Longtime teacher, trainer Dick Staiti retires from CHS

Canton High School science department chair Richard Staiti is retiring from not just one job, but two. In addition to his teaching position, Staiti has been the athletic trainer at the school for many years. He is a certified emergency medical technician (EMT), and many faculty members greet him as “Doc” when he walks down the halls.

'Doc' Staiti works his last CHS football game.

Staiti grew up in Canton and attended St. John’s School and Canton High School. He went on to attend Stonehill College, hoping to become a doctor, but his career path took an unexpected turn.

“When I was not able to enter medical school right away, I was asked to teach,” he said. Staiti had been substituting at the Galvin Middle School and was offered a full-time position.

He taught at GMS for two years before moving to the high school in 1975. “Teaching was and is a very rewarding career,” he said. “You can impact so many lives in a positive way. I love my job. It’s as simple as that.”

Stanley Masalsky, who was the athletic director at CHS at the time, was responsible for hiring Staiti as the school’s athletic trainer. Staiti has trained at Northeastern University, Mass. Maritime Academy, Braintree Hospital, and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

“It’s a different position,” he said. “It’s very fulfilling. You’re part of a team.”

Staiti continued as trainer and biology teacher until 2007, when he was promoted to department chair. He has taught anatomy and physiology for the last five years and has worked hard at both roles.

“I’m proud of being able to be involved in activities both inside and outside the classroom and maintain a high level of professionalism and enthusiasm,” he said.

He has also worked with students in yet another capacity — as Student Council advisor. “I’m very proud of that, too,” he said. “We have hosted three leadership conferences and sometimes had over 200 kids attending.”

He is especially proud that members of the council have helped with the annual Red Cross blood drive, freshman orientation, and parents’ night.

In his 39 years as an educator, Staiti has seen many changes. “You have students coming from different backgrounds and cultures,” he said. “You can’t approach every student in every class with the same lesson.”

Staiti and the members of the science department have worked to align their curriculum with the Massachusetts State Frameworks and to ensure consistently high scores on MCAS.

Staiti also served as a town selectman in the 1980s and has been a town meeting moderator since 1996. “I don’t need a lot of sleep,” he said with a laugh.

In 2002, he received the CHS “Man of the Year” award in recognition of his achievements in the classroom and in the community as town moderator. In 2007 he was inducted into the CHS Hall of Fame along with the members of the 1981 Super Bowl champion football team.

Staiti also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk Law School and plans to practice law during his retirement. He is the proud father of five — three of whom are CHS graduates — and grandfather of two.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on Jun 21 2012. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.