News & Announcements

Richmond High School is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rachel Etherington as the new Assistant Athletic Director, effective July 1, 2023. This strategic addition to our dedicated team of educators and administrators reflects our commitment to fostering a thriving sports program that promotes teamwork, leadership, and excellence in both academics and athletics.

Etherington will be instrumental in organizing sports events, coordinating team schedules, and fostering positive relationships with student-athletes, parents, community partners, and rival schools.

Etherington is a 1985 Richmond High School graduate and has served in the Richmond Community School district for 18 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown College (Kentucky) with a major in physical education and minors in Health and French. She continued her education, earning a master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Indiana University. She has been a teacher, assistant principal, and principal for RCS.

“I am honored to rejoin the Richmond High School family and eager to contribute to the growth of our student-athletes, helping them achieve their full potential while instilling valuable life skills that extend beyond sports,” said Etherington. “I truly look forward to working with Clay, the Athletic Department, and the entire Richmond community in contributing to the proud tradition of Red Devil Athletics.”

She and her husband, Joe, reside in Richmond. They have one daughter, Esther.

We are pleased to inform you that Richmond Community Schools has made the decision to waive all textbook fees and technology fees for the entire academic year for new and returning students. This means that your child will have access to necessary textbooks and educational technology without any financial burden on your family.

We understand that covering these fees can be challenging for some families, and we believe that by eliminating these charges, we can create a more equitable and inclusive learning environment for all RCS students. Our goal is to ensure that every child has equal opportunities to succeed academically, regardless of their financial circumstances.

By removing these fees, we hope to alleviate some of the financial strain that families may face and contribute to a positive and supportive learning environment for our students. We are committed to providing the best educational experience possible and are constantly seeking ways to improve accessibility and affordability for all.

We appreciate your continued support and trust in Richmond Community Schools. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this announcement, please feel free to reach out to us. We are here to assist you and provide any necessary information.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students.

RICHMOND, Indiana (July 10, 2023) – Richmond High School is proud to introduce Jessica Shadday as the new head cheerleading coach.

Shadday is a 2003 Richmond High School graduate. She has been a cheerleader and captain with the Indianapolis Colts. She has also been a Pacemate and Captain with the Pacers Sports and Entertainment. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University – Bloomington majoring in Sports Marketing. She is currently an operations manager at Chubb Group Insurance.

Richmond High School is also excited to announce Ashlen Mauller as the new assistant cheerleading coach. She is a 2018 Richmond High School graduate. She has been the middle school cheerleading coach for Richmond Community Schools. She earned her nursing degree from Ivy Tech Community College. She is currently a registered nurse for Reid Health.

“We’re really looking forward to a great season and an opportunity to grow the program,” Shadday said. “Community involvement, elevating the game experience, and strengthening our cheerleaders’ skills are all things you can expect to see. We’re looking to take this program to the next level!”

Mark your calendars! Red Devil Youth Cheer Camp on Wednesday, August 2 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) at Richmond High School’s Tiernan Center. This camp is for girls ages 4 years old to 8th grade. The cost is $30.

RICHMOND, Indiana (June 14, 2023) – Wayne County native Mark Fowler was named the Chief of Secondary Education for Richmond Community Schools at tonight’s school board meeting.

Fowler returns to Wayne County from Chawanakee Unified School District in California. He most recently served as their high school principal. Prior to his leadership at Chawanakee, he served 7 years as a teacher and 8 years as a Principal at Caruthers High School in Selma, California. Under his leadership, students flourished in a number of areas as he looked to always be ahead of the curve and offered countless opportunities for them. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fresno Pacific University and a Masters of Education degree from Chadron State College.

Fowler will provide direction and facilitate ongoing development and alignment for the district’s instructional programs at the secondary level.

“Mr. Fowler’s deep roots within the Richmond/Wayne County area and his comprehension of our community’s needs, will serve as an added bonus as we continue to build upon our professional learning organization,” stated RCS Superintendent Dr. Curtis Wright. “We are confident that his experience, skill set, and passion for selfless service will complement our RCS administrative team in a multitude of ways.”

His contract will begin July 1, 2023.

RICHMOND, Indiana (June 14, 2023) – At tonight’s school board meeting, the RCS School Board of Trustees approved a resolution to establish a school police department.

The RCS Board of School Trustees have concluded that it is time for the school corporation to explore new avenues for the provision of these essential safety needs of the district. We certainly want to express the collective gratitude of RCS, its patrons, staff, students, and board members, both present and past, for the service that our Wayne County Sheriff's Department has provided in the management of the SRO program. Their courage and commitment have been more than appreciated. Formal processes are underway to ensure and sustain the high quality of safety and security that has always been exercised within Richmond Community Schools upon our return this fall. Again, we would like to thank the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and all first responders that have and will continue to partner with us to keep our faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders safe.

Richmond Community Schools is proud to celebrate the following students.

RICHMOND, Indiana (May 18, 2023) – Melissa Swafford, the deputy treasurer at Richmond Community Schools, was named the Indiana Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) Region 6 IASBO Support Professional of the Year. The announcement was made during their annual IASBO meeting in Fort Wayne last week.

Mrs. Swafford has worked at RCS for 20 years. She was described by Karen Scalf, the Chief Financial Officer of Richmond Community Schools, as “a vital member of our RCS team. She strives for excellence in all she does and makes a positive difference each and every day to those around her. She is extremely deserving of this award.”

The Indiana Association of School Business Officials is a professional organization that strives for the promotion and advancement of those individuals involved in school business affairs such as finance, accounting, purchasing, maintenance and operations, human resources, facilities and grounds, food nutrition, technology, and transportation.

Mrs. Swafford resides in Richmond with her husband, Andrew. She has two sons, Tyson and Asher.

RICHMOND, Indiana (May 1, 2023) – Richmond Community Schools is pleased to announce the hiring of Casey Dodd as the new Director of Technology and Alex Hazelbaker as the new Assistant Director of Technology.
Dodd has been an Assistant Principal at Test Intermediate School since October. Dodd came to RCS from Mt. Vernon High School where he served as principal. He received his Master of Science degree in Education from Western Governor’s University and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University. Dodd has been named a Certified School Safety Specialist and has received his Indiana Professional Educator’s License in Building Level Administration and English Education.
Dodd said “I am very excited to be moving into this new role at RCS. I have long had a passion for the way technology can be used as such a powerful tool to enhance the educational process for both students and staff. I look forward to working with our team to capitalize on the strengths that already exist and continuing to find new ways to use technology to make the RCS experience even better.”
RHS Class of 2010 alum Alex Hazelbaker has been named the new Assistant Director of Technology for RCS. “We have a team of skilled individuals who serve our district. We look to continue improving the technology our educators and students rely upon. Technology is not measured by its daily use but its effectiveness,” said Hazelbaker. “I look forward to working closer with our educators to provide the tools in which they need for our students’ success. As a former RCS graduate, I am thankful for the opportunity to give back to our district.”
Dodd and Hazelbaker were approved unanimously by the RCS School Board at their board meeting April 26.