Riverside's Finest

WORDS: ELIZABETH SCHWARTZE PHOTO: ZACH CORDNER

Riverside may be a large city, but the citizens that are dedicated to making a difference in their city are having a bigger impact on the world by simply effecting change in their own community. Delena Wall is Riverside Unified School District’s 2022 Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She received the award because of her dedication to Liberty Elementary—her alma mater. As a Kindergarten teacher, it’s her dedication, love, service, and gratitude that earned her the prestigious award. By making a difference at her own school—it’s made all the difference in the world. Delena’s family migrated to Riverside as orange pickers and settled in the Casa Blanca neighborhood. As a native Riversider, Delena attended Liberty Elementary, Chemawa Middle School, and Arlington High School. Education wasn’t highly regarded in her family—hard work was. Delena began working at Stater Brothers at a young age, but all the hard work was taking a toll on her body. She enrolled at Riverside Community College, and it took her six years to figure out the next step. While enrolled in a Child Psychology course, she volunteered in an elementary school. While there, she immediately felt that teaching could be the rewarding career path she was seeking. In 2010, she graduated from California State University, San Bernardino with a degree in Liberal Studies. When Delena received her teaching credentials, there was a hiring freeze. The first job that opened up was in her old sixth grade classroom at Liberty Elementary. For the last nine years, Delena has dedicated her life to the students at Liberty. Liberty Elementary is part of her history, and her present—Delana knows she’s in a position to help the future. “Right now, the world can feel so cold and harsh, we (teachers) want to combat that and demonstrate love, and that love is at our school,” Delena emphasized. She has immersed herself into the Liberty Community, and loves her Liberty family. Her own children attend Liberty Elementary, and they arrive at school each day to be part of their school family.

Since Delena began working at Liberty, she’s started new traditions, and revived old ones. The sixth grade song is taught to each sixth grader. At high school graduation, previous Liberty students do the “Senior Walk” as Liberty Elementary Alumni. This past year, the seniors that attended the Senior Walk sang the sixth grade song in unison with the current sixth grade. Delena began the Red Carpet Arrival on the first day of school six years ago. On the first day of school, kids walk a red carpet to the school entrance while being applauded by their teachers with chants of “we missed you” and “welcome back.” When there was an accident near the school, Delena created a “Slow Down, We Live Here” sign painting party to create awareness, and get drivers to slow down near schools. Focusing on the part of the world she can change for the better, the accolades from her award as RUSD’s Elementary “Teacher of the Year” include, “What sets Wall apart as an educator is her relentless drive to advocate for ALL children and to help them realize their self worth, and their limitless abilities. In addition to her commitment to student learning and emotional well being, Wall is determined in her dedication towards seeking to assist any student in need of food, clothing, and any resource available to make their experience as positive as possible. She consistently leads in all directions as she collaborates with all colleagues, students, and community members towards making Liberty Elementary the best place for students.” Delena, and her husband of twenty-two years Richard, are proud Riversider’s. For future Riverside leaders, Delena stated, “I’m in the position I’m in now because I made a lot of mistakes,” she explained. “Becoming a leader doesn’t require the perfect person. No matter who you are—you can do anything you put your heart to.” Taking that sentiment to the classroom for all children to learn that no matter who they are—they can be a leader and make a difference is what sets Delena Wall apart, making her one of Riverside’s Finest.