Ricki Dean: remembering the lady and the teacher

By Rhonda Westfall

A lady of style and grace - and a teacher who gave true meaning to the phrase "excellence in education" - faded from view in the St. Johns community last week, but Ricki Dean's spirit remains in the countless students and adults whose lives she touched in such a positive manner.

Erica "Ricki" Dean passed away Jan. 10, after a courageous battle with cancer that encompassed much of the past two years since her retirement in 2000 from St. Johns Public Schools. She served the district for 25 years, seeing duty as a teacher and administrator in five different buildings before retiring as principal at Oakview Elementary School.

Her tremendous work ethic coupled with a compassionate and 'service above self' attitude was a trademark of Ricki's approach to education.

"Ricki focused on the human side of her profession," long-time friend and former St. Johns Schools assistant superintendent Bette Munger said. "Children were her prime concern as she helped them learn and grow as citizens of their school community. She loved and respected her students and I believe they returned her feelings.

"Her philosophy required that she work for the improvement of the district rather than try to compete for recognition for herself or her building."

Perhaps one of the people who knew Ricki best, her colleague also notes attributes of fairness and an ability to see all sides of an issue.

"You could trust that Ricki would be honest, fair and work for the benefit of all concerned," Munger said. "She had a way of respecting others opinions and listening that allowed her to make her point without an argument. She has served as role model and mentor to many of us over the years and we will miss her ready smile and gracious presence."

Ricki's lovely smile that revealed her sense of wonder at the beauty of the world is remembered by a parent who became another of Ricki's colleagues. Gateway Elementary principal Gretchen Baarman recalls the first time she saw Ricki when at a 'Meet the Teacher' event at Swegles School where Ricki was then principal.

"Ricki was standing in the hallway alone when I walked in and introduced myself," Baarman said. "This young student came up to her and said he had kicked a ball onto the roof of the school. Ricki found a ladder; we carried it outside and she climbed up and retrieved the ball - she handed it to him and calmly suggested that he might want to kick the ball in a different direction next time.

"In the years that followed when I became a teacher myself and worked with Ricki, I saw her use that same type of approach in dealing with all sorts of people and situations - always firm but fair - and most often with that beautiful smile.

"She was my mentor and my friend, and I miss her dearly."

Ricki's style and grace was a constant theme of her many friends who worked with her in the classroom - and offered their prayers and support during her struggle with cancer. Diane Harte, a kindergarten teacher at Oakview, was among several area individuals who participated in a 60-mile cancer walk last year - for her part, walking on behalf of Ricki.

"After I completed the walk in her honor and gave her my grubby pink-ribboned hat with her name on it, she clutched it while we laughed and cried together," Harte said, noting that is one of many mental images she carries of Ricki.

"I see her reading Goodnight Moon on pajama day to my kindergarten students in her robe and fuzzy slippers, or dangling her legs in the pool while advising me on how to survive my teenager’s bouts of angst.