Chaffey College Hall of Fame Video

Rufus Thompson is the founder of The Pocket Advocate LLC, which publishes “The Pocket Advocate,” a communication tool for families and educators, and LivingtoRelax.com, an online store. Before transitioning into entrepreneurship, Rufus spent over 42 years in Education, serving as a middle school teacher, college professor, and a school district’s Technology Coordinator. After retiring as an educator from K-12 schools and higher education, he became a “Customer Success Manager” at Illuminate Education, an Ed-tech company.

With extensive experience in teacher training and consulting, Rufus has empowered many educators and collaborated with multiple school district leaders. He has presented at local, national, and international conferences hosted by organizations such as the New Teacher Center, Illuminate User’s Conference, Tech Ed, the National School Boards Association, the California League of Middle Schools, the California Educational Technology Professionals Association, and the National Middle School Association. Additionally, Rufus has been a speaker at California State Universities San Bernardino, Pomona, and Los Angeles. He continues to work on using technology to enhance education for students, teachers, and administrators.

Rufus and his wife, Dr. Gail L. Thompson, have been featured in “Psychology Today” for their work on implementing Common Core State Standards into schools. They co-authored the book Yes, You Can! Advice for Teachers Who Want a Great Start and a Great Finish With Their Students of Color.

Rufus also has an athletic background as a former coach and Minor League Baseball player with the Minnesota Twins. He played college baseball at Chaffey College and Cal Poly Pomona, where he was recognized on Cal Poly’s Wall of Fame and inducted into Chaffey College’s Hall of Fame. In addition to his professional and academic pursuits, Rufus is an FAA-certified private pilot who enjoys flying.