Q & A with Larry Bird: Third-generation educator
18.05.12
Larry Bird was born in Apple Valley at St. Mary Medical Center and went to Apple Valley schools through fourth grade. His parents and grandfather were teachers — dad Larry Bird taught at Hesperia Junior High, mom at Del Rey Elementary, grandfather Larry Bird at Victor Valley High School. His grandfather was also a pastor at the little church on C Avenue and Main Street.
The family moved to Michigan, where his dad had his first head basketball coaching job in Adrian, Mich. after assisting Coach Ollie Butler at Victor Valley High School for five years.
The family finally ended up in Ridgecrest where he went to junior high and high school, graduating from Burroughs High. Bird attended Point Loma Nazarene University and became a teacher at Juniper Elementary 25 years ago. He had a chance to be on the staff that started Ranchero Middle School under Mike Smith. Bird became a principal at Mesa Grande Elementary School in 1994, moved to be principal at Ranchero in 2000, became director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in 2005, and principal of Sultana High School in 2010.
Source: Hesperia Star