Humans of Head Royce – Rhonda Gipson

Sixteen years ago, our school community became safer when a crucial member was hired: Rhonda Gipson. Everyone in the school knows Rhonda, or Ms. Rhonda, as she is affectionately called. In case you can’t put a face to the name, I’ll give you some hints:  She has a contagious smile, she’ll help you cross Lincoln Avenue, and you might see her walking daily security loops. Either way, she is more than just her title as the Security Advisor. 

Rhonda arrives at campus around 7:30 am to prepare for the day’s visitors, which includes setting up the traffic cones that allow students to safely cross the street. Many of us depend on her welcoming voice to start our days, wishing the traffic lights were longer so we could continue our conversations. Well acquainted with almost all students, Rhonda notices when her usual cross walkers have yet to arrive, or don’t even show up. When you return to school the next day, she’ll ask “where were you? And I missed you the other day” Even on the brisk foggy mornings or stormy days, she turns Lincoln Avenue into a warm and safe place. 

After waiting for those of us with a propensity for tardies to come running down Lincoln Avenue, Rhonda continues her day by doing security loops on campus. These loops extend from the back gate, to the F lot gate, down Lincoln, and even to the Greek lot. While that is a lot of walking, Rhonda embraces it. “It clears my head,” she reflects when asked about her daily routine. “I prefer slightly misty days because it is peaceful,” Rhonda continues. When asked about her favorite part of the walk, she talks about the view driving up to exit the F lot. We both agree that the view of Oakland and the water is almost unmatched from that vantage point. 

Born and raised in Oakland, she has witnessed drastic changes over the years. But one thing has stayed consistent– her love for learning. When she was in high school, she even attended summer school for fun. Rhonda loved art and drama, but her favorite subject was math. If you attended high school with her, you could’ve found her in the Arts and Crafts room, probably painting or deeply immersed in her next drama performance. 

Rhonda and her team not only keep us safe crossing the street, but they  help to keep our stuff safe too – even when we accidentally leave the keys in our cars with our backpacks, jackets, and lucky lacrosse sticks. She has even helped the police arrest a house bugler 10 years ago because she was able to identify them, as she cautiously kept her distance on one of her daily loops. 

Rhonda is the School’s very own Superhero – not only keeping us safe, but also keeping our hearts safe. No wonder kids say, “We love her. Everytime we see her we smile,” and “Ms. Rhonda keeps me safe! I look for her on campus just to say hi!” Upperclassmen have said they miss Rhonda and continued by saying, “I miss crossing Lincoln in the morning instead of parking in the F lot.”

One of her favorite things about working on campus is watching all the kids enjoy themselves. One of her absolute favorite memories is the old “All School Fairs” when everyone dressed in costumes. “The homemade ones were always the best, especially the fridge with pressable buttons!”

When she is not on campus with her cape (or parka when it is quite frigid), she is with her three grandchildren. She likes to see them as much as possible, especially because they are teenagers and growing up so fast. One of her favorite hobbies is watching plays. As Rhonda told me, the School is her extended family and, as shown, she will do anything to keep the ones she loves safe.