Richard J. O’Hara – Class of 1972

A 1972 graduate of Archmere, O’Hara believes that even more than his college professors, the teachers at Archmere had an impact that stayed with him as he pursued a career in education. Though his favorite classes were English, History and foreign languages, , he rattles off names of influential teachers from every subject area – commenting on their style of interacting with the students, their genuine interest in students’ learning and goals, and the role models they were both in and outside of the classroom.

After graduating from Williams College with a degree in political science and Spanish, O’Hara considered attending law school or graduate school, but instead accepted a position teaching Spanish at a private school in Virginia. “And that was it, I loved it,” he says. O’Hara earned his graduate degree (University of Virginia) in secondary school administration at night and during the summers following his first years of teaching , and eventually was offered a high school Principal position in Nashville, Tennessee.

As an administrator, O’Hara continued to teach and coach whenever possible. His career has taken him all over the country, to Virginia, Tennesee, Ohio and back to the east coast, to Maryland. “Administration is different from teaching in that you are forced to think on a more global scale. The goal is still to create positive and enriching experiences for the students that will have a lasting impact on their lives, but in more of an indirect sense – through institutional policies, curriculum change, and school-wide initiatives,” says O’Hara.

While admittedly he misses the personal day-to-day interaction with students, the goals and values he formed as a teacher remain the same. “It’s really about presenting the opportunity for every student to achieve the highest vision of who they’re meant to be; and the goal is the same for the institution – to be the best that it can be in all respects.”