Alumni Spotlight
Brett Parker, North Crowley High School, Class of 2000
Brett Parker has been busy since graduating from
North Crowley High School in 2000. His life after
graduation looked like most; he went to college, got a
job and started a family. But thanks to a crying baby,
his story took a turn.
After many sleepless nights with a young infant that
kept breaking free from her swaddled blanket, Parker’s
wife, Stephanie, took a sweater and sewed the sleeves
and bottom to create a starfish-shaped wearable blanket
to help ease the transition from swaddling and mimic
the comfort of the womb.
After seeing quick success, the couple started selling it
online to other parents and the Zipadee-Zip has been
flying off the digital shelves ever since.
In 2014, the couple made an appearance on ABC’s
Shark Tank and received an offer from fashion mogul
Daymond John. Since then, the company has exploded
online and now offers a variety of baby products in all
sizes and designs.
The Parkers visited Crowley ISD gifted and talented
intermediate students in November to talk to them
about entrepreneurship and give advice about starting
their own companies.
Crowley ISD had the chance to chat with Brett about
his visit with the students, his career and memories
from his time at North Crowley High:
North Crowley graduate Brett Parker and his wife, Stephanie,
presented their company on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2014. Check
out Brett Parker’s products at www.sleepingbaby.com
What advice do you have
for young entrepreneurs?
Parker: “I would challenge them
to buddy-up with an entrepreneur. Go find
somebody that is willing to put you to work. One of
the reasons that my wife and I have been so successful
is because we came from the workplace. As much as
people say to start your own company as soon as you
graduate from college, I really believe that it would
be helpful to go find a job and figure out how to
function in a position and on a team. That experience
is invaluable.”
What do you remember most about your time in
Crowley ISD?
Parker: “I remember being a part of things. I was
part of student council, the band program, athletics
and so on. Those were fantastic times for me, because
I was part of something bigger than myself. I would
encourage any student to sign up for activities. I have
lifelong friends from middle school and high school
and it’s because of those opportunities that I put myself
in.”
During his time
in Crowley ISD,
Parker was a
standout athlete,
member of student
council and named
homecoming king
his senior year.
NCHS opened your junior year. What was it like
to be one of the first students to walk the halls?
Parker: “What I remember most is the attitudes of
the teachers. Whenever I walked in, every student was
a superstar and I remember how good that made me
feel. Teachers were giving high-fives to students in the
hallways and while they had a job to do, their level of
influence on all of us made a great impact. I actually
remember the teachers more than the new building.
We were all there to have fun, but we worked hard
while we were doing it and that group of teachers was
unbelievable.”
Winter 2016 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 9