New faces in Meeker RE-1 district

MEEKER I There are several new faces this year in the three schools in Meeker. Beginning at the top, the high school has a new principal, Jeremy Voytka. He said “We are off to a great start this year, students are engaged, teachers excited, and I am excited to be here.”
Voytka grew up on the Front Range of Colorado and was graduated from Colorado State University. He acquired his master’s degree from Western State College and has been teaching in Telluride for the past six years. This is his first administrative position, and he said, “I will take the lessons from 10 years of successful teaching and use them to lead a school.” He and his wife recently welcomed their firstborn, Victoria, Aug. 2. Voytka said, “We love it here and we were looking for a small town to raise our family in.”
Voytka is not the only new addition to the high school staff, art teacher Nathan Dick is starting his first year here, as well as Trudy Burri, who began working as an aide this year. She previously worked for the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District to facilitate their youth programs. Jenn Beck will split her time between the elementary school and high school serving as an aide for both. Janet Olson and Jennifer Pokkrus are two new Title I and classroom aides joining the education team. Maureen Gantt is the new first grade teacher, she previously taught kindergarten and fourth grade for the Douglas County School District.
“This is a great place to raise our children,” she said. Gantt and her husband have two kids, Samantha and Bryce. “Everyone has been so kind and welcoming,” she added. Danielle Feola has filled the fifth grade position. Cathy Smith is back with BOCES, once again as a speech therapist. She has been an outstanding member of the team in the past and they are certainly glad to have her back. Patricia Keeler and Teresa Schott are the new school psychologist and BOCES director, respectively. They both are confidently jumping in as the school year is now underway and their time is in high demand. Students, teachers and staff are rejuvenated from the summer and enjoying their new school, new faces and a new start.