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Ask just about anyone in the community, and you will find they probably know Mr. Tom Ritchey. Their son, daughter, niece, or nephew probably had Mr. Ritchey as a teacher, and if not, he is widely known for his dedication to our community and the Spring Cove School District. Therefore, it was not a surprise when Mr. Ritchey, Vocational Agriculture Teacher at Central High School, was selected as the 2008 Educator of the Year after being nominated by fellow teacher, Mrs. Candace Claar.
Mr. Thomas N. Ritchey has been employed by the school district for the past 22 years. During this time, he has built a quality agriculture program and is held in high regard across the state of Pennsylvania for Central High School’s strong Future Farmers of America Program (FFA). He attends conferences, workshops, and numerous meetings to keep abreast of the latest developments in his field. In addition, his students participate regularly in competitions and supervised agriculture experiences that require Mr. Ritchey to spend many hours in the evening or on weekends overseeing these activities. However, as Mrs. Claar states in her nomination, Mr. Ritchey’s influence can be seen not only in the knowledge and experience of his students, but also in the characteristics displayed by them. “Tom’s impact goes well beyond high school education. It is not hard to figure out who are his students. They are consistently respectful and well mannered because of his teaching style and the expectations he sets.” Mrs. Claar goes on to state that she felt Mr. Ritchey would make a good candidate for this award because of his “dedication to his students, their parents, his fellow teachers, and the Spring Cove community. His advising goes well beyond the school day. On a daily basis, Tom is one of the last to leave after school and is an active part of many community organizations, demonstrating his strong service to others.”
Mr. Ritchey is a 1981 graduate of Northern Bedford High School and a 1985 graduate of Penn State University’s Agriculture Program. The son of Paul and Evelyn Ritchey of Martinsburg, Tom grew up and worked on his family’s dairy farm near Woodbury, so his interest in agriculture bloomed early and seemed like a natural fit as he entered college. Many of his family members are involved in ag-related careers, and he cites the positive influence of his own high school Ag teacher, Robert Sell, who was also his uncle.
When interviewed, Mr. Ritchey was quick to note that he has been fortunate to work with quality students, parents, teachers, and support staff personnel. He has always felt that the Spring Cove School District staff members have supported his program and his students, and he credits his predecessors, Mr. Paul Ruth and Mr. Robert Korona, for laying a strong foundation for the Agriculture Department.
Mr. Ritchey is active in the community and serves on quite a few Boards across the state. He is Secretary of the Morrisons Cove Dairy Show; President of the Morrisons Cove Community Fair; Secretary of the Blair County Junior Livestock Council; Co-Chair of the Southwest District Junior Dairy Show; Board Member for the PA State Junior Dairy Show; and a member and former treasurer of the PA Association of Agriculture Educators.
Mr. Ritchey resides in Martinsburg with his wife, the former Cindy Hoover, and his three children, Shane, Matthew, and Laura, who all attend the Spring Cove School District. He enjoys attending his children’s activities, watching sports, hunting, and teaching Sunday School at the Woodbury Church of the Brethren.
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