Dan Snowberger, superintendent of Durango School District 9-R, is one of four finalists for a superintendent’s position with the Thompson School District in Loveland.
In an email to The Durango Herald, Snowberger said, “Board members were informed of my interest in this position. While I have been selected to interview, this provides both their community a chance to get to know me and my skill set, while providing me an opportunity to learn more about their district.
“I am especially interested in learning more about their work in competency-based education, as we’ve been on parallel tracks. If offered, I obviously will have to make an important decision. Durango is an amazing district with an amazing staff. I am happy to continue to lead our work forward here.”
Nancy Stubbs, president of the Durango school board, praised Snowberger’s work within the district, especially his work on a unique salary schedule that rewards teachers for performance.
“It is awkward for us. He has done so much and is doing so much for us. At the same time, you don’t want to stand in front of someone’s career path,” she said.
“People who know Dan know his loyalty and work for the district won’t waver if he doesn’t get the job or if he does up until the time he leaves,” she said. “I’m no longer young, I’ve seen a few of these, and you survive, you move forward and build on work that has been done.”
Snowberger received an automatic one-year contract renewal in January. He is under contract with 9-R through June 30, 2020.
Durango school board member Stephanie Moran said Snowberger is the district’s “current superintendent and doing a fine job of keeping our students and staff moving forward.”
“If Dan takes a position elsewhere, then that becomes the board’s business but not unless and until he were to resign. This will continue to be my position,” she said.
At the time of the automatic renewal, Stubbs said a review of Snowberger’s performance during an executive session found he was in compliance with the majority of 152 categories on which he is evaluated. The school board evaluates Snowberger twice during each academic year.
“We found he’s not perfect; nobody is,” Stubbs said at the time. “He not only does what he says, but you’d be amazed at the amount of work he does, and it’s focused on the students.”
Snowberger earns $166,000 annually and has a $600 per-month car allowance. He receives the same benefit package as all 9-R employees covering health, dental, life insurance and four weeks of vacation annually.
Thompson School District Superintendent Stan Scheer plans to retire at the end of the school year in June.
Other finalists for the Thompson School District’s superintendent position are:
Kimberly Hough, assistant superintendent of human resources and talent development in Loudoun County Public Schools in Ashburn, Virginia.Marc Schaffer, assistant superintendent of secondary leadership at Boulder Valley School District in Boulder.Tony Giurado, chief academic officer from Mesa County School District in Grand Junction.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
Kimberly Hough, assistant superintendent of human resources and talent development in Loudoun County Public Schools in Ashburn, Virginia.Marc Schaffer, assistant superintendent of secondary leadership at Boulder Valley School District in Boulder.Tony Giurado, chief academic officer from Mesa County School District in Grand Junction.
