NEWMAN – The Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District has hired a new assistant superintendent who brings more than 30 years of professional experience as well as personal insight into both support and instructional roles.

Richard Jukes of Cameron Park came out of two years of retirement to join the district as its second-ranking administrator. He will oversee the district’s personnel operations and be involved in student discipline.

“I didn’t like retirement. I couldn’t stop thinking about schools and students,” Jukes remarked. “I chose to come out of retirement and to a small district because the administrators in the district office still know many of the students and staff. It becomes personal. I have lived mostly in small towns, and I find this environment rejuvenating.”

Jukes replaces Rick Hennes, who recently resigned to accept a superintendent position in Rio Vista.

He said he enjoys the personnel duties.

“I enjoy the bargaining, and resolving common issues in a collaborative fashion. I also believe I can relate well to all of the people with whom I work,” Jukes stated.

Personnel duties also mean striving to put the right people in the right positions to promote student achievement.

“The real purpose of schools is to provide top quality teachers to interact with kids. All the rest of us are support staff,” he reflected.

Jukes, whose father worked for an airline, moved from school to school while growing up.

“I changed schools 12 times and lived in three states by the time I got to high school,” he recalled. “During the summers, I worked in the fields and orchards.”

In time he became interested in education. Jobs as a custodian and an instructional aid were his beginnings in the field.

“All our people are hugely important in developing the lives that we take stewardship for,” he commented.

He has served as superintendent of four California school districts, worked as a principal, taught and coached.

“I enjoy people and I enjoy language,” Jukes noted. “I had a major in Spanish and decided I would teach. I never looked back.”

Jukes said he has been impressed by the Newman-Crows Landing district.

“They are doing things right here, and the direction is good,” he said. “They really care about kids. Their mantra when making a decision is, ‘Is it good for kids?’.”

Jukes and his wife Marie have five adult children and four grandchildren.

His hobbies include music, camping, boating and traveling.