Anne Elise Parks signed off the CBS 11 DFW KTVT morning newscast as meteorologist on September 9, 2022 with a tearful goodbye.
In a Facebook post, Parks wrote she is "pressing the pause button and stepping away from my career in local news."
Here is a portion of what Parks posted:
"Everything changed when a little seven-pound girl entered the scene last fall. In an instant, priorities shifted and my heart knew immediately that life would never be the same. Everything else in life would have to fit the needs of my family and not the other way around. And if push came to shove, family would win— every single time. That kind of clarity has been scary but oh so liberating.
For awhile now, I’ve felt a stirring. From day one of maternity leave until now, I’ve been praying, even begging, for God to provide clarity on how to navigate my next steps. I’ve felt conflicted over a demanding work life and motherhood. He’s given me many signs, conversations, and quiet moments that have allowed me to see exactly what I should do in this chapter."
Parks gave birth to Clara near the end of 2021. Before that, Parks did pregnancy updates with husband Nick on air.
Returning from maternity leave in February 2022, Parks rejoined the newscast with new anchors Keith Russell and anchor Brooke Katz who had been moved to the morning shift. Karen Borta moved from the AM anchor job to the station's 11am and 4pm newscasts.
Joining KTVT in 2017, Parks was originally the CBS owned and operated station's weekend evening meteorologist.
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In her years with the North Texas TV station, Parks became good friend with colleague and morning traffic anchor Madison Sawyer.
"Five years ago, I didn’t know exactly what to think when a former Miss Teen Mississippi from SEC country, who was married on Halloween walked into the weather center at CBS DFW...but I am SO thankful she did, " Sawyer posted on Facebook. "This business, and God’s perfect timing, brought us together and placed us at those weather center desks only 4 feet apart where we quickly developed a lasting bond. We’ve laughed together and cried together at some of our lives most personal and monumental moments."
Parks joined CBS 11 in 2017 from FOX 2 News KTVI St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis Magazine named Parks "Best TV Meteorologist" in 2016.
The Summa Cum Laude graduate of Mississippi State University and 2010 Homecoming Queen's first TV job was with WTWO 2/WAWV in Terre Haute, Indiana.
