Skelton returns to teaching, coaching in Rangely District

RANGELY — Talk about coming full circle, and in a short amount of time.
Mark Skelton is back teaching and coaching with the Rangely School District after having left last spring.
“I made a complete loop,” said Skelton, who left the school district to become athletic director at Colorado Northwestern Community College. “It’s just been kind of a circle.”
Soon after the school year started, Skelton left CNCC in October saying “it just didn’t work out.” He took a job as an oilfield pumper with EnCana. But that only lasted a few weeks.
“About two weeks into (the EnCana job), I got contacted by the school district saying the person who took my job (at the middle school) was quitting,” Skelton said.
So, he decided to return to his first love — teaching. He also coaches the Rangely High School boys’ basketball team.
“I started the woodworking program. There was not one there when I came 25 years ago,” Skelton said. “I brought that thing to life. I didn’t want to see it go by the wayside, and it’s hard to find people who teach woodworking anymore.”
Skelton said he was glad to be back in the classroom.
“I’m enjoying it,” he said. “I’m back at the school, where the good Lord wants me to be.”