I Love My Community: Darice Elmore
Photo by Aaron Sass
Darice Robin Elmore of Elk Grove, California, vice principal at Morada Middle School, sat down with HERLIFE Magazine recently to share her heart for our community.
HLM: Tell us about your role at Morada Middle School.
DRE: At Morada, I assist the principal in a number of duties including but not limited to creating a positive school climate, teacher evaluations, discipline, meeting with students, parents, teachers and community members, creating goals academically and socially for all students.
HLM: What do you love about working with students?
DRE: I absolutely love building relationships with students. I think building relationships is extremely important because then and only then will students, especially at this age, trust you and this is how you will get them to learn. Our goal is to cultivate students’ academic and social emotional growth so that they can be ready for the next level, which is high school, and we have only two years to do that!
HLM: How long have you lived here, and what do you love most about it?
DRE: I was born and raised in San Francisco and lived my entire life in the San Francisco Bay area until 2019. In 2019, my husband, two children and I relocated to Elk Grove. As you know, I work in Stockton. What I like about the area is how genuine the community is. They can tell if you are not real and they will tell you. With this, you know you will get the truth.
HLM: Where is your heart inspired to serve the community?
DRE: I love this community. I feel like I’ve lived it! My heart is always inspired by the people who make up this community because they are genuine. I can deal with that.
HLM: What sparks joy in your life?
DRE: This is a great question because I can think of so many! Watching my own children, daughter Alayna, 22, son, James, 16, grow to become productive citizens, sparks joy in my life. Also, family because we are so close knit and hold so many memories. Work wise, working to be a small part of my students’ lives at Morada sparks joy in me because they are indeed our future and their future is bright.
HLM: Outside of work, how is your time best spent?
DRE: My best time is spent focusing on my family and making sure I take care of myself as I grow older. I recently lost my only sibling, my only sister, in November from kidney failure. It crushed me and I’m dealing with it, but before her passing, she told me to make a promise to myself to take care of me and that’s what I like to spend time doing. I strive to exercise regularly, eat nutritious foods and get plenty of rest.
HLM: What are the top three goals on your bucket list?
DRE: Be the leader of a school where kids love to come because when this is accomplished, learning happens freely; run a business in the community that helps foster positive habits in children that will benefit their future; visit Sweden, Switzerland and Africa.
HLM: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
DRE: Being able to reach my goals. Growing up in the San Francisco Hunters Point area had some challenges. We did not have a lot of money, but we were rich with blessings like family bonds, a wonderful childhood and spiritual faith. I was able to go to college at 17 and now I have two degrees and two credentials and I can be a role model for my children and for other children. That is my biggest accomplishment and I am proud of that.
HLM: What is your favorite quote?
DRE: I’m a religious person and it plays an important role in my life. My whole family grew up that way so I would have to say it is Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
HLM: What’s your favorite food and dessert?
DRE: Oh my gosh, I live for cheeseburgers and fries! I also love cinnamon rolls; those are my absolute fave!
