For four decades, Jaime Richards taught and coached elementary, middle, high school, college, and adult school students. Currently, he’s working with new teachers as an assistant professor at National University. Jaime has published four books with two more in the works. His current project, My Vital Lesson — It’s the people; it’s always the people, asks educators, “What is the most vital lesson you teach your students? What do they most need to learn?”

As the founder and president of The Kefi Foundation, Jaime works to promote the kefi spirit by providing disadvantaged children with the equipment and instruction they’ll need to both lose and find themselves in art, athletics, dance, drama, and/or music.

Jaime and his retired first-grade teacher wife, Norma, live in southern California in a house filled with books, surrounded by family. Daughter, Kyrra, owns the Malibu Dance Academy. Son-in-law Dane owns a knife-forging business called Iron and Sand. Daughter Kylene teaches first grade. Two grand girls, Coale and Dwyn, lovingly call Jaime “Gaddy.”

When he’s not with family, Jaime loves reconnecting with his former students.