After over 20 years of teaching, coaching, and serving as an assistant principal. Mr. Derryck Rickards, assistant principal at Sierra Vista High School, announced his retirement. Mr. Rickards decided the 2025-2026 school year would conclude his time at Sierra Vista in order to pursue a different path in education.
After previously instructing government at Chaparral High School in 2000, Mr. Rickards embarked on his career at Sierra Vista in 2001. Rickards began his teaching role in PE , Health, and Freshman Studies while coaching Football. After over ten years, Mr. Rickards left Sierra Vista in 2013 and returned eight years later in 2021, taking on the position as Assistant Principal, supervising athletics and taking charge of facilities at Sierra Vista High School.
Mr. Rickards taught in a variety of ways throughout his years. Rickards began his career by taking on the role of an instructor and a coach, “I wanted to serve my community and help young people learn and grow. I wanted to do that in the classroom and on the playing field as a coach.” By aligning his work with his personal goals, Rickards successfully fulfilled his ambitions in a meaningful and purposeful manner, his profound impact proving unforgettable for both students and staff. “Mr. Rickards was always there to make sure everything ran smoothly, with a smile on his face. He made sure all the teams felt supported. A perfect example of that is when he travelled an hour away to watch our state championship game. When we won that final point, he flew out of the stands just as fast as any parent. This made me appreciate how he puts his heart into what he does, and I understood how much this meant to him,” said Kenna Key (12)
For the duration of his teaching career, Rickards bonded with both students and faculty, creating friendships that will last a lifetime. He expressed his heartfelt connection with many of the senior classes, mentioning, “Many of my senior students left lasting impressions on me.” Rickards also remarked, “I learned a lot from people I worked with and people I worked for. My most memorable moments have been seeing the students that I got to know graduate at their commencement ceremonies. It’s always fun to see students reach that goal and move on to the next chapter in their lives.”
Retirement marks a significant transition in life, offering a chance to reflect on past achievements and embrace new opportunities. Mr. Rickards shares that he “plans to return to education and teach in the classroom again for a few more years. I will miss my work as an educator, but I am excited for what this new chapter of my life will bring.” Athletic secretary Michelle Hernandez says “I’m wishing him the best as he rolls through this next phase of his life, I hope he has the best time and gets to relax and enjoy.”
