Just because a person is retired doesn’t mean they lose touch with their field of endeavor. Indeed, many educators seem to be like a perpetual motion machine, in that they never stop.
That’s one of the reasons ACSA’s Robert E. Kelly Award was instituted. The award pays honor to retired ACSA members who continue to make significant contributions to their communities as volunteers, and who have helped advance the high quality of public education.
Delaine Richards of Tustin is a prime example of these qualities and a fitting recipient of the 2009 Robert E. Kelly Award Sponsored by Bank of America.
Richards’ career included a number of years as an elementary and middle school principal, concluding in 1987 after 10 years as assistant superintendent of human resources with Irvine USD. Although retired for more than two decades, Richards has remained active in education, working to help with local preschool programs.
Richards was humble about his accomplishments when he addressed ACSA members at the Nov. 6 Leadership Summit awards ceremony.
“I don’t know an administrator who does not volunteer,” he said. “You’ve all been volunteering for years.”
Immediately after retiring, Richards helped start up a preschool program at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Santa Ana. This ultimately led to a situation where he negotiated a contract with the Economic Opportunity Commission to begin a Los Niños Head Start program to help low socio-economic Latino families. This contract ended in 2008, but Richards soon found another preschool program to sponsor efforts in the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
“So now I work with them, working with the kids and keeping everything in order,” Richards said. “I’m a volunteer, making sure that things are there. I read to the kids once or twice a week. They have different kids in the morning and different kids in the afternoon, and there are also different classes.
“So I read with the kids and I work with the staff doing things to help with the facility. Whenever there’s a problem, guess who they call? I just want to help them keep the program going.”
But Richards has remained involved in the world of education in another remarkable way, serving nearly six decades officiating junior high and senior high school football, as well as assisting on the training of new officials.
“This is my 59th season,” Richards said proudly. “I got interested in it back in 1951. I started officiating before I ever came to California. So all the years I’ve been in California I’ve done high school football officiating, and I’m still doing it. I guess I’m just blessed that the Lord has made it so my knees and legs have held out, so I’m still able to do it!” he joked.
He still does games every week, although five years ago he decided to leave the officiating of the varsity games at night to younger officials. But he still works the freshmen and junior varsity games in the afternoons.
Richards has continued to be an active ACSA member too. After retirement he got involved in the Region 17 retirement committee, chairing it the last several years.
“I’ve always been a supporter of ACSA,” he said. “I’ve been a charter member of ACSA since 1971. Professionally, it keeps me in contact with a lot of people. I still do some consulting work with school districts, and ACSA helps keep me in touch with a lot of people that way.
“I just want to support the profession by continuing to be involved in ACSA.”
These are just a few of the many accomplishments Richards has achieved after his career ended. He has also done volunteer work with his church, the California Retired Teachers Association, Partnership Academy Assessment Center, St. Labre Indian School and the American Legion, just to name a few of his efforts.
For all this Richards is being honored with one of ACSA’s highest awards.
“I was amazed and shocked when I received word I’d received the state award,” Richards said. “I’m thrilled to receive it. I’ve been an educator for so long, I’m just carrying on with the profession.”
Richards received a generous check from Robert E. Kelly Award sponsor Bank of America to continue his volunteer work.