Longtime Prestwood Elementary teacher Gary Griffith retires

Gary Griffith will return as volunteer but plans to write, golf and travel.|

The students at Prestwood Elementary waved goodbye to Mr. G. last week, using their nickname for good-guy teacher Gary Griffith for the last time as he retires after 28 years.

He’s taught third, fifth and currently fourth grade over the years, and he’s enjoyed each one. “They give you a lot of love,” he said of his students, and he returns the sentiment. “I’ve had a really great career. I love the kids,” he said, adding that he intends to continue spending time at Prestwood as a volunteer.

After dedicating much of his life to his students, he said that he decided to retire, “Because I’m tired. It hit me when I starting teaching kids whose parents I had taught,” he said. Suddenly he realized, “Oh, I’ve been here a long time.”

His wife Patty Griffith retired three years ago after 20 years teaching first grade at Flowery and then second grade at El Verano. Now the couple will have more time for the travel and adventure they enjoy, while their daughter Maggie Pat, who has been teaching first grade at Sassarini since 2007, continues to represent the family’s dedication to teaching.

For Griffith, it seems like yesterday that he was taking his three children when he headed to school in the morning – but that was long ago, and they have children of their own. “It’s time for me,” he said, as he looks forward to tending his vineyard, working on his second novel and getting in more frequent rounds of golf.

“A lot of people don’t understand the time and effort that is put into teaching. I don’t know a teacher that doesn’t bring their work home with them,” he said. But he’s always found it completely fulfilling. “My wife and daughter and I can sit around the table and talk curriculum of hours.”

Griffith was honored the by the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation as Educator of the Year in 2003, but it is the appreciation he receives from students that warms his heart. Many students stay in touch, inviting him to their high school and college graduations as the years go by. He grows almost teary eyed recalling a former student’s toast at her college graduation party. “Meet my fifth grade teacher. This is Gary Griffith and if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t be having this party.”

“I have probably been a surrogate parent to 1,000 kids,” he said, and puts his heart and soul into caring about each of them. One former student about to enter college in the fall has come to visit once a month ever since fourth grade.

“Kids have to feel good about who they are to succeed,” Griffith said, who has always put an emphasis on the classroom being a learning community were the students care about each other. “Teaching is putting yourself out there in front of 30 kids and letting them see this is someone they can trust and hold on to. Making them all feel engaged and equal.”

In addition to his service in the classroom, Griffith has long been heavily involved with the California Teachers Association, currently representing five Sonoma County school districts on the state council, attending state-wide meetings four times a year. He also taught extension classes at Sonoma State for 10 years.

Griffith spent five years writing a novel, “The Legend of the Ship Captain’s Box,” available at bookstores and on Amazon.

Now that he will have more time, he hopes to finish the second one, “The Imagination of Albion Thatcher,” on a faster turnaround.

He also has published a book of poetry and is a fine-art painter.

He has a small vineyard at their one-acre eastside home, growing four varieties of grapes that he blends into his Meritage private-label wine; he also makes wine for friends and neighbors who grow grapes.

He and Patty like to keep their passports busy, and have traveled to Peru, France, Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico and other spots, and plan to make the “been there” list ever longer now that they are both retired.

As much as he looks forward to more free time, it is hard to imagine not seeing his students. “At recess the kids come up and hug me,” he said. And perhaps that bond with young minds it what he will miss most of all.

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