Education
Richie has served many years on committees and organizations concerned with education. He presently serves on the education committee of the Charleston Area Alliance. In the past he has participated actively in county excess levy elections, often being the only elected official in the county to do so. When his son was a parochial school student he served on the school board. His wife, Vicky, is a reading specialist at Sissonville High School.
The federal government has an important role to play in education of assuring all schools meet or are making efforts to meet certain standards. At the same time there should be maximum flexibility at the local level in education.
Richie is concerned about the excessive amount of testing in schools as well as the validity of testing for all students. "If one size does not fit all; then why are we placing so much emphasis on standardized tests?"
There needs to be more emphasis on school discipline, teaching of the arts, greater civic education, and foreign language emphasis for an expanding world. True physical education for all students, not just athletes, would be a key component of Richie’s healthcare goals.
Teachers should have greater flexibility and independence in their classrooms. Richie supports greater pay for teachers. He feels tangible criteria such as degrees in their discipline should also be used for assessing merit pay.