Retiring Casa Grande counselor lauded

Darryl Yagi steps down after long, illustrious career

June 14, 2006

By DAN JOHNSON
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

He's been a fixture in the Casa Grande High School community for 27 years, professionally and sensitively guiding students and their families through many a challenging time, so people are having difficulty coming to terms with his retirement.

But counselor Darryl Yagi worked his final day on Friday, culminating a highly successful career that reached well beyond the walls of the school. He was honored at a retirement dinner May 25, and many coworkers and students still are raving about his accomplishments.

"I'll remember Darryl's extraordinary work ethic and enthusiastic joy for his job," said sophomore-class counselor Betty Purvis, who has worked alongside him for 20 years. "He always worked well beyond any requirement."

Yagi actually second-guessed his retirement plans this spring, particularly because of the outstanding character of the 2006 graduating class, which he counseled for four years.

"It's hard to give up something you enjoy doing," he said. "Counseling is my passion, but I had to let it go. I didn't think I could keep up my high standards during the next four years, and didn't want to have to leave due to health reasons as I get older."

But Yagi may not completely cut the cord with Casa Grande.

"I've told the school and our school district that I always will be available if they need a substitute," he said.

Yagi has several other options, including continuing his work as a licensed marriage and family therapist, writing education books, traveling and spending time with his wife, Twinkle.

He has served on many local, state and national boards and organizations, including terms as president of the California School Counselor Association and California Association for Counseling and Development. He also served as chairman of the College Board's Council on Access Services and the American School Counselor Association's Human Rights and Human Concerns Fund committees.

Yagi was born in Tule Lake, a Japanese relocation camp, and grew up in the Sacramento area. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1965 and went on to earn a master's degree in counseling psychology from California State University at Chico and a master's degree in special education from Sonoma State University.

He worked as a counselor at the elementary, junior high school, high school and junior college levels, and served in the counselor education program at Sonoma State University.

Yagi, the author of a book on school counseling published in Japanese, also has contributed to several other books on counseling and multicultural issues, and to a wide range of counseling and educational journals.

He has received numerous national and state awards, including the California School Counselor of the Year, national Secondary School Counselor of the Year and the California Department of Education's Outstanding High School Counselor award. In 2002, he was inducted into the Counseling Hall of Fame at Stanford University.

"When I began counseling, I had no expectations," Yagi said. "I had been taught counseling strategies and techniques, but they're very general. I tried to be open to new experiences, as well as honor the uniqueness of each individual and understand where he or she is coming from.

"But I'm just one person, who along with parents, teachers and peers, is trying to support students."

Yagi says that during his long career, the pattern of students' development hasn't changed much, but they constantly face new challenges.

"Kids are always kids, and go through the same transitional phases, but they've had to adapt to some things, such as higher standards and expectations," he said. "And technology has been changing, with computers, cell phones and iPods becoming popular.

"Students have grasped these things, although in some cases, they've become addicted to them, and they've taken over their whole lives."

He feels that students have begun to require more counseling due to our rapidly changing society, but has enjoyed the challenge.

"I've wanted to be there for students and their families, and tried to make a positive difference in their lives," he said. "I seem to have earned their respect, and they have enriched mine. I'm very grateful for my career in Petaluma."

(Contact Dan Johnson at djohnson@arguscourier.com)