As a self-proclaimed bookworm and lifelong resident of Buford, Lori Parks knows a thing or two about how special the Buford community is.
“Buford is a wonderful city to live in,” Parks said. “It is a place where people extend their kindness and support one another.”
It is also one of the reasons she chose to stay here and impact future generations as a first-grade teacher at Buford Academy.
After graduating from Buford High School in 1994, Parks went to Gainesville College, then transferred to University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, where she graduated in 2001. From there, she began teaching at Buford City Schools, and that’s where she has stayed for the past 24 years.

“I absolutely love being a teacher! I teach at the best school and in the best school district,” Parks said of her career in Buford City Schools. “I love my students and colleagues. I learn something daily from my students, and they make me laugh every day. It is always an adventure with first graders.”
And, her students love her just as much. Luke Phillips, now in fifth grade, remembers Ms. Parks and her class fondly, even in the midst of COVID masks and social distancing.
“I remember Ms. Parks planned a really fun Easter egg hunt for us that year,” Phillips recalled of his time with Ms. Parks. “She was nice and funny and made us laugh all the time, even when we misbehaved. But I think what I’m most thankful for is the stack of pictures she gave to each of us at the end of the school year so that we could always look back at them and remember how much fun we had in her class.”
In addition, Parks’s colleagues recognize her special ability to connect with her students and their families. Fellow first grade teacher Whitney Wolfe had high praise for Parks and her dedication to the community.
“Lori is a teacher whose passion for both her students and her community shines through in everything she does. She commits herself to her students’ success by going beyond the traditional roles of teachers every day,” Wolfe said. “Whether it is leading a diversity and inclusion group or teaching Saturday School, she puts her heart and soul into those people and projects. Lori embodies the belief that teaching is not just about academics — it is about building relationships, loving people, and creating a caring, compassionate community where everyone feels valued and accepted.”
Parks knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher.
“My mother was a substitute teacher and she stressed the importance of education to me,” Parks said. “We both value education, and I want to be able to spread the love of learning to my students.”
As a high-school student at BHS, Parks was heavily involved in the arts, where she took Advanced Placement art history and was part of the National Art Honors Society.
“I also played on Buford High School’s first ever volleyball team in the early 1990s. My mom managed the basketball concession stand in the early 1990s, and I had many friends on the basketball team,” Parks said. “If there was a basketball game, I was always there to cheer them on. I loved supporting Buford Wolves football, as well.”
She was also active in Future Business Leaders of America, Art Club, Key Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Parks also remembers her teachers well and recalled those who made a lasting impression on her.
“I really enjoyed Ms. Coley’s Spanish class,” Parks said. “She always made learning fun and inspired us to do our best through her positivity and sense of humor.”
Parks attributed much of her high school success to her love for reading and learning. However, her favorite memories included time with friends that created timeless memories.
“Some of my most-cherished memories from high school included being on the JV and Varsity volleyball teams and travelling to away games with the team,” Parks said. “It was all about friendship and laughter. I was not very athletic, but volleyball was a sport I enjoyed and my niche in sports.”
Today, when Parks is not at school preparing for her first-grade students, she enjoys reading, volunteering in the community and spending time with her mother, LaRita Parks, who graduated from Buford in 1962.
Elena Vo, principal at Buford Academy, praised Parks and her commitment to her students and her job, as well as the Buford community.
“Ms. Parks is a true example of dedication and community spirit in the city of Buford. Having lived here her entire life, she carries on a family legacy deeply intertwined with the town — her mother has been a valued member of the Buford community for an incredible 80 years,” Vo said. “For close to 25 years, Ms. Parks has poured her heart into giving back, both in her classroom and beyond. She continuously serves through community initiatives like the North Gwinnett Co-op and the bookmobile, sharing her passion for learning and compassion for others. Going the extra mile, she even studies Spanish to better connect with and support her students and their families. Ms. Parks demonstrates the spirit of Buford where teaching is not just a profession but a lifelong commitment to lifting up the community.”
FEATURED PHOTO: Lori Parks, who has been a teacher for the past 24 years, is pictured in her first grade classroom at Buford Academy. Photo courtesy of Lori Parks.