School. She earned her Associate of Arts in Education degree from Holmes Community College, and her Bachelor of Science degree as well as her Master of Education degree from Belhaven University. Mrs. Small has 19 years of experience in the education field as a teacher for Kindergarten through Grade 5 in various states including Mississippi, Florida, Delaware and now Maryland. She is in her fifth year with Wicomico County Public Schools. During her career as an educator, she has been nominated as a Golden Apple Teacher, has been in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and was recognized as one of the Young Artists of Baltimore’s Outstanding Leaders. Mrs. Small enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two daughters as well as creating memories for her family. She believes that all children possess strengths, are unique in their own way, and can flourish when provided the opportunities to display their strengths and uniqueness. Mrs. Small is thrilled to be a part of the Fruitland Intermediate School family.