A career change later in life can bring uncertainty, but for one Richmond educator, it opened the door to discovering a passion she never knew she had. Richmond Middle School sixth-grade mathematics instructor Darla Weekley has spent 14 years with the district, helping students grow academically and personally while encouraging them to recognize their abilities and embrace the learning pro-

RICHMOND MIDDLE SCHOOL sixth-grade mathematics instructor Darla Weekley uses the word “yet” to remind students that struggling with a concept does not mean they are incapable of learning it.

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Before entering education, Weekley owned a sports bar and a consignment store and had no initial plans to pursue a teaching career.

That changed when she began volunteering in her son’s kindergarten classroom on Mondays, while her consignment store was closed. She described his teacher as the most amazing educator she had ever encountered, and said the experience helped her discover her own love for …