School board dedicates bench to former superintendent

The Carson City School Board has recognized former Superintendent Richard Stokes for 14 years of service by dedicating a bench in his honor placed at the district’s administrative office at 1402 W. King St.

Oct. 2, trustees, administrators and community members expressed stories and words of appreciation to Stokes for his commitment working for Carson City between 2008 and 2022.

Superintendent Andrew Feuling said Stokes’ leadership has made a difference in his own life.

“I came here in 2014 all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and (Stokes) has been so influential in my life and just the way that he has carried himself through the years and clearly (has had a) focus on carrying out what was best for the district and kids,” Feuling said. “It was just always at the forefront of the conversation.”

Board President Joe Cacioppo said he spent 10 years with Stokes and respected him for extending his time to help the district navigate the events during COVID-19 in 2020.

“Mr. Stokes was always somebody who had and still has the utmost professionalism, integrity, respect and patience, quite frankly, for all of us in the community as we get through all the things we have to get through as part of a district,” he said. “He’s the kind of person that I've looked to to take those pieces of leadership and bring them onto to my life and lead in that kind of way.”

Eagle Valley Middle School Principal Lee Conley recalled when Stokes, as the district’s associate superintendent of human resources in 2005, hired him as principal of Seeliger Elementary School.

“I think what I appreciate most about Rich is he truly has a belief in people,” Conley said. “And he's always there to support people, and they believed in me to say, ‘Let's take you to Eagle Valley and see what you can do there’ … and I think Rich, I’ve always thought of him as just a role model and just always professional.”

Stokes said he was humbled by the gesture of the board.

“I feel very honored that the board would make this fuss,” he said. “But it actually has been a very wonderful and (with) wonderful people who helped me all along the way. Thanks to my family, of course; they were a huge part of supporting me in my job with the district, and I love that.”

Stokes expressed his gratitude for the district staff members who have been faithful to supporting and inspiring the students and providing positive attitudes in their work every day.

“We’ve got good people in all the right places, and I think that’s so wonderful,” he said.