20 Who Count: Brad and Rita Hubbard

By Kirsten Stokes

Through the years, the Hubbards have watched each other thrive through teaching and coaching.

Brad and Rita Hubbard have a combined 38 years of service working in the St. Joseph School District. The pair constantly strive to make a positive impact on the South Side.

“There can be a tendency to focus on the negative,” said Rita. “But we’ve always tried to present ourselves as positive role models to this community.”

Rita started her career in the district in 2003 at Bode Middle School and plans to finish out her teaching career at Spring Garden. Brad has been the Benton High School wrestling coach and a teacher since 2007.

Both shared positive remarks regarding one another, seeing how the other works to make a difference.

“Rita is loving, she loves everything, her job, her students and she cares so much about our family,” Brad said.

“Brad is driven and hardworking,” Rita said. “There isn’t anything that he will do halfway. You know he’s going to always give his best.”

Together they have raised their family in the South Side of St. Joseph, with their kids attending Hyde, Spring Garden and currently Benton.

“We’re always thinking about our decisions and what’s best for the kids,” Brad said.

Working in education for as long as the Hubbards have, some might ask “Why education and being a teacher?” For Brad, it’s simple and a bit humorous.

“I’ve had the same schedule since kindergarten, my family spends our summers together. When the kids are on break, we are on break.”