Mrs. Rikki Archibeque has always felt a calling to teach, a passion that runs in her family as both of her parents were teachers. She has had a deep love for history ever since she was little. She aims to have her students come up with ideas about how historical and present-day events affect our world. She describes herself as a “nerdy person”: she loves history books and documentaries. When Mrs. Archibeque was in school, she played volleyball and basketball and also ran track.
Across her career, Mrs. Archibeque has worked at several schools, including Blue Ridge High School, Estrella Foothills High School, and Canyon Day Jr. High School on the Apache reservation.
Archibeque said she chose Chandler High School because it consistently stood out as a great environment for teachers and students. After moving down to Phoenix for better opportunities for her son, she knew Chandler was the right fit: “A great place to work and a great place for kids.”
“When I had my interview here I just felt like it was a great place to be, I felt like it was a home to people, to teachers, and to students,” she explained.
Mrs. Archibeque describes her classes as engaged and hard-working. She loves to see her students grow from freshmen to whatever they become after high school. She makes connections with her students by learning their walk of life and understanding how events make the world evolve. She sees herself as a coach to guide her students to think about the world around them.
When she’s not working, Archibeque enjoys an active lifestyle with her family. She loves running, reading, and playing basketball with her husband and son, who plays on a travel basketball team. She also enjoys hiking, swimming, and visiting the library with her family: “Pretty much doing anything we can do to get outside and to hang out together.”
Archibeque’s music taste is very eclectic: from country music when she’s running to her family’s love of old-school rap and hip hop. She’s hardworking and compassionate towards others and has a passion for history. If she weren’t teaching, she says she could see herself working at a YMCA to work with kids and be in touch with the community.
Mrs. Archibeque’s advice to high school students is to discover what they love and pursue it: “Be who you are, because you are the only one. You’re the only you, and who you are matters.” She encourages students to embrace change, find supportive friends, and remember the importance of being true to themselves. Her goal for her students is to succeed in the course material and feel safe and supported in her class.
Mrs. Archibeque is thrilled to be a part of Chandler High School. She looks forward to making a positive impact on her students and the school community.
