Recognizing the Retirement of Richard Tariff

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Richard Tariff of Longmeadow, Massachusetts who is bringing a close to a long and impactful career as an educator who made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of middle school students, as well as adult students in eastern Connecticut. In a few short weeks, he is set to retire in August as Director of Adult and Community Programs at EASTCONN after more than four decades of specializing in the field of adult education. Today, however, he will participate in his final graduation ceremony at Parish Hill High School in Chaplin, Connecticut. This graduation like the dozens and dozens that preceded it, is the moment where all his hard work-done in tandem with his colleagues-- culminates in a successful degree for their students that will transform their lives for the better.

A New England native, Rich began his journey in education teaching elementary and middle school students in Stafford Springs, which lit the fire of a life-time calling to elevate public schools' students to their highest potential. Understanding the intrinsic value of life-long education for students of all ages, Rich became a part-time director for Stafford Springs' Adult Education programs in 1979. As part-time director, he witnessed first-hand the lack of options for adults seeking certification outside of a high school diploma, which for him was a glaring opportunity for our district.

Vision in hand, Rich became the Adult Education Director for Adult Basic Education for the 12-town Tolland County region a few short years later. Under his leadership, the regional program underwent monumental evolutions. By establishing and engaging with partnerships, Vernon Regional Adult Education not only witnessed major expansions in enrichment program participation but also the planning, creation, and implementation of the formalized Vernon Regional Adult High School. By upgrading and centralizing the educational resources available through the programs under his watch, Rich, in just a couple of years of tenure as Director, began what has become a permanent legacy in the region and has resulted in thousands of adults graduating to date.

In 1984, Rich returned to youth education as the Assistant Principal at Vernon Center Middle School. He remained in this role for 16 years, where his value for and experience in administrating learning programs only continued to grow. He could not keep away from Vernon Regional Adult Education, however, and took on a new role as Regional Supervisor and Coordinator with the organization which he remained at for another eight years. Through both roles, Rich's expertise in grant writing and implementation helped maintain Vernon and the surrounding area's competitive edge in terms of better preparing our community for not just their future but the demands of a changing workforce. For example, at Vernon Center, he helped write a National 21st Century Grant request that had brought unprecedented grant funding to the district. Meanwhile, at Vernon Regional Adult Education, Rich expanded coordination with state partners to offer Work Place Education and both received and protected a grant for College Transition resources.

Though Vernon Regional was foundational to his experience in Adult Education, Rich's history of pioneering in the field earned him his latest role as Director of Adult and Community Programs for EASTCONN, one of Connecticut's six public, non-profit Regional Educational Service Centers. At EASTCONN, Rich has been bestowed the rightfully placed privilege to manage adult education services for what is now a 21-town region sprawling throughout northeastern Connecticut. The scope and size of EASTCONN's adult education programs were not achieved by mistake--it was Rich who helped charge the effectiveness of the organization. He understood that in districts comprised of smaller communities such as ours it does not just take a village, but rather several. With his guiding philosophy of centralizing resources in mind, Rich has brought about major achievements in terms of adequately preparing our district's workforce. Two of such achievements are the integration of adult programs with the two American Job Centers in northeastern Connecticut, and ensuring the strength of virtual educational adult and youth programs throughout the pandemic.

Madam Speaker, I have known Rich as a friend and community leader for almost forty years. I have seen firsthand his intelligent empathetic and kind interaction with people from all walks of life. He is down-to- earth and funny. Madame Speaker, it is an honor to represent constituents as community-oriented as Rich Tariff. A lifelong educator with a penchant for innovation, Rich has understood from an early age the opportunities that can arise for communities who hone their skills and keep themselves adaptable. As a reflection of his abilities, it is worth finally noting that Rich was the first President of the Connecticut Association for Adult and Continuing Education to serve for 5 consecutive years from 2011 to 2016, leading advocacy efforts within and beyond Connecticut on behalf of adult learners. For decades, Rich has spurred job growth imparting the educational foundation necessary for any occupation and our state and region has benefitted in ways that most fellow citizens will never know. His shoes will be hard to fill. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing and thanking Rich Tariff for his life's work, setting his legacy further into stone.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source