At 里奇菲尔德公立学校, there's a special connection for our staff members who are also proud alumni—coming back to work at Richfield feels like coming home. 事实上，我们现在的许多团队成员曾经在学生时代走过这些大厅，并回来继续塑造他们所热爱的社区。

“It feels really good to pour into a community and give back to a place that has given so much to me,” said Teresa Stadem (‘99). 特蕾莎目前在RCEP担任英语语言艺术老师，同时也是里奇菲尔德高中男孩b田径队的主教练。 “I think a key part of what makes Richfield a great place is how the community looks out for each other,” she said.

“The Richfield community has always been very caring and thoughtful of everyone,” said Geneley Briones Salgado (‘17). “Being part of this district has shown me that everyone is so helpful in our community.” Geneley现任里奇菲尔德高中副校长行政助理。 “It’s a special feeling to work here,” she said. “Everyone in the district has been so welcoming and kind.”

Other alumni agree: “Richfield is a close-knit community that values education and our children,” said Nancy Olson (‘90). 南希目前在里奇菲尔德双语学校担任建筑代课老师，并全身心投入到里奇菲尔德社区。 除了她自己的毕业，她的两个孩子都毕业于RPS。 “It's fun to be back in the building where my education first began in Richfield,” she said. “When I show my students my third grade picture from Elliot Elementary School, it's so fun to see their faces when I tell them it was taken in the very same building we're in.”

Amie Killorin (‘77), the Student Information Specialist for the district, has lived in Richfield since 1964, and all of her children attended 里奇菲尔德公立学校 and graduated from RPS. “I love this community, love being a part of it and love contributing to everything Richfield,” she said. “Coming back to work in Richfield felt like coming home.”

“Working in the same school district, and especially the same high school I attended, makes me feel very nostalgic and at ease,” said Jeff Denesen (‘92), a special education para at 里奇菲尔德高中, who has worked for the district for 32 years. “I'm proud that I can share my Spartan spirit and love of Richfield with my students.”

"Honestly, it feels good being able to work in the same school district as I was once a student," said Jackie Sanchez-Vidal ('17), who works as the 里奇菲尔德健康资源中心 Coordinator. "It is amazing to be able to see the amount of effort that is put into all the students at all the grades."

Bethann Dietl Larson (‘89), a third grade teacher at 里奇菲尔德茎小学, describes Richfield as a thriving community that prioritizes schools, parks and businesses. “I have benefitted from an excellent education in RPS,” she said. “It is a pleasure to give back to my community. Like many others, I am committed to our school family.”

贝瑟恩对她在里奇菲尔德的成长经历有着美好的回忆，她回忆说，回到里奇菲尔德当一名小学老师一直是她的梦想。 “The Director of Teaching and Learning attended my high school graduation party,” said Bethann. “I approached him and told him that in four years I would be requesting that he hire me for an elementary teaching position. While it took several more steps in the process, my dream came true.”

Leslie Lien (‘80), a special education para at 谢里丹山小学, loves the supportive and positive environment at Richfield, and has many great memories from high school. “I love working for the same school district I attended school in,” she shared. “It is fun to watch as the schools change with the times.” 她特别自豪地看着女儿从里奇菲尔德大学毕业，而43年前她自己也毕业了。 “If you would have told that to my 18-year-old self, I never would have believed it!”

我们许多校友出身的员工都承认，他们知道自己毕业后想回到里奇菲尔德。 “Ever since I graduated from 里奇菲尔德高中, I had a goal that I wanted to help come back and help families so they have the resources they need to help their children be successful,” said Jomira Ramales-Martinez (‘15). 乔米拉是一名特殊教育辅助专业人员，她很高兴能回到里奇菲尔德地区，成为一名工作人员。 她愉快地回忆起她的学生时代。 “I will always be grateful for all my teachers I had growing up,” she said. “Thanks to them, I enjoy working with students.”

Lissette Miguel (‘15), a premier reserve teacher at the Central Education Center, feels nostalgic each day working in the same district where she was once a student. “I'm reminded how it feels to be part of the Richfield community again,” she said. “After working at different schools, somehow I always end up coming back to my hometown of Richfield. It gives me a sense of belonging since I've been a Richfield student since kindergarten. 现在作为一名员工，我仍然有同样的感觉。 I love the welcoming environment and sense of community.”

莉塞特喜欢和以前的老师叙旧。 “I always ask how their classes are going with the new generation of students. The one thing that always gets to me is when I see my teachers still have the same personality as I remember when I was a high schooler,” she said. 莉塞特也喜欢看到她以前的同学送孩子上学。 “It makes me feel happy that we are somehow still connected,” she explained. “I feel comfortable speaking with them since we would chat in high school, and now as partners in education for their children.”

One of our other recent alumni-turned-staff members is Angie Meza (‘18), who returned to work in the district just months after crossing the stage at graduation. 安吉是里奇菲尔德高中的一名外展工作者，她喜欢帮助家庭和学生。 “I have always felt welcomed here, as a student and now a staff member,” said Angie. “里奇菲尔德高中 has changed my life - I love working here!”

回顾

除了他们在里奇菲尔德公立学校的工作，我们的校友工作人员在谈论他们在高中的经历时还分享了一个共同的主题：与朋友和家人的美好回忆。

“Some of my most vivid memories revolve around athletics: baseball, track (especially representing RHS as a semifinalist at the 1992 State Track Meet), and the annual Fire & Ice broomball tournaments,” shared Jeff. “Little did I know as a student that I'd one day be playing for the victorious Team Faculty!”

我们的许多受访者都谈到了他们在高中时是多么喜欢参加和观看体育比赛。 “The football games were always packed!” recalled Amie. 特蕾莎也有参加体育赛事或在球场上打球和观看所有球迷的美好回忆。 “There was always so much school spirit,” she said. Bethann remembers going to school dances with a group of friends and having dinner at Chi Chi’s on Nicollet.

莱斯利还记得里奇菲尔德高中的才艺表演那是一个衍生节目 Merv Griffin秀在那里，她弹着吉他，在同学面前演唱了一首原创歌曲。 “When I was done it was so amazing to hear the applause from my peers who had never heard me sing before,” she said. “It will always be my favorite memory of my high school days.”

Two of the staff members we interviewed, Chris Bartlett (‘88) and Mary Jo Gregersen (‘88), both met their husbands at 里奇菲尔德高中! “I grew up in Richfield and my childhood home was close to the high school,” said Mary Jo, who is a second grade teacher at 谢里丹山小学. “Thus, I have a very strong connection to the community of Richfield through friends and family and enjoy continuing that bond through teaching in the district. I met my husband in high school (who is also a Richfield graduate), and we have been happily married for 31 years.”

克里斯是里奇菲尔德高中的一名辅助专业人员，每天上班经过她的旧储物柜都觉得很超现实。 “I feel very connected to this school and community,” said Chris. “Not only did I graduate from here but my husband and I bought a house in Richfield, and all four of our kids went to Richfield schools and graduated from RHS, so I am super invested in everything that happens here. This school has had a huge impact on my life!”

“My favorite memory from high school is when I helped make a video for students and staff, and the editor (who had not met me) confused me for a staff member and put me in the staff section,” laughed Angie. “Maybe it was a sign!”

展望未来

Our alumni staff members have enjoyed seeing all the changes that have occurred since many of them graduated - both physically and in the school’s culture. “It's an outstanding community to work for due to the supportive and caring staff,” said Mary Jo.

“I think that not only graduating from Richfield and having both of my children graduate from Richfield, but living in Richfield really gives me the desire to invest in the district and community,” said Nancy.

Leslie agrees: “Richfield has a small town, hometown feel to it that makes it easy to want to be part of,” she said. “Having gone through the school system and living in the city is really valuable when talking to others about who Richfield is.”

“I feel that being an alumni has helped me be a better staff member,” said Jeff. “When students hear that I am from Richfield and graduated from RHS, I feel it gives me more credibility with the students and helps forge bonds in the ‘getting to know you’ stage. They are happy and relieved to know that I walked these same halls and had many of the same challenges and experiences they are currently going through.”

“Once a Spartan, always a Spartan,” said Bethann. “Without hesitation, I recommend 里奇菲尔德公立学校 to other alumni or family members as a great place to work. 为RPS工作的校友数量是一个强有力的支持。 I feel at home teaching in Richfield.”