Sutton High School business teacher Zach Parrish was recently named Teacher of the Year by Max Country and Kool Radio, honoring his impact in the classroom and throughout the community.
Parrish has spent the past 11 years teaching classes including accounting, personal finance, career preparation, internships, and introductory business courses. He has also remained actively involved in coaching and student activities during his time at Sutton High School.
Parrish said a college professor first inspired him to consider education as a career while he was earning his business administration degree. Coming from a family with several educators also helped shape that decision.
Originally from northeast Missouri, Parrish eventually moved to the area after meeting his wife, whose father coached football locally. He said the support from the Sutton community and the small-town environment has made it a rewarding place to both teach and raise a family.
“The family aspect of teaching has been one of the biggest blessings for me,” Parrish said. “I love that I don’t miss my kids’ events and that I get to be on the same schedule as them. Being able to raise my children in a small-town community while also doing work that matters has made this career incredibly rewarding.”
Parrish said building relationships with students has always been one of the most important parts of the profession.
“I like to get to know students well through their activities and what they’re involved in,” he said. “I feel like the environment here is very positive.”
As the school year wraps up, Parrish said he remains grateful to be part of a community that continues to support local schools and students.
