Over the past few weeks, Cypress Ranch High School has mourned the loss of one of its most beloved teachers, Mr. Alan Richards, a geometry teacher, mentor and friend whose kindness and energy shaped countless lives within the school community. Known for his booming voice at the end of morning announcements and his heartfelt catchphrases in class, Mr. Richards was more than just an educator; he was the spirit of the Mustang family.

The hallways feel quieter now. The classroom where laughter once filled the air sits still, the whiteboard faintly marked with his last set of equations. Yet, even in the silence, there’s a warmth, a lingering memory of the man who made every student believe that learning could be joyful.

For many students and teachers, Mr. Richards’ presence was one of warmth and positivity. His colleagues describe him not only as a leader in the math department but also as a loyal friend and an irreplaceable part of the school’s heart.

“He was for sure a team leader,” said Mr. Stephen Thi, a fellow geometry and college algebra teacher. “He was a coworker, but more than that, he was a friend. I don’t know of many groups that are actually able to hang outside of school, but he, Mr. Miller, Mr. Lopez and I would hang out, do a little bit of pickleball from time to time or go get food or drinks. When you lose a coworker, it’s sad. But when you lose a friend, it hurts a lot more.”

Mr. Thi recalls how Mr. Richards’ passion for teaching inspired those around him, a passion that only seemed to grow stronger with time.

“He was very passionate about teaching,” Thi said. “It definitely rubbed off on all of us. When you’re in teaching for a while, you tend to kind of see some of the teachers that care and some of them don’t. And Mr. Richards, he hadn’t lost that. If anything, he was only growing stronger because he was trying to get his master’s, and he wanted to attain higher education, and I think he did that all because he really loved and enjoyed teaching.”

But Mr. Richards’ impact stretched far beyond the classroom. Every morning, his enthusiastic declaration, “It’s a great day to be a Mustang!” became a rallying cry for school pride. What started as a simple phrase turned into a daily reminder of unity and optimism.

“The phrase ‘It’s a great day to be a Mustang’ really didn’t mean much to me or to a lot of the students [at first], but it was something that every day he would scream out loud at the end of the announcements, and it did help promote a unity and a culture within the school,” Mr. Thi said. “That’s something that I think we need a little bit more.”

To his students, Mr. Richards was the kind of teacher who made math approachable, funny and human. His humor, patience and belief in every student left a mark that will last for years.

Freshman Abigail Cantwell remembered his warmth on the very first day of school.

“He said there were no stupid questions, and that he’d always be there to help,” Cantwell said. “That really stuck with me because I have trouble asking for help. He even had a ‘Good Question Board,’ and that made me feel seen.”

For freshman Parthenia Abdelmaseih, Mr. Richards’ classroom was a space filled with laughter and comfort.

“He always was cracking jokes,” Abdelmaseih said. “While it was corny, it really made the lessons we learnt feel less overwhelming. I respected him so much that I wanted to push myself to do better for him.”

Even older students who had him years ago remember his influence vividly. Junior Addison Owens described him as one of the most patient and inspiring teachers she’s ever met.

“He had the most gentle soul,” Owens said. “He made every day worth it. He never made anyone feel dumb, and he made you love math. Before his class, I had a neutral relationship with it. But he made me love math. I saw him as a role model. If I ever become a teacher, I want to be like him.”

She also reflected on his kindness and emotional steadiness.

“I’ve never seen him angry. He was so patient,” Owens said. “Anytime anyone asks a question, they leave the conversation feeling better about themselves rather than feeling put down or even more confused. That’s something I’ve tried to learn from.”

Beyond equations and geometry proofs, Mr. Richards taught lessons of kindness, confidence and compassion. His life reflected the belief that everyone is capable, that every question matters and that every student has their own kind of brilliance.

As Mr. Thi put it, Mr. Richards wore many hats: teacher, friend, father, chef and comedian, but what tied them all together was his love for people.

“He was just such an amazing person and had such a bright personality,” Mr. Thi said. “All the aspects of his life, the cooking, the jokes, the means, the passion for education, all of those things. I think those are all that’s every bit of Mr. Richards, and I think all those aspects need to be remembered.”

Now, when students walk past his classroom, they still hear him in spirit, the laughter, the corny jokes, the booming voice reminding them to take pride in who they are and where they learn.

Mr. Richards’ voice may no longer echo through the morning announcements, but his legacy remains, in every student who learned to love math, every teacher he inspired to care more deeply and every person who now hears that familiar phrase in their hearts:

It’s a great day to be a Mustang.

This story was originally published on The Mustang Messenger on November 18, 2025.