Denise Ricks is an Intervention Specialist at the Buchtel Community Learning Center.  She teaches students with multiple disabilities, in grades nine through twelve, with the Akron Public School District.  

Ms. Ricks attended The University of Akron and earned a Master of Science Degree in Education (2008) and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Special Education (2000).  While in high school, she volunteered at the Weaver School and Workshop and Barret Elementary School.  She also worked for eight years at the former Broadview Developmental Center and for United Disability Services.

Ms. Ricks has been an advocate and mentor for many of her students and their parents, as well as for her own daughter, Candace, who was born with Down Syndrome.  She loves teaching and learning from them.      

Ms. Ricks and her husband, Michael, also have a daughter, Sparkle, and a granddaughter, Saige.  Ms. Ricks loves writing poetry, watching football on Sunday and simply stopping to “smell the flowers” in her garden.

Learn more about the Board, explore additional bios.