Arturo “AJ” Derryberry: 1st & 2nd Grade Teacher’s Aide
Arturo “AJ” Derryberry was born and raised in Texas. In 2001, upon graduation from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. AJ would serve for 20 years in the Marine Corps, deploying eight times to regions around the world, including the Middle East, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Horn of Africa, and Pacific. Early in his career, he was trained as a formal school instructor and curriculum developer to educate new Marines in their occupational specialties. AJ was privileged to serve as a leader, mentor, and educator of Marines at each level of command, culminating with command of a detachment of 500+ Marines.
AJ retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2022 and soon became involved in his daughter’s school, Oceanside Adventist Elementary (OAE) in Oceanside, California. As an OAE volunteer, AJ served as a hot lunch cook, traffic monitor, guest speaker, and chaperone for his daughter’s 1st/2nd grade class. In 2024, upon his arrival to Fredericksburg, Virginia, AJ again became involved in his daughter’s school, Tree of Life Christian (TLC) Preparatory School. As a TLC volunteer, AJ served as a chaperone for his daughter’s 3rd/4th grade class. In 2025, AJ was hired to serve as a Teacher Aide at TLC, where he now teaches 1st/2nd grade language arts and K-4th grade physical education.