What is your title, department and primary work location, and how long have you worked for OCDE?
Coordinator, Academic Events and Recognition Programs. I work at Red Hill. In September, I will have been at OCDE for 19 years.
Describe your role and tell us how it helps support programs, schools or students.
I think I might have the best job at OCDE. I get to ensure Orange County students have the opportunity to participate in some fun and impactful Academic Events including Academic Decathlon, Academic Pentathlon, and the Orange County Spelling Bee. I have worked in student programs for my entire career (35+ years) and feel passionately about the importance of extracurricular activities for all students. Students learn so much from being part of these programs and activities (things they may not learn in a traditional classroom), and they build skills that will support them in life. I wish every student was required to participate in an extracurricular activity — a club, sport, or program of some kind — so they would have something else to focus on in addition to school. In addition to Academic Events, I also get to help recognize exceptional teachers and classified staff through the Orange County Teachers of the Year program and the Classified School Employees of the Year program. Teachers and school staff work hard every day to teach and support our students, the future of our country, and it is so important to recognize that important job. Two of my favorite days of the year are surprising our six new county finalists in their classrooms and celebrating all 60+ of our Teachers of the Year honorees at the annual celebration at the Disneyland Hotel. I feel so lucky!
Tell us where you grew up and why you joined OCDE, and share a little bit about your family.
I grew up in Pasadena and Arcadia. My husband and I lived in Colorado for 9 years before coming back to Southern California to be close to family in 2005. I was coordinating student programs at the University of Denver when my childhood friend and former OCDE employee, Dawn Curtis, sent me the job lead for Academic Events at OCDE. I was thrilled to find a job that would allow me to continue working on student programs, since I felt I had found my passion. I have enjoyed working at OCDE from the beginning. I feel so lucky to work with kind, intelligent, fun, motivated coworkers, and work on programs that I love and I feel are making a difference in students’ lives. My family includes my husband of 30+ years, my son Carson (a physics major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), my daughter Lauren (a senior at Tesoro High School), and our sweet dog, Bella.
What do you most appreciate about your division, department or team?
I love being a part of the Student Initiatives, Partnerships, and Events (S.I.P.E.) unit. Coming into a workplace every day that feels so comfortable is truly a blessing. I believe great work environments come from the top down and our S.I.P.E. leaders not only excel in their roles, but they also radiate kindness and empathy. And though our work environment is immensely productive, it also includes so much joy and laughter. There are high expectations but also tons of encouragement and support to help us achieve our goals and celebrate our successes. I adore my coworkers in the S.I.P.E. unit, and have also built wonderful relationships with people from every corner of OCDE. Feel very lucky!
What is your proudest moment at OCDE and why?
I am not sure that I have one proud moment, but I experience proud moments at OCDE many times a year – every time I talk with alumni from our Academic Decathlon program who are gushing about the positive impact it made in their lives and when I see our Orange County students beaming on stage at the state competition as they are receiving their awards. I love hearing from and seeing students be successful. It makes my heart happy and helps me know my job is making an impact on our future citizens and leaders. Sometimes I even get teary watching our little 6th graders leap up and run forward to receive a medal for pentathlon. The sense of accomplishment students feel when they have worked hard and are being rewarded is so satisfying. I also feel immensely proud every fall at the end of our Orange County Teachers of the Year (TOTY) banquet at the Disneyland Hotel. The overall TOTY program is a huge project — from the application process to the banquet itself — and a big team of people make it all happen. So seeing it finish successfully every year makes me feel very proud to be a part of it.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love spending time with family and friends, going to the movies, going for walks in beautiful environments, traveling with my husband, photography, lettering and calligraphy.
What others are saying about Kristin: “A conversation with Kristin Rigby is all it takes to grasp why she’s deserving of this spotlight. Kristin’s passion for fostering pathways to college and career readiness for students resonates deeply in her involvement with key initiatives such as the Orange County Academic Decathlon and the Orange County Spelling Bee. Her enthusiasm is infectious. Kristin’s impact extends beyond student-focused programs; she’s a driving force behind the department’s prestigious Teachers of the Year program. This initiative celebrates outstanding educators across the county.”
Want to give recognition to a colleague who embodies OCDE’s mission, vision and values? It only takes a minute or two to nominate them for our Employee Spotlight, where we celebrate the unique and exceptional contributions of staff who go above and beyond in supporting schools, students, programs and families. Profiles will be featured on What’s News and on social media.