Carrying on a prestigious legacy

<p>Replacing legendary Academic Decathlon coach Rick Pillsbury might seem to be an unwelcome, intimidating job, but his successor at Casa Grande High School says the transition is going very smoothly as the school competes in this year's regional competition.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>“Rick has been working with me a quite a bit, and he is very gracious,” said Donna Reed, the new coach. “He is covering math and economics for me this year, areas in which he is particularly strong, but slowly but surely, he's letting go of the baton.</p><p>“It hasn't been intimidating for me. Rick is a wonderful person to work with, and I'm learning a lot from him.”</p><p>Pillsbury announced in March that he was stepping down after 25 years of coaching in which he helped the Casa Grande team win eight state championships. Last year's team, one of his most successful, finished fourth in competition with all the other top schools in the state, and one member, Joey McMahan, placed third in the overall individual competition.</p><p>Reed, who has taught biology and chemistry at Casa Grande for the past two years, expressed interest in the job, and was hired by Principal Linda Scheele.</p><p>“I didn't know what Academic Decathlon was until I began teaching at Casa Grande,” Reed said.</p><p>Reed, who also serves on the school's staff development committee, clearly is the right person for the job, Scheele said.</p><p>“Actually, it wasn't a difficult choice to make: I knew that she would be a great fit,” Scheele said. “Donna is an incredible teacher, and has been very involved with our students. She's very enthusiastic, and brings a lot to our staff.”</p><p>Scheele emphasizes that this is not merely a rebuilding year.</p><p>“Every team needs to rebuild from time to time, but we're looking forward to a great year for Academic Decathlon,” she said.</p><p>Reed began conversing with Pillsbury about the program last year, and realized that it could be a good fit, given her experience teaching a variety of classes and her interest in interdisciplinary studies.</p><p>Reed, along with her Academic Decathlon students, received materials for the 2010 competition in June, and studied them during the summer. Each year, a topic is chosen for the competition, and this year it is the French Revolution.</p><p>“I did a lot of reading, but I enjoy all the material I've been going through, and I always want to learn more,” she said.</p><p>Once the school year began, Reed followed Pillsbury's schedule of coaching the students in a class every Monday night.</p><p>The class consists of 24 students, and Casa Grande is fielding two teams in the North Bay Region Academic Decathlon, which began last Saturday at Solano Community College in Fairfield and concludes on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Rodriguez High School Gymnasium. High school teams from Sonoma, Marin, Menodocino, Napa, Solano and Yolo counties compete in the event.</p><p>Each team consists of three students in three different categories: honor (grade-point average 3.75 to 4.00), scholastic (3.00 to 3.74) and varsity (below 3.00).</p><p>Competition consists of tests in art, music, language and literature, math, economics, science and social science, as well as an interview, essay writing and delivery of a prepared and an impromptu speech. The event ends with a Super Quiz Team Relay on Saturday.</p><p>Last year, Casa Grande's top team won the regional competition, followed by a team from Vanden High School in Solano County and the Gauchos' second team. Vanden has been Casa Grande's main rival in regional competition during the past several years.</p><p>“I have my own philosophy of the competition, and try to instill it in students,” Reed said. “It's similar to the approach Rick had: Our program is not all about winning. We really focus more on the learning goals team members set for themselves.”</p><p>“We have talked a lot about this,” Pillsbury added. “The program is for the kids, and our main goal is to help them progress.”</p><p>Reed is finding that students are adapting well to the coaching change.</p><p>“They have been very receptive, and know that both Rick and I hold them to a high standard,” she said.</p><p>Pillsbury says that he is facing his own transitional issues.</p><p>“This has been a learning curve for me, too,” he said. “A couple of times, I've had to step back, and not say too much, but that's been very good for me.</p><p>“The philosophy and inspiration has to come from Donna now. She has a great philosophy, and has been doing a wonderful job.”</p><p>Vanessa On, 17, one of four members returning from last year's team, says that initially, she wasn't sure how the transition would go.</p><p>“At the beginning of the year, we were questioning what it would be like, but it isn't as different as we thought it might be. Mr. Pillsbury still is here most of the time, and Ms. Reed is a great coach,” said On, a senior.</p><p>Zachary Baker, 17, another returning member from the 2009 team, also feels the transition has been going smoothly.</p><p>“It hasn't been all that dramatic,” he said. “Mr. Pillsbury still is helping out, and Ms. Reed is very enthusiastic about the program. We all really like her.”</p><p>Pillsbury says he might continue to help coach the team next year, but that after that, Reed might need to find another helper.</p><p>Reed, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, received a bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry, as well as a teaching credential, from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. She then taught middle school for two years in Anoka, Minn., just north of Minneapolis, and relocated with her husband to Northern California two years ago when he found a job here.</p><p>“I miss the snow, but I'm adjusting to this area,” Reed said. “It's beautiful here, and my husband enjoys hiking and other activities: Our hiking season has been extended.”</p><p>She also finds that her Academic Decathlon coaching has a side benefit.</p><p>“I have an advantage now when I play Trivial Pursuit,” she said, laughing.</p><p>(Contact Dan Johnson at dan.johnson@arguscourier.com)</p>