Henrico's Top Teachers – Ricky Mallory, Pinchbeck Elementary School

For young Ricky Mallory, there was never any doubt about the career path he would eventually pursue. His father, Tom Mallory, was a physical education teacher and coach at Tuckahoe Middle School for 40 years.

"He was my hero growing up for a multitude of reasons," Mallory says of his dad (who was profiled in the Citizen’s 2013 Henrico’s Top Teachers edition). "I knew very early on in life that I wanted to be a teacher and a coach just like him."

Growing up, Mallory also had an inspiring P.E. teacher at Gayton E.S., Mr. Favale, who motivated his students with fun games and challenges.

"I still use many of his ideas when I teach," Mallory says, "even all these years later."

But while inspiring role models and innovative ideas played a part in shaping his skills as a teacher, Pinchbeck Elementary School students and parents say it is his energy, passion and positivity that make him stand out.

"Mr. Mallory embodies enthusiasm – and it is contagious," wrote a parent.

Prior to the pandemic, for instance, he encouraged families to kick off each month by meeting at the school track before school for "walk-at-school Wednesdays."

"He would have music pumping and prizes for all participants," said the parent. "The track would be packed. My kids and neighbors loved it so much, we would walk to school and then at school until the bell rang to start the school day."

To get his students active and engaged outside of school, Mallory urged them to participate in events like the Regency Mile – and showed up to cheer them on, even on a weekend. So many Pinchbeck students took part in the Regency Mile, in fact, that the school won the prize for highest participation.

Helping kids become fit and adopt physically active lifestyles is a central principle of Mallory's job, of course – but he believes his teaching role goes beyond the physical.

"Kids are wired nowadays to seek instant gratification. They have the whole world at their fingertips with the iPhone, iPads, and video game controllers," he maintains.

Too often, kids accustomed to immediate results tend to give up as soon as tasks grow difficult.

"When they don’t achieve instant success, they become discouraged and feel the urge to point fingers, quit or seek instant gratification elsewhere," Mallory says. "As an educator, it is my job to open their eyes to the fact that getting better at something requires you to make mistakes. Teaching a child to demonstrate toughness and resolve when they experience failure is far more impactful than any sports-related skill I could teach them."

As satisfying as it is to see his students grow and learn, Mallory says that is just one of many perks of teaching. Asked for examples of rewarding moments, he doesn't hesitate to tell a favorite story about "Success Week" at his first school, Dumbarton Elementary.

During a six-minute run, students received a popsicle stick for every lap they completed, and the grade levels competed to see who collected the most sticks. Mallory was concerned about a visually-impaired kindergartner he taught, who needed assistance to run.

"But before I could even ask, another little girl in class offered to hold her hand as they ran the track together," he recalls.

Hand-in-hand, the pair ran the entire six minutes non-stop – attracting the attention of students at recess, who surrounded them to cheer wildly as they completed their laps.

"I will never forget the smiles on their faces, just pure joy as their peers rooted them on," Mallory says. "What a great testament to the power of the human spirit, friendship, teamwork and compassion."

With the usual school gatherings and events curtailed by the pandemic, and the upheaval of shifting to virtual classes, the past year has brought a whole new set of unique challenges to the job, Mallory says.

"Teaching virtual P.E. has tested every creative bone in my body," he admits. "It’s like being a new teacher all over again, because we’ve all had to create brand new, original content without prior experiences to rely upon."

Pinchbeck families will tell you, however, that Mallory has risen to the challenge – and then some.

"Even during the pandemic, I knew my kids were having fun in P.E. because the floors in my house were shaking," a parent wrote. "He is a great motivator. He was able to get the kids to 'climb mountains' and run around the house to find items for a timed scavenger hunt, like a spoon, or jump over broom sticks. He suggests students do jumping jacks while watching commercials – and my kids do it!

"My kids still look forward to P.E., because his enthusiasm and love of exercise reaches through the screen.

"We are so lucky to have him at Pinchbeck."