Animas High School has selected a Durango resident as its next head of school.
Dreher Robertson, who has worked as head of school at Colorado Timberline Academy since 2024 and has lived in the Durango area for more than a decade, will begin his new role July 1.
“I’m feeling really honored that I was chosen out of a pretty competitive pool of humans to be their next leader,” Robertson told The Durango Herald.
The school has been searching for a new leader since July, when former head of school Rebecca Ruland stepped down.
The school enlisted an executive firm in October to assist with recruiting candidates for the role, and two finalists – Robertson and Phoenix-based candidate Michael Gard – were identified in early February.
Robertson, who lives in Durango with his wife and two children, has extensive experience in the education and leadership realms.
In addition to his recent work with Colorado Timberline Academy, he served as assistant principal at Durango Big Picture High School from 2017 to 2021, and as an adviser and instructor at the school from 2011 to 2017.
Robertson later served as principal of Vista Nueva High School in Aztec and as director of San Juan College East from 2021 to 2024.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Texas Tech University, a teacher education certification from Fort Lewis College and a master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.
“Dreher’s personal understanding of our region’s values, opportunities, and sense of connection will serve our students and school well,” said Maren McElwee Bicknell, AHS board president, in a news release. “We are confident that Dreher will build on the strong foundation established by our staff and leadership team while helping guide Animas High School into its next chapter.”
Robertson, prior to his July 1 start date, will “begin collaborating with the Interim School Leadership Team this spring to support a smooth and intentional transition,” the release said.
Robertson will also be visiting Animas High School on the Fort Lewis College campus March 9 to greet faculty, staff members and students, and will attend a welcome gathering for parents and community members from 6 to 7 p.m. that evening, the release said.
“I think that my long-established relationships with educators at other schools in our community is going to be a really, really important part of us moving forward as a school, and I’m just excited to fight the good fight and advocate for having school choice in our community,” Robertson said. “... This feels like a culmination of every piece and part of my educational career.”
epond@durangoherald.com
