Teacher/Coach retires after 19 years

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

At the close of the 2022-2023 school year, long-term teacher and head coach, Daryl Adams hung up his teaching career, retiring from his position at Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA). While Adams has enjoyed a 19-year long career at ACA, he spent the previous six years in other teaching positions for other schools, making for a total teaching vocation of 25 years.
During his time at Aucilla, Adams worked in a variety of positions, including Secondary Bible Teacher, Varsity Head Coach over baseball and basketball, JV Head Coach over football, and even filling in as needed as a History or Math teacher over the years.
Adams says he has enjoyed his time working at Aucilla, and describes the environment there to be “like a family.”
“I had a wonderful experience working there,” stated Adams. “It really is like being part of a big family. I grew to be a part of the family there with the students and fellow teachers. I especially enjoyed working with Principal Richard Finlayson, and I thank him for all his help in my growth in the Lord. As far as the school itself goes, I wouldn't have wanted my son in any other place.”
This May, Adam's son graduated his senior year, ending a 19-year long schooling experience. With this monumental milestone at its completion, Adams felt it would be a good segway into moving on from teaching and into exploring other passions in his life.
Among these passions, Adams looks forward to increasing his involvement in his church. He currently serves as Pastor at Central Baptist Church, a role he has served in for the last 15 years. Upon his retirement, Pastor Adams looks forward to being available at all times for church needs, and plans to extend community outreach efforts and mission trips. One of the community outreach programs he hopes to strengthen is the Central Baptist Church's disaster relief program, where members of the church can help out areas who have been impacted by tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters to provide resources and assistance as needed.
In addition to the disaster relief, Adams enjoys working with kids at the Lighthouse Children's Home in Tallahassee. This summer, he led a girls basketball camp, and now that he is retired from teaching, looks forward to increasing his outreach for the children.
While a long career in academics is behind him, Adams is well on his way to building up his congregation, reaching out in his community and going out to serve wherever God leads him.