'God placed me here.' Northwest Principal James LaRiccia ready to say goodbye
CANAL FULTON – Sometimes life's biggest lessons aren't taught in the classroom. Sometimes they are taught on the gridiron during recess.
For more than two decades, Northwest Primary Principal James LaRiccia has been getting out of the school building daily and hitting the pavement for a pickup game of flag football with his students.
It's a practice he started many years ago as an assistant junior high principal at the Youngstown City Schools when his duties included keeping an eye on the students at recess.
"I thought instead of just standing there watching them why not get out there and play some football with them," he explained.
On one of his last days before he retires from his 45-year career in education, LaRiccia hit the pavement for a flag game with second graders.
A love of the game and developing children's skills on and off the field
A longtime Green Bay Packers fan, LaRiccia said as a kid he could be found playing football with his neighborhood friends.
He coached middle school students and today he is the play-by-play announcer for Austintown Fitch High School and Westminster College (Pennsylvania) football teams.
"I just love the game," he said, and so do his students — or maybe they just love spending time with the school's top administrator.
Every day, students in grades kindergarten through second grade wait patiently — but with excitement — for LaRiccia's arrival on the playground, said Jennis Shelton, a social worker at the school.
"Most days you'll find him out here (on the playground)," she said. "He's done it for many years even at the old Canal Fulton Elementary building. It's just something that is part of his day."
Shelton said LaRiccia can often be found taking in a youth football game checking in on his star players.
The students suit up in old high school football jerseys that have been cut from the bottom to fit their smaller sizes. Some students put on gloves to improve their catching game.
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The makeshift field is flanked by two end zones and a 50-yard line. LaRiccia is the quarterback for both sides — red vs. white — as they make their way down the asphalt field.
The kids line up with LaRiccia on one end while the other team is ready to defend. He gives the word and the students scatter. Each yelling "Mr. LaRiccia, Mr. LaRiccia" in the hope that he will throw the ball their way.
Sporting the red #36 jersey, 8-year-old Trey Lowden goes deep for a pass. LaRiccia launches the ball into the air. Trey easily catches it before he is tagged by an opposing player.
"He has good throws," the second grader said.
Terry said it is special to have someone like LaRiccia spend time with them on the playground.
Second grader Paisley Gladieux is going to miss her principal.
"It's great that we got to play as a team and practice how to catch the ball and how to run faster and faster," the 8-year-old added.
Not only do they have fun, but their principal has taught them a lot about the game, the pair said.
LaRiccia hopes it's more than just the rules of the game the students take with them.
He preaches the game isn't about the score, but rather about having fun, teamwork and accomplishing something together.
"You make mistakes, you might have an interception, but just try your best," LaRiccia said. "It's not if you win or lose. It's about being a good sport and trying your best."
It's something he thinks he has gotten through to his students, who rally around players who may not be as skilled or who don't play as much.
The students will instruct LaRiccia to throw the ball to someone who hasn't had as much playtime as others or is new to the game.
"They probably taught me more than I have taught them," the 67-year-old grandfather of five (with one on the way) said. "It's amazing to get into the hallway and see the kids say hi and smile my way. It makes my day."
'God placed me here and it's where I should be.'
LaRiccia started his career as a seventh and eighth grade science teacher at Youngstown Christian School. He later moved to Youngstown City Schools. Before coming to Northwest, he was principal at Youngstown's first charter school.
After three years at the charter school, he decided it was time to leave. On a whim, he checked the Ohio Department of Education's website and saw an opening at Northwest Primary.
"I had never heard of Canal Fulton," LaRiccia said. "I didn't think they would want a city boy, but they welcomed me like I was one of their own. It's worked out."
Since landing the job at Northwest, LaRiccia has driven every day more than an hour each way from his Austintown home to Canal Fulton.
He wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's such a great community. They are the most loving and accepting people. God placed me here and that is why I should be here," the father of four said.
Retirement won't slow down LaRiccia, who has plans to help out at the Heartland Christian School in Columbiana, where his wife, Betsy, is the elementary school principal.
He also has plans to work with his church, Tabernacle Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Austintown, to further its mission to work with the elderly.
The church takes elderly members out of nursing homes and brings them to the church for a day of fun.
"We want to get them out of the nursing home or their house and bus them in and play games, eat some food and have a Bible study," he said. "It's like a youth group for the elderly."
LaRiccia is also pursuing opportunities to teach at his alma mater Youngstown State University.
"This community is amazing," he said, adding he is going to miss everything about it.
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com
On Twitter: @aknappINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Northwest's James LaRiccia to retire after decades of football, recess
