As an anthropology/psychology undergraduate student, Rich earned his B.A. degree from U.C. Berkeley.  Upon graduation he worked for several years in residential treatment programs for adults and adolescents in Northern California.

He left this field to pursue a career in marketing and advertising, where for 20 years he held increasingly responsible positions on a variety of local, regional, national, and international brands. 

As the father of a now grown son, Rich volunteered for many years as youth soccer and slow pitch baseball coach for his son's coed teams. He discovered that he made deep connections with children and later changed careers to enroll in the teacher training program at Dominican University in San Rafael, California.

Upon graduation, he taught Language Arts/Humanities for eight years at the middle school level. Rich continues to teach at the middle school and high school level throughout Marin County.  Married for 32 years to Susan, an elementary teacher, they reside in San Rafael, California with their spunky Tibetan Terrier, Spooky. A dedicated and passionate educator, Rich builds relationships of trust and challenges all students with his unique blend of candor, questioning, and humor.