CRESTVIEW — Melba Richardson's name will live on at Saint James School long after her students graduate.
Richardson, head of the Montgomery, Ala., school, was surprised April 19 when Saint James' board of directors announced it would name the Melba Richardson Middle School in her honor for 32 years of service.
The surprises didn't end there. A Friday afternoon school-wide celebration included an appearance by the University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band, the Crimsonettes, and Big Al, the team mascot.
PLAYING SCHOOL
Richardson's childhood in Crestview originally drew her to education as a career. "I adored my teachers in Crestview … I remember playing school often with my friends on North Pearl Street," she said.
It was more than child's play. At 12 years old, she realized she wanted to teach and make a difference.
She graduated from Crestview High School in 1964, attended Huntingdon College for two years, and transferred to The University of Alabama, where she graduated with a degree in Secondary Education, with an English major and a history minor. She received her master’s and administrative degrees from Auburn University in Montgomery.
STATE, NATIONAL LEADER
Richardson, who retires June 30, taught middle school in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Maryville, Tenn., where she was named Teacher of the Year. She began teaching at Saint James School, a non-sectarian college preparatory independent school, in 1983. She served as English Department head, middle school principal and dean, and for the last seven years as school head.
"She implemented the true middle school concepts there and was the first middle school in Central Alabama to do so … and has trained numerous educators how to embrace these concepts," a press release stated. "Under her leadership as head of school, the school has received national and state accolades, being named an Apple Distinguished School last year and being named one of four top middle schools receiving The National Middle School Association’s Team Award a few years ago.
"Her most recent award was The Alabama Association of Independent School’s Leadership Award for the entire state of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama in March."
EDUCATION TODAY
Among the challenges students face is working hard despite failure, and tackling difficult subjects, Richardson said.
"Failure is not fatal, and establishing a hard work ethic is imperative for life," she said. "Establishing this work ethic leads to life-long learning and curiosity."
While it's natural for parents to want to help their children out of tough learning situations, students should learn to problem-solve, she said.
"Parents should always be supportive, but a little stress along the way for children prevents major catastrophes later in life with handling problems as young adults."
FAMILY LIFE
Richardson credits her parents, Curtis and Mabel Bolton, of Crestview, for placing education as a priority in their family. "My parents moved to Crestview before I was born to provide good educational opportunities for their children, Betty, Doris, Ray (and me)," she said.
"My older brother, Ray Bolton, and wife Dot live in Crestview and their children live there as well — Steve and Rodney Bolton and Alicia Humphrey," Richardson said. "I also have several cousins and aunts in Okaloosa County."
Melba's husband, Dr. Bill Richardson, is a retired college chemistry professor and a former dean of Arts and Sciences. They have two grown children, William, an educator who lives in Birmingham, and Mary Catherine, the Montgomery-based director of marketing for The Alabama West Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. They are both married and, between them, have provided Melba and Bill with three grandchildren.
MORE INFORMATION
•School website: www.stjweb.org
•To view video from the gala and the Friday celebration, visit the school website and click their Facebook icon. Scroll down to April 20 for the gala.
Email Editorial Assistant Renee Bell, follow her on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: School's namesake, Crestview grad, shares 32 years of education wisdom