Legacy

This is a time of year for goodbyes and well wishes, not only for our graduating seniors, but also for our graduating employees who are commencing on a well-deserved time of rest in their lives that we know as “retirement.”

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of celebrations for these RUSD team members, many of whom have spent the majority of their adult lives helping the children of Riverside in a variety of ways. They are our administrators, teachers, school secretaries, budget experts, library assistants, cafeteria workers, and many others who quietly and without fanfare are changing the world a little bit every day.

Many of these people don’t want any congratulations or glory for what they do. But the impact they have on others is striking. I saw just one example of that at the June 4 retirement celebration held for Assistant Superintendent Glenn Allen King, who will leave our district at the end of this month after a long and stellar career. This occasion was held, appropriately enough, in the multipurpose room at Emerson Elementary School, where Mr. King began his teaching career 39 years ago. Several of Mr. King’s former students, known as “King Kids” attended this celebration and spoke of how he truly changed their lives. These individuals spoke of how Mr. King mentored them as sixth-graders, showing them that he cared for them and expected the best from them every day. His devotion didn’t stop when the bell rang or even when these students reached adulthood. At graduations, weddings, the births of their children, and even funerals, he was there. And now, those former students are making a difference in the lives of others. Some are even teachers here in our District.

To Mr. King and to all of our other retirees, I say thank you. You all have made a positive and lasting impact not only in our District, but in our entire Riverside community.