Richard W. Sherfey, EdD: Retired Principal, Tucson Unified School District

Richard W. Sherfey, EdD, is a well-known and well-liked educator who has taught at both the elementary and collegiate levels. Notably, he has 40 years of professional experience, including 30 years as a public-school teacher and administrator and a decade in higher education. He retired in 1992 as a principal in the Tucson Unified School District, where he had received numerous awards for outstanding service.

Dr. Sherfey attended the University of Arizona, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. He went on to earn a doctorate in reading education, as well as a master’s degree, from the same institution.

Dr. Sherfey recalls that his ability to interact well with people of all levels, from elementary school students to professors, has been his main source of success. He has always felt at ease with interpersonal relationships and communication, a quality that allowed him to funnel himself into several districts as a former curriculum coordinator, where he enjoyed his annual luncheons and other regular gatherings with teachers.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Sherfey proudly served during the Korean War. He believes that his upbringing and military background helped him develop the leadership skills that led to his professional success. As the eldest of six siblings, he supported himself through college after honorably completing his military commitment. He had initially attempted to enter the accounting field, completing several courses in the subject before shifting his academic focus to education.

Dr. Sherfey is most proud of his work with elementary students and cherished the opportunity to interact with people from various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. His career in higher education primarily involved holding in-services for educators in the Tucson area’s outskirts, and he found that participating heavily in teacher education and parent-teacher associations made his job more enjoyable.

He is also pleased to have maintained close contact with many of his former elementary and college-level students, some of whom have gone on to become teachers in the Tucson Unified School District. Dr. Sherfey takes great pride in hearing from former students, including those he taught in elementary schools and college, as well as those who have gone on to become teachers in the district themselves.

Dr. Sherfey advises aspiring educators to remain calm and positive in their approach to teaching and to carefully listen to the wide range of communications from students and instructors. He remains excited to have played such an important role in the development of young minds.