Celebrating RPS Retiree Juan R. Figueroa Garcia

For 19 impactful years, Juan Figueroa Garcia has been a gift to the RPS community, shifting seamlessly between roles as an RDLS Kindergarten teacher, an RMS Social Studies teacher, and an RDLS EL teacher. Born in Bogotá and raised in the Llanos Orientales region of Colombia, before attending Metro State/Bemidji State and Hamline University, Juan brought an extraordinary depth of compassion to our district. This was never more evident than in his favorite RPS memory, when a kindergarten chick-hatching project turned into a literal miracle. After discovering a live chick hatching inside a discarded egg in the classroom garbage can, Juan rescued it, and his class named it "Milagros." The chick was later taken to a farm where it "was allowed to live out its natural life as a sanctuary resident."

Juan’s retirement plans are just as full of life, music, and growth. He looks forward to spending "quality time with my mother, my three sisters, and my brother-in-law," visiting old friends, and traveling to Nairobi and Europe. He also intends to study guitar and cuatro, assist local elementary teachers with lesson plans, and return to his roots: "In a piece of land I have up high in the Andes mountains of Colombia, I would love to plant a vegetable garden."

Thank you, Juan, for 19 years of dedication, empathy, and unforgettable memories. We wish you a joyful retirement filled with beautiful music, safe travels, and a thriving mountain garden!

We are grateful to all of our retirees for their dedicated service and contributions to Richfield Public Schools. Each retiree featured on our website and social media channels was contacted individually and chose the level of recognition they preferred. Not all retirees opted to be recognized.