Maya Angelou said, "When you learn, teach. When you get, give." I’ve been trying to do that for most of my life.

For four decades, I taught and coached elementary, middle, high school, college, and adult school students. Currently, I’m working with new teachers as an associate professor at National University.

Throughout my teaching career, I have written—mostly about learning, teaching, and growth. Along the way, I’ve published four books focused on education. But my formal writing began with “What It Takes.”

For 12 years, working for what is now the East Bay Times (SF Bay Area), I was a columnist. I wrote about what it takes to be successful—however readers defined it—and what it takes to live the best possible life. (Many of those columns are still around.)

As the print era began to fade, I, along with thousands of other journalists and columnists, lost my platform. It was difficult and sad, but the dream of having an online place to share my ideas gave me hope.

Over the years, life changed and my dream grew. The goal became to create a single space—a virtual classroom—where anyone in the world could be a student and all my projects could live:

My writing—both poetry and prose.

Passages—deeply affecting text, lyrics, scenes, and images that I need to share

Classroom Magic—Ideas for teachers

My Vital Lesson—Talented teachers share their ideas

The Kefi Foundation—Raising money to enhance lives

Online books—Currently, It’s the People; It’s Always the People

As long as I continue to learn—and I’m more curious than ever—I will continue to teach.

Welcome to JaimeRichards.org, a dream come true.