David Richards (Math) will be temporarily leaving Manual to be deployed in the Air Force in Iraq starting Tuesday, Feb. 13 after serving for over 13 years including four years of active duty and several overseas tours.

“As part of the Reserves, every now and then, you have to ‘Fight the bad guys,’ as I tell my son,” Richards said.

Richards’ last day at Manual will be Monday, Feb. 12. His original last day was Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, but he was called in two days earlier for extra training.

“The military has taught me to live life to the fullest, and treat every day like it is your last; I try to carry this philosophy into my classroom,” Richards’ website says.

Richards will be replaced by a long-term substitute starting on Tuesday, who will teach his Algebra Two and Geometry classes until he returns at the end of October.

“I’ve gotten most of the year planned out already, so she will probably use what I already have planned out,” Richards said.

Richards said he still plans to keep in contact with the substitute, but ultimately, the class will be the substitute’s and she will run it the way she wants.

“I don’t know the sub, so I guess I can’t really be confident [in the sub], but I’m confident in the students,” Richards said.

Richards described leaving as a bittersweet opportunity. He had to miss two weeks at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year as well.

“I’m sad that I have to leave because it sucks to leave in the middle of the year, but part of me is kind of excited to do something I’ve never done before, so it’s a mixture of emotions,” Richards said.

Mr. Richards considers himself a laid back teacher, who encourages his students to laugh and enjoy themselves in his Math classes.

“Laughter is the best medicine and you will laugh in my class, either with me, or at me!,” Richards’ website says.

Mr. Richards, in addition to teaching Math, is known for his silly personality, usually going all-out during Red/White Week or performing with the Step team during pep rallies.

Male students can't properly square a binomial. #roastmas pic.twitter.com/pSjdyPZD4q

— Dave (@drichusaf) October 17, 2017

“I am thankful that I get to wake up everyday and want to go to work. The staff, administration and most of all, the students make duPont Manual the best place in the state to work, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. GO RAMS!,” Richards’ website says.

Mr. Richards started at Manual four school years ago.