All 25 years of Ricki Dean's career in education have been spent in St. Johns Public Schools, but she's been far from stationary.

The veteran educator who retired as principal of Oakview South Elementary at the end of this school year has seen duty at five buildings, and in a very real way, had a positive impact on students and families throughout the district through her work in new curriculum development.

It's that variety she's most grateful for - and will miss the most.

"It's been a real pleasure to get to know so many different families across the district," Dean says. "Each building I've taught at has its own personality, but no matter where I've been the parents have been very supportive of the staff and the programming."

A transplant from Columbus, Ohio, Dean holds both her bachelor and master degrees from Michigan State University. She met - and later married - her husband, Barry, while they were attending MSU, and has called St. Johns "home" since 1965.

Her career in education began in 1976, after her most important occupation as a "stay-at-home-mom" for her children, Tracey and Jeff, concluded when they entered school.

She recalls that beginning year as a first-grade teacher at East Olive Elementary with a wry smile.

"I had 33 students in the classroom that year - it's the biggest class I've ever had," she says of her rookie season.

Three years later she moved to Perrin-Palmer where she taught first grade until 1985 when the Developmental Kindergarten program that she was instrumental in creating got its start.

"D.J. Logan and I worked on the curriculum for the program that was new to the district," Dean says of the unique concept that was a forerunner to the continuing kindergarten approach which is used today.

In 1988, Dean moved back to East Olive where she worked as a half-time principal and half-time DK teacher for the year before assuming the job of full-time principal in 1989 at Riley Elementary.

It was during her stint at Riley that another innovative curriculum development was implemented.

"The staff at Riley was very knowledgeable about technology and computers, which at that time, were not used as part of the total curriculum," Dean says. "We were able to develop the first elementary computer lab in the district - a pilot program that was modeled in following years at other buildings."

The well-traveled educator closed out her career at Swegles Elementary - which in effect became Oakview after the passage of the bond issue and construction of new schools in 1998. She served as principal at Swegles beginning in 1994.

Being involved in the planning process for Oakview and the other buildings is another treasured memory for Dean.

"It's the hardest I've ever worked - but also the most enjoyable time," she says. "We had the opportunity to provide so much input into the whole design process - it was very exciting and rewarding."

Beyond the bricks and mortar, it's the quarter-century spent working with students that gives Dean the most satisfaction.

"Watching the kids grow up - reading about them in the paper as they continue on to college and careers of their own - that's the most enjoyable part of being an educator," she says.

"I've had the chance to work with terrific staff - St. Johns Public Schools is a wonderful district."

While the new retiree hopes to spend time with her mother, age 93, in Columbus, she is looking forward to staying involved locally with various projects. She is an active member of the St. Johns Rotary Club, having served on its Board of Directors and as chairperson of the Youth Performing Arts Talent Show along with numerous other committees.