By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
Karen Rippa, her husband James, and their four sons relocated to NW St. Johns County from western Massachusetts four years ago. “You could say we are a ‘post-COVID’ family,” she said. The Rippa family was very interested in living in a warmer climate near the ocean in a good school district, and also escaping the snow. Karen Rippa teaches fifth grade at Julington Creek Elementary School and James is a chiropractor who owns two practices in the area. Their sons, aged 11 through 17, span all three school levels and are very active in youth sports. They share their home with Goldendoodle Lola, whom they adopted in the middle of COVID lockdown “because we were tired of staring at each other,” according to Karen. The family has acclimated easily to the hometown feel of the area and is also very active in the Church of Eleven22.
Q: Did you always want to be a teacher?
A: I had always played school when I was little, but in first grade I had an amazing male teacher who was dynamic for the ‘80s. He would do cool things like print polaroids and hang them up in the classroom. We corresponded until I was through high school and he was proud that I was going to be a teacher. I know I was put on this planet to be a teacher and I always felt bad for those who struggled with what they wanted to do.
Q: How did you meet your husband, James?
A: We met through mutual friends and started dating our senior year of college at Elon University in North Carolina. He graduated with a degree in physiology and sports medicine and knew he wanted to do something in wellness. After I graduated with my teaching degree and moved back to Massachusetts to teach, he went to the University of Bridgeport (Connecticut) College of Chiropractic to begin a four-year program. He commuted to see me on the weekends and when he was able to relocate to Massachusetts to do his clinicals his fourth year, we were able to get married. I also earned a master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts during this time.
Q: What is your favorite part about being a teacher?
A: It’s always the kids … their resilience, and they are so excited to see you every day. They notice everything and know I work hard. They can tell if I’m having a bad day and they give me hugs. I love working at Julington Creek Elementary. It’s the quintessential neighborhood school. All the teachers are extremely dedicated and the PTO goes above and beyond.
Q: How did COVID and the lockdowns change you?
A: I remember complaining about my busy life and then COVID hit and we didn’t have anything to do … soon, all those things that felt like chores, I was grateful for. When everything halted, I had time to think and I realized I missed those things. It was an attitude adjustment; now I’m just grateful for all the opportunities we have.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: We have four kids, so there is always something going on. Rocco is a senior at Creekside and plays football; Marco is a sophomore at Creekside and plays basketball; Nicolas is in eighth grade at Fruit Cove and plays football and basketball; and Matteo is in fifth grade at JCE and plays basketball for a club team.
I like to run, “Uber” the kids around and make dinner. We always have family dinner, even if it has to be late due to sports. James has always coached our kids and presently coaches Fruit Cove Middle School football and for the 904 Elite Basketball Club.
Photo courtesy Karen Rippa
The Rippa Family.
