23-05-2025
Substitute teacher recognized with Golden Apple Award at Standard Middle School
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — First come your parents. But teachers can sometimes be the second most important adults in a child's life.
Here is a teacher who came back after 40 years to follow his true calling, and was awarded for his contributions to his students' lives.
They hid the award ceremony under the guise of an ice cream social to honor one of his friends at Standard Middle School in Oildale.
Really, it was to honor him.
'Mr. Rick Pitts!'
'The staff got me here on false pretenses today… they've fooled me for the last couple months,' Pitts said.
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More than 50 years ago, the now 81-year-old Mr. Pitts was a teacher. The teacher's salary was hard to live on, so he made a change.
'I started farming. I farmed for about 40 years. Then I retired from that and I had missed teaching and I decided to just start substituting,' Pitts said. 'Teaching is something I really love to do.'
Now for five years, Pitts has picked up the phone on his original calling.
His kindness becoming known throughout the Kern County school systems. He subs all over, but he's made an exceptional impact at Standard Middle School.
'He's been in the community for many, many years, raised his family here… he's done not just things for the community, but every school he comes into contact with, he makes an impact in a child's life or the class's,' Tim Duncan, Pitts' son-in-law, said.
The love he shows to his students, almost like a grandfather. Matter of fact, that's what they call him.
'I don't care. At school I'm grandpa to a lot of kids here at Standard… I got a lot of grandkids here,' Pitts said. 'It's very special. I get a lot of hugs here everyday, it's incredible.'
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The love he's shown to his community, reciprocated this day. With a special Golden Apple Award: to recognize outstanding teachers.
'I am incredibly happy they did, now that it's over,' Pitts said.
Pitts has no plans on stopping. As long as he can, he'll keep subbing.
'Hardest job I've ever had, but the most important job I've ever had… this is a tough time for kids to grow up. So many things get in the way of them growing up, and so many choices to make, things I never even imagined when I was a youngster,' Pitts said. 'They've got it tough, and so just to give them some support and let them know that they're loved and cared for and that they are special.'
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