Mr. Ralph Rivera

Players led by 2001 MVP Eddie Laure, Jeffrey Sanders and Ralph Rivera, assistant coach Manuel Jose Pilares IV and team manager Christian W. Guidotti motored all the way from Manila in time for the motorcade around Olongapo City to begin the day's affairs.

Rivera left teachin

By JANNISE JOHNSON, STAFF WRITER

POMONA - What was he thinking?

Ralph Rivera, 34, left a relatively comfortable job as an acting assistant principal at Emerson Middle School two years ago to work the patrol beat for the Pomona Police Department.

So how does running after juvenile delinquents, answering domestic violence calls, sitting in a patrol car all day and solving other peoples' disputes as a beat cop compare to sitting behind a desk as an administrator over hundreds of students and staff?Both careers have their stresses, said Rivera, but education was more difficult.

"I think they're both stressful," Rivera said.But "the state tells you what you need to teach the kids, with benchmarks.I think that's more stressful."

Unlike other adults who shudder at the thought of pre-teens and their growing hormonal awareness, Rivera enjoyed dealing with middle-school students and their emotional issues, he said.
...
Rivera also procured disc jockeys for school dances during his time at Emerson, Matson said.
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Keeping a calm demeanor is essential for both educators and police officers, Rivera said.

"In both jobs you can't show stress," Rivera said."You're dealing with people who may pick up on that."

Rivera was born in New York, raised in Chino and attended private schools in Pomona and La Verne before getting a degree in behavioral science from Cal Poly Pomona.

He was a social worker in a group home after college, working to pay down his school debts, he said.

He started teaching after a recommendation from his brother-in-law and sister, who are both educators.He applied to his former high school, as well as to the Pomona Unified School District.Pomona school officials thought his social work background was an asset, and hired him as a teacher at Emerson Middle School, where he worked for seven years, he said.

Rivera is a born educator, Moser said.
...
Rivera never hid his desire to change careers, she said.

The Inland Valley resident said he wanted to be a police officer since he was in high school.

And his experience as a teacher and administrator has served him well so far in law enforcement.On a handful of occasions, he's had to arrest or contact some of his former students.The encounter, he said, is more comfortable for all involved, because they know each other.

Teens also appreciate Rivera's respectful approach, he said.

"I listen to them," he said."For some reason, I made some type of impact," as an educator, Rivera said."I walk up to them, and they know me, they call me Mr. Rivera, not Officer Rivera."

Being a police officer also allows him access to more young people than being confined to a classroom with a set number of students to teach, Rivera said.

Rich Bruner, athletic director for Pomona High School, worked with Rivera in 2000 and 2001 when Rivera was varsity softball coach.
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Rivera does have some distinct advantages because of his education background, according to both Bruner and Matson.
...
Rivera, who doesn't want to stray too far from his educational past, would eventually like to teach at the police academy in Whittier.

It's a part of his personality, he's never had much interest in repressing, he said.

"I've always been that helpful person," Rivera said.

Ralph Rivera, 34, left a relatively comfortable job as an acting assistant principal at the Pomona Unified School District's Emerson Middle School two years ago to work the patrol beat for the Pomona Police Department.

So how does running after juvenile delinquents, answering domestic violence calls, sitting in a patrol car all day and solving other peoples' disputes as a beat cop compare to sitting behind a desk as an administrator over hundreds of students and staff?Both careers have their stresses, said Officer Rivera, but surprisingly, education was more difficult.

"I think they're both stressful,' Rivera said.But "the state tells you what you need to teach the kids, with benchmarks.I think that's more stressful.'

Rivera, who doesn't want to stray too far from his educational past, would eventually like to teach at the Police Academy in Whittier.

Unlike other adults who shiver at the thought of pre-teens and their growing hormonal awareness, Rivera enjoyed dealing with middle school students and their emotional issues, he said.
...
Rivera also procured disc jockeys for school dances during his time at Emerson, Matson said.
...
Keeping a calm demeanor is essential for both educators and police officers, Rivera said.

"In both jobs you can't show stress,' Rivera said."You're dealing with people who may pick up on that.'

Rivera was born in New York, raised in Chino and attended private schools in Pomona and La Verne before getting a degree in behavioral science from Cal Poly Pomona.

He worked as a social worker in a group home after college in order to pay down his school debts, he said.

He got into teaching after a recommendation from his brother- in-law and sister who are both teachers.He applied to his former high school as well as to the Pomona Unified School District.Pomona school officials thought his social work background was an asset, and hired him as a teacher at Emerson Middle School where he worked for seven years, he said.

Rivera is a born educator, Moser said.
...
Rivera never hid his desire to change careers, she said.

The Inland Valley resident said he wanted to be a police officer since he was in high school.

And his experience as a teacher and administrator has served him well so far in law enforcement.On a handful of occasions, he has had to arrest or contact some of his former students.The encounter, he said, is more comfortable for all involved because they know each other.

Teens also appreciate Rivera's respectful approach, he said.

"I listen to them,' he said."For some reason, I made some type of impact' as an educator, Rivera said."I walk up to them, and they know me, they call me Mr. Rivera, not officer Rivera.'

Being a cop also allows him access to more young people than being confined to a classroom with a set number of students to teach, Rivera said.

Rich Bruner, athletic director for Pomona High School, worked with Rivera in 2000 and 2001 when Rivera served as varsity softball coach.
...
Rivera does have some distinct advantages because of his educational background, according to both Bruner and Matson.
...
"I've always been that helpful person,' Rivera said.