A friend of public education who served as the legal counsel to ATA disciplinary panels for nearly 30 years has died.
Richard Rand provided legal service to the ATA from 1995 to 2022, providing advice at hearings of the ATA’s professional conduct committees, supporting the orientation and ongoing learning for members of these committees, and advising staff on practice and procedural matters.
In 2022, Rand wrote in defense of the teacher discipline procedures that had been in place for decades and were being removed from the ATA’s purview. In 2023, he was awarded honorary ATA membership at the Annual Representative Assembly.
Rand died in late February after a long battle with prostate cancer.
“Richard was a great friend of public education, the Association and of teachers,” said ATA executive secretary Dennis Theobald. “He was a vocal supporter of our work, in all forums.” ❚
