Meeker

Nomination letter for Dr. Bob Dorsett

Editor’s note: Following is a nomination letter for Dr. Bob Dorsett, written by student Jessica Mullins, with help from teachers Patricia Robinson and Kathleen Kelley. Dorsett, a math and science teacher at Meeker High School, was honored recently with a Jared Polis Foundation Teacher Recognition Award.

As a student at Meeker High School for the last four years, I have found Dr. Robert Dorsett to be the most humble, intelligent, informative and caring teacher I have had in my entire educational career. He lives, leads and teaches by example and this helps students in more ways than imaginable. Because Dr. Dorsett would never toot his own horn about any of his accomplishments, I feel as though someone should do it for him. He was graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1971 and later went on to medical school and graduated in 1975. After serving three years in Kenya through the Peace Corps, Dr. Dorsett moved to Meeker to work as a medical doctor at Pioneers Hospital. In 2001, he began his career as a math and science teacher at MHS.
In all of the classes Dr. Dorsett teaches, he gives his all and this certainly shines in his students. He believes firsthand work benefits the learning environment most and this is exactly what he has created in Meeker through his students. Just northwest of MHS’s campus, Dr. Dorsett has developed a research area for his biology students. During class time, he often leads his students to the great outdoors on a nature walk and teaches his students how to collect information about the biotic and abiotic features of this land. In this, Dr. Dorsett has not only collected useful information about Meeker’s soil, plants and animals, but he teaches his students how to assist in conservation acts in their own community and all over the world. In every single one of Dr. Dorsett’s classes, he stimulates his students with direct knowledge and examples, and refers to the textbooks when needed. It has always been clear that he knows the information he teaches us, and his passion in the subjects he teaches is what makes him a remarkable teacher.
Dr. Dorsett has gratefully made teaching his life, and in this he has created passion in many of his current and past students. To motivate desire in his students, he dedicates his energy, insights, knowledge and time. Dr. Dorsett offers help to students at any time, anywhere about any class.
Dr. Dorsett has sacrificed time and personal funds to organize four international trips to various areas through Ecology Project International in his years at MHS. This non-profit organization allows students to travel to three main locations including Mexico, Costa Rica and Galapagos. Each of these locations face serious ecological problems, and with the help of several marine biologists, students collect information about endangered species, which they analyze the data to first understand the problem and then contribute to finding solutions. Clearly, Dr. Dorsett could take these trips on his own, but he has a dream to use his knowledge and skills to improve our world through the youth. He has done exactly this; several of the students who have traveled with him have gone on to study biology or marine biology in college. Because going on these trips costs anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 per student, Dr. Dorsett has made it easier for students of all economic levels to go on these trips. Each time, he has assisted in raising the money to pay for at least half of each student’s costs, even if that meant the money came from his own pocket. This not only shows a caring community, but a respected and dedicated man.
Though I am a student, it is clear to me how easy Dr. Dorsett makes it to get along with him as a colleague. I have never had firsthand experience as a colleague with him, so for this portion of the nomination I asked the opinion of two other respectable teachers. They both told me “Dr. Dorsett is the reason I teach at Meeker High.” Though it is simple to see why these women would credit him of such a thing, I asked why. Ms. Patricia Robinson, a fellow teacher, informed me of his drive to make the teachers at MHS better than they already are by sharing immense amounts of research. “He thoughtfully presents his newly discovered information at staff meetings and all of the teachers take into consideration his findings and try to incorporate it into their lessons.” I believe that through his passion he inspires other teachers to continue improving their methods and this is exactly what education needs today. Mrs. Kathleen Kelley ended her interview with, “His enthusiasm inspires, questions, teaches. He mentors — and isn’t that the most important collaboration of all?” From the mouths of fellow colleagues, it can be made clear that Dr. Dorsett makes Meeker High School one of the elite high schools of America.
Dr. Dorsett works diligently to be the teacher every student needs, and the colleague every teacher desires. He is innovative in his teaching methods, the way he relates to students and his hands-on goals to give students the skills they need to make our world a better place. The time and effort Dr. Dorsett dedicates into being a teacher at Meeker High School can be reflected in his own words, “This is the hardest job I’ve ever had.” This to me describes a profound teacher.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
11 hours ago
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
18 hours ago
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2 days ago
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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