[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 103 (Thursday, June 16, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E633-E634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF RICHARD TARIFF

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2022

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Richard 
Tariff of Longmeadow, Massachusetts who is bringing a close to a long 
and impactful career as an educator who made a positive difference in 
the lives of thousands of middle school students, as well as adult 
students in eastern Connecticut. In a few short weeks, he is set to 
retire in August as Director of Adult and Community Programs at 
EASTCONN after more than four decades of specializing in the field of 
adult education. Today, however, he will participate in his final 
graduation ceremony at Parish Hill High School in Chaplin, Connecticut. 
This graduation like the dozens and dozens that preceded it, is the 
moment where all his hard work-done in tandem with his colleagues--
culminates in a successful degree for their students that will 
transform their lives for the better.
  A New England native, Rich began his journey in education teaching 
elementary and middle school students in Stafford Springs, which lit 
the fire of a life-time calling to elevate public schools' students to 
their highest potential. Understanding the intrinsic value of life-long 
education for students of all ages, Rich became a part-time director 
for Stafford Springs' Adult Education programs in 1979. As part-time 
director, he witnessed first-hand the lack of options for adults 
seeking certification outside of a high school diploma, which for him 
was a glaring opportunity for our district.
  Vision in hand, Rich became the Adult Education Director for Adult 
Basic Education for the 12-town Tolland County region a few short years 
later. Under his leadership, the regional program underwent monumental 
evolutions. By establishing and engaging with partnerships, Vernon 
Regional Adult Education not only witnessed major expansions in 
enrichment program participation but also the planning, creation, and 
implementation of the formalized Vernon Regional Adult High School. By 
upgrading and centralizing the educational resources available through 
the programs under his watch, Rich, in just a couple of years of tenure 
as Director, began what has become a permanent legacy in the region and 
has resulted in thousands of adults graduating to date.
  In 1984, Rich returned to youth education as the Assistant Principal 
at Vernon Center Middle School. He remained in this role for 16 years, 
where his value for and experience in administrating learning programs 
only continued to grow. He could not keep away from Vernon Regional 
Adult Education, however, and took on a new role as Regional Supervisor 
and Coordinator with the organization which he remained at for another 
eight years. Through both roles, Rich's expertise in grant writing and 
implementation helped maintain Vernon and the surrounding area's 
competitive edge in terms of better preparing our community for not 
just their future but the demands of a changing workforce. For example, 
at Vernon Center, he helped write a National 21st Century Grant request 
that had brought unprecedented grant funding to the district. 
Meanwhile, at Vernon Regional Adult Education, Rich expanded 
coordination with state partners to offer Work Place Education and both 
received and protected a grant for College Transition resources.
  Though Vernon Regional was foundational to his experience in Adult 
Education, Rich's history of pioneering in the field earned him his 
latest role as Director of Adult and Community Programs for EASTCONN, 
one of Connecticut's six public, non-profit Regional Educational 
Service Centers. At EASTCONN, Rich has been bestowed the rightfully 
placed privilege to manage adult education services for what is now a 
21-town region sprawling throughout northeastern Connecticut. The scope 
and size of EASTCONN's adult education programs were not achieved by 
mistake--it was Rich who helped charge the effectiveness of the 
organization. He understood that in districts comprised of smaller 
communities such as ours it does not just take a village, but rather 
several. With his guiding philosophy of centralizing resources in mind, 
Rich has brought about major achievements in terms of adequately 
preparing our district's

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workforce. Two of such achievements are the integration of adult 
programs with the two American Job Centers in northeastern Connecticut, 
and ensuring the strength of virtual educational adult and youth 
programs throughout the pandemic.
  Madam Speaker, I have known Rich as a friend and community leader for 
almost forty years. I have seen firsthand his intelligent empathetic 
and kind interaction with people from all walks of life. He is down-to-
earth and funny. Madame Speaker, it is an honor to represent 
constituents as community-oriented as Rich Tariff. A lifelong educator 
with a penchant for innovation, Rich has understood from an early age 
the opportunities that can arise for communities who hone their skills 
and keep themselves adaptable. As a reflection of his abilities, it is 
worth finally noting that Rich was the first President of the 
Connecticut Association for Adult and Continuing Education to serve for 
5 consecutive years from 2011 to 2016, leading advocacy efforts within 
and beyond Connecticut on behalf of adult learners. For decades, Rich 
has spurred job growth imparting the educational foundation necessary 
for any occupation and our state and region has benefitted in ways that 
most fellow citizens will never know. His shoes will be hard to fill. 
Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in 
recognizing and thanking Rich Tariff for his life's work, setting his 
legacy further into stone.

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