After nearly 15 years with the Park City School District in roles spanning elementary through high school as an instructional aide, teacher, instructional technology coach, assistant principal, principal, and now, career and technical education director, Tracy Fike reflects on the partnership that helps turn ideas into opportunities for students.
This fall, Tracy Fike will experience Park City School District in a new way.
Her daughter is starting high school.
“I feel very fortunate that I have an insider view of our school system,” Tracy said. “I know the amazing people who work here. I know the great opportunities our students have. I think I’m the most excited for school to start because I’m so excited for her to have the opportunities she’s going to have at the high school.”
Recently, Tracy had the chance to walk through Park City High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces with her daughter. After visiting the Construction Lab, her daughter decided to sign up for Construction Technology.
“She said, ‘This is amazing. This is so great,’” Tracy recalled. “I love that she wanted to try something completely new like Construction Technology.”
It’s easy to understand why students are drawn to CTE. Whether they’re preparing a meal in the commercial kitchen, flying a plane in the flight simulator, framing a wall in construction, building business or health sciences skills, students are learning by doing. The classrooms are active, collaborative and filled with opportunities to discover new interests.
For Tracy, watching her daughter sign up for a class she’d never considered before was a reminder that a student’s willingness to try something new doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built over years of experiences shaped by educators who encourage students to ask questions, solve problems, and discover new interests.
“I wish every parent could have a little sneak peek into what’s happening behind the scenes at school, as our students are fortunate to have so many learning opportunities at their fingertips," she said.
Behind many of these experiences are educators with the vision to imagine something new – and partners willing to help bring those ideas to life.
“PCEF is a silent supporter that so many people don’t realize is there,” Tracy said. “From the very beginning of a student’s journey all the way through high school, so many of the initiatives and ideas teachers have – to be innovative, to try something new, to get new materials – come from the foundation. Parents and students don’t always know that.”
Throughout her career, Tracy has seen how initiatives grow from a single classroom into programs that benefit students across the district.
“If we want to try something new at the elementary school level, one school might pilot it before it goes to all of the schools,” she said. “PCEF is there to help us with those new initiatives. Then, if they’re successful, the district looks at taking them on and making them sustainable over time.”
Tracy experienced that process firsthand early in her career while helping launch one of the district’s first elementary school makerspaces after attending professional development on the concept with then-principal Dave Gomez.
“The foundation supported us with supplies and training and gave us the green light to try something new,” she said. “Once it was established, it continued to grow into more.”
For Tracy, that’s what makes the partnership shine.
“I feel like I can call anyone at PCEF, bounce around an idea, and we’ll figure it out together,” she said. “It’s a complete collaboration, and always an open communication.”
That collaborative approach has remained consistent. While programs, classrooms and technology have evolved, the shared goal of creating ways for students to learn and grow has always been the same.
“I would love for more parents to encourage their kids to try as many classes as possible,” she said. “They may discover a passion. They may discover something they don’t want to pursue. Either way, it’s an opportunity they may not have again.”
It’s a perspective that helps shape Tracy’s work every day – and one she appreciates now through a new lens – as a parent of a new high schooler.
When you donate to Build the Foundation, PCEF’s Annual Family Appeal, you support funding priorities that inspire all Park City students to successfully reach their academic and lifelong potential as tomorrow’s creative innovators, problem solvers, and leaders.
