Before deploying with the military, Chesterfield County Public Schools' Lead Network Analyst Antoine Parker got a send-off he won't forget — dozens of handmade thank-you cards from the students at Hopkins Road Elementary, one of the many CCPS schools he supported.
Antoine's day job kept technology running across the division, but his impact at Hopkins reached far beyond the network room. A regular presence at Hopkins chess club meetings, he became a familiar and beloved face to students, who came to know him as far more than "the IT guy."
When word spread that Antoine was preparing for deployment, Hopkins' art teacher, Shell Langston, saw an opportunity for students to give back. Fifth graders in her class spent time creating personalized cards for Antoine, filling them with drawings, well-wishes, and messages of thanks for his service — both to CCPS and to the country.
We wish him safety and success as he serves our country.