Warden teacher retires after 30 years

Randy Wiggins plans to fight fires full time

WARDEN — Randy Wiggins said he can remember just three days in his 30 years at Warden High School that felt like work.

Wiggins, 52, is retiring from the district at the end of the school year. The volunteer firefighter of 28 years started teaching agriculture for the district in 1977. He teaches shop classes, animal science, plant science and soil science and is the school's FFA advisor in addition to coaching football.

He currently teaches math to students as they prepare to take the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

After retirement, Wiggins plans to apply for an upcoming opening for fire chief at Grant County Fire District No. 4 to pursue his second love of fighting fires.

"As my wife likes to say, 'It's not retirement — it's a career change,'" he said.

District Superintendent Sandra Sheldon said Wiggins taught children, and years later, the children's children.

"He's just done an amazing job here," Sheldon said.

Warden High School Principal Leonard Lusk said the school is going to be different without Wiggins as a teacher. When Lusk joined the district in 2000, he learned by coincidence Wiggins fought fires with Lusk's daughter over the summer. Wiggins remembered his daughter's name.

"It doesn't seem like there's anybody he doesn't know in this state and remember," Lusk said.

As a professional livestock judge and breeder, Wiggins made a tremendous push for raising quality pigs in Warden, he said.

Wiggins said he does not currently own any pigs, but after retirement he is going to raise pigs as a hobby and for food. He is a contracted livestock judge. The skill of judging he learned through the FFA in high school and college.

"I've probably done 35 different shows in this state alone," he said.

In addition, he works for the Washington State Crop Improvement Association inspecting seed fields.

Lusk said he plans to wait for a decision from the state regarding the construction of a technical skills center in Grant County before deciding how to proceed with Wiggins' vacant position. Lusk hopes the state can be enticed to build a satellite location in Warden.

Wiggins said he enjoyed his time working for the district.

"I think the best part is my job allows me to really work one on one with the kids," he said.