Rea school’s namesake was a devoted educator

Elia Powers

A sign of true dedication: Everett Rea began his teaching career

before he finished his own academic career.

He taught in small schools in Iowa and Ohio before going to

Columbia University, where he received his teaching credentials.

Rea was born in a small Iowa town and married a childhood friend,

Regina, in 1922. They moved to Los Angeles in 1927, and Everett Rea

eventually found a job teaching at Huntington Beach High School.

“He was a very good teacher,” said Everett Brace, a 1935 Newport

Harbor High School graduate who also knew Rea as an administrator.

“You had to meet his high standards.”

In 1930, Rea was elected to be the first vice principal at Newport

Harbor High School. When he arrived at the school, there was no

cafeteria and many of the classrooms were unfinished.

He spent 12 years as vice principal and taught science classes as

well.

Rea wasted no time getting involved in the community, becoming

president of the local Lions Club and volunteering at numerous local

establishments.

In 1942, Rea became superintendent of the Costa Mesa Elementary

School District, which had three schools and approximately 750

students, according to the Costa Mesa Historical Society.

One of Rea’s first priorities was to close a school, comprised

entirely of Latino students, and integrate the students into the

Costa Mesa elementary school system.

Rea was an advocate of higher teacher pay and prided himself on

his fundraising skills. But he often struggled to find teachers

during World War II, and he regularly filled in for absent teachers.

He filled in at almost any position, even driving the school bus

when the schools were short staffed.

“He was very versatile,” Brace said. “He could do just about

everything.”

Rea said in interviews that the 15 years he spent as

superintendent were the happiest of his life.

When he retired from the position in 1957, the school board held

numerous receptions in his honor and named an elementary school after

him.

After retirement, Rea served four years on the Costa Mesa City

Council, from 1958 to 1962, helping the city acquire key pieces of

land.

Rea was a man who enjoyed traveling. He and his wife went around

the world by boat and later drove through Europe.

A father of four and a grandfather of 13, Rea died in 1977 at age

82.

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