Pen-Hi staffer leaves mark
Don’t let the title fool you: Richard Morgan may be employed as a custodian at Penticton Secondary School, but he’s a valuable part of the larger educational team there. So much so, he was a finalist in the Outstanding Support category of the first-ever Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education, which were handed out earlier this month in Victoria.
Morgan has worked in the school system as a custodian for 25 years, a term that will conclude when he retires at the end of his shift on Jan. 18, 2019.
And although he didn’t win the award, the recognition from his peers is a win in itself for Morgan, all of whom signed a letter of recommendation for the premier’s award.
“For what he brings to the school and the (students), it’s a pretty impressive array,” said Pen-High principal Chris Van Bergeyk.
“The students we have in the building right now, they say they’ve grown up with Mr. Morgan,” added vice-principal Shaune Gowe.
“A lot of them feel a close connection with him throughout their schooling. I think the key thing with Mr. Morgan is he knows all the kids by name and talks to them on a daily basis.”
His compassion and interest in students’ success, Gowe added, is what really encourages the students to be engaged.
“I try to empower them so they feel that this is their school, rather than them (just) having to be here,” Morgan added.
He has also devoted much of his personal time to the students at the many schools he’s worked at, from driving the physics team down to the UBC Physics Olympics to even coaching rugby.
One story that stands out in Morgan’s mind, even today, was from his time back in North Vancouver before his move to Penticton in 1993.
“I used to open up two schools in the morning, and one kid would get dropped off by his parents,” he recalled.
After multiple incidents of the student misbehaving before classes started, Morgan sought to better understand the child’s situation. It was then he discovered the boy’s parents were in the middle of a divorce and neither wanted to devote time to the child.
“I found out that he liked to play the piano. We had an old piano (at the school) and I would let him in in the morning to play,” Morgan said.
And while it’s difficult for him to see the students leave after graduation, it’s always a nice surprise when they come back.
“I joke that they’ll have to come visit me in the seniors’ home,” said Morgan.