After beginning teaching almost 30 years ago in 1998, ARC teacher Dewey Stroud has finally settled on his decision for his retirement. This opportunity for Stroud had presented itself multiple times, and now Stroud is ready for his exit. Stroud’s current position is teaching in the Academic Re-Engagement Center (ARC.). Before he took up this position, Stroud coached multiple minor league baseball teams and had been in the front office management at a high school in Reno, Nevada. He taught freshman English before becoming the ARC manager.
“I will miss the six period class schedule routine and having a simple agenda just to follow through with, mainly because I know where I need to be at what times.” Stroud said. He said he appreciates the high school schedule. ARC is located in room 203, the center is designed for students who make unwise decisions and are sent to re-evaluate their decisions during the school day given what period they are sent to ARC.
Memorable moments that Stroud had were the sports games here at the high school, one in particular had been a baseball game against Cypress High School, a nationally high ranked baseball team. “We gave up five runs in the first inning. We were down five.. And we came back, and we ended up beating them,” Stroud reminisced.
Watching his step-son Leo Kemp, who now plays football at a collegiate level, blossom throughout his high school football career was memorable for Stroud. “During that year, the football team went and played at San Ynez, and Leo ended up with over 300 yards, carrying the ball. I was like, wow, Leo again, I remember he had just a very memorable game,” Stroud said.
He feels there is a secret ingredient holding PRHS together, that secret ingredient being respect for everyone. “Being able to respect the rules that are in place, respect the process, respect each other. It’s huge,” Stroud said. Stroud will be missed and will always uphold the respect that he has given to this school, and the respect that we have given him back.
