Blissfield teacher Scott Ricker recognized as an Amazing Teacher

David Panian, The Daily Telegram
·2 min read

BLISSFIELD — As a young student, Scott Ricker was interested in math, sports, computers and engineering. He pursued his interests and received an electrical engineering degree and then degrees in education.

Now in his 26th year teaching in Blissfield, Ricker has been recognized by Gannett, owner of The Daily Telegram, with its national Amazing Teacher award. A $5,000 grant goes along with being selected as the monthly, national award winner. The check presentation took place Wednesday at the McDonald's restaurant on South Main Street in Adrian. McDonald's sponsors the awards.

Teachers can be nominated for the award at tinyurl.com/AmazingTeacherAwards. Local and national recipients are selected monthly. Local winners receive a $25 McDonald's gift certificate and are entered into a drawing for the national prize.

Blissfield High School teacher Scott Ricker, center, is presented with a ceremonial $5,000 check from Michael Bodman, left, owner of the McDonald's restaurants in Adrian, and Kimberly Zimmerman of LocaliQ/Gannett Media Group on Wednesday at the South Main Street McDonald's. Ricker was named an Amazing Teacher by Gannett.
Blissfield High School teacher Scott Ricker, center, is presented with a ceremonial $5,000 check from Michael Bodman, left, owner of the McDonald's restaurants in Adrian, and Kimberly Zimmerman of LocaliQ/Gannett Media Group on Wednesday at the South Main Street McDonald's. Ricker was named an Amazing Teacher by Gannett.

After graduating from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Ricker worked for an electronics repair shop, at multiple camps and at churches as a youth minister. He needed extra income, so he decided to work as a substitute teacher across the country, where he received requests to work longer substitute jobs.

"On the last day, the principal walked in and asked me if I wanted the job full-time," Ricker said. "When I explained that I did not have a teaching license, he informed me that at the time in North Carolina, people with math and science backgrounds were allowed to teach in those fields temporarily while pursuing their license."

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Ricker accepted the teaching position and taught pre-algebra, Algebra I and Earth Science for one year while attending Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, at night and during the summer. Ricker eventually transitioned to teaching math at Blissfield Community Schools.

He teaches Algebra I, pre-calculus, and a section of dual enrollment calculus and Analytical Geometry I and II. Ricker also has 15 years as a scorekeeper for middle school basketball under his belt as well as seven years as a middle school volleyball coach, eight years coaching middle school boys and girls basketball, and three years as a varsity assistant softball coach. He has directed 25 middle and high school plays, served for two years as a math department chair and served as a bargaining chair for the Blissfield Education Association for 10 years.

Ricker's proudest achievements include the moments when his students finally understand a concept after attending his class, when former students tell him they felt well prepared for current classes because they attended his class, and when he got the opportunity to have his daughters as students.

— Contact reporter David Panian at dpanian@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @lenaweepanian.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Blissfield teacher Scott Ricker recognized as an Amazing Teacher