Rick was released from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD). He mentors at five schools in KPBSD: Kenai Central High School, Soldotna High School, Nikiski Middle/Senior High School, Kenai Middle School, and Tebughna School. He also mentors at two schools in the Lower Yukon School District: Scammon Bay and Hooper Bay Schools. His teaching experience includes 25 years teaching science in grades 9-12. He was one of 60 leader-teachers participating in the National Science Foundation project called "POLARIS: Project on Leading Alaska Reform in Science." He has a B.S. in Science Education and a M.S. in Computer Science Education.