Meet Mrs. Richards, a very go-getting, and determined red-hawk at RHS. I chose to interview Mrs. Richards because of her gregarious personality, and as one of her students, I can proudly say how much of a joy she is to be around. She’s extremely driven and ambitious, and personally, I look up to her and aspire to strive just like she does!
1. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
“I was born in Seattle, Washington (4th generation). I moved back and forth from Seattle to Rainier, Oregon during my primary elementary school years, and then back again to the Seattle & Renton area. I attended Renton High School my 9th grade year and then moved to Louisiana, and then California, during my teenage years until I came back home to Seattle & Renton after graduating from high school. I earned my Associates Degree from Seattle Central Community College, and then transferred to the University of Washington to earn my Bachelors Degree in Language Arts and my Masters Degree in Teaching. I’ve been happily married for 22 years now and I have 2 children, both attending Renton High School. We live in the Lakeridge neighborhood and we have 2 dogs. This is my 7th year teaching full time at Renton High School. I love our community and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!”
2. When did you start teaching Journalism?
“The first year I started teaching journalism was in 2020, during COVID, when we had to teach from home.”
3. Who or what inspired your passion for Journalism?
“When I was told I had to teach Journalism, it was scary at first but once I started the research, I became passionate in the practice. Journalism is crucial for our democracy. It holds our governments and big businesses accountable, as well as shares our amazing accomplishments. Journalism can bring us together as a community with informed facts to solve problems and the information we need to celebrate our successes!”
4. How do you keep yourself and your students motivated?
“Positive thinking and being optimistic! Everyday is a blessing! Knowing and having experienced generational poverty and struggle makes me appreciate everything that I have today. I’ve learned to take care of myself, exercise, practice a healthy diet, and have a positive mindset to keep me going. I share what I have learned with my students to encourage and inspire them as well.”
5. How do you prioritize between the objectives of students, parents and administrators?
“I’m very organized, which helps! I also practice stress relief management when things get overwhelming. But overall, taking pride in a job well done and having a strong work ethic has always been one of my strong suits. My students are always my center focus, which is the the same for parents and administrators, so we are on the same team working together. I chose to become a teacher because I love kids and I want to help inspire them to live their life to their potential. My students are the future, and I want to support them and help them make our world a better place.”
6. What’s the most important thing about being a Journalist?
“Reporting the truth, and being unbiased. Also, acting independently, minimizing harm, and providing empowering information for the reader. These are all important things about being a Journalist!”
7. What do you enjoy most about teaching Journalism?
“I enjoy working with my students, of course, and inspiring them. Giving them something to be passionate about. It’s great to have a public forum for my students to share and celebrate their amazing work. I also enjoy working with our community. I love people and hearing their stories. It’s been really fun partnering with The Renton Reporter as well, and learning from professional journalists. Their work is paramount and I have tremendous respect for them and what they do.”
8. Is Journalism your favorite subject to teach? Why or why not?
“I’d say yes, it is. It’s not just Language Arts skills, which is important. It’s a little more than that. It’s being able to stay connected with our community on what is going on right now. It feels more meaningful because it’s a CTE class and it gives students the skills and opportunities for more direct career pathways.”
9. What are some lessons you’ve learned in Journalism?
“Before teaching this class, I never knew much about Journalism. I now have an appreciation for Journalism that I never had before. I understand that there is misinformation out there, so I undergo my training in Journalism to be able to analyze and check sources so that I have more information and make sure I’m getting the truth. Fake news is real and there’s a lot of it out there. Being able to sift through sources and know the truth is really empowering as a responsible citizen.”
10. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
“Yes! I’d like to say that Journalism is an amazing opportunity for students, even if they don’t pursue it as a career. It’s still a very valuable subject to know and is a great benefit to the future of our society. We need to make sure that we’re getting the truth and that we understand what’s happening so we can make informed decisions. It’s also a fun way to express ourselves through our work! For students who are thinking about going into Journalism as a career, it can be very exciting and lucrative! To be a part of a community and to have the opportunity to meet new people and share the good things that are happening, as well as what we need to work on, is very rewarding. If students are interested in journalism and are unable to fit the class in their schedules, please join our club! We would love to work with you!”
Overall, there’s no doubt that Mrs. Richards loves our community and she takes much pride in her work and her students. It goes to show how passionate and hard-working she is and how much she loves teaching at Renton High School!
