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Colia named new Roaring Fork High principal

Staff Report
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado

CARBONDALE ” Cliff Colia, currently the principal at Carbondale Middle School, has been named the principal of Roaring Fork High School, replacing outgoing Dale Parker.

The selection was announced in a statement issued Monday by the Roaring Fork School District, which encompasses the towns of Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs and the surrounding areas.

Colia will assume the principal’s position at the school at the beginning of the 2008-’09 school year.



Parker resigned this year, after three years on the job that were, at times, tumultuous. He was criticized for not communicating well with his staff, for overlooking or ignoring recommendations from parents and educators regarding needed changes in academic programs, and for mistakes in planning the school’s academic future.

Colia began his career with the Roaring Fork School District as an assistant principal at Glenwood Springs High School from 1989 to 1994, and then moved to Carbondale Middle School as principal in 1994. Although popular with students and the teaching staff, he ran afoul of the district administration at one point several years ago and reportedly was nearly fired by former Superintendent Fred Wall.



Prior to his work in the district, he worked as a special education program director for Mountain BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) in addition to serving as a director for several youth programs in Louisiana.

In 2001, Colia earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Colorado.

“As a member of the Carbondale community for the last 14 years,” noted a statement from the district, “Cliff understands the challenges that face Roaring Fork High School. He plans to address the issues of diversity with students, staff and community, ‘pump up the academic volume’ and build a shared sense of learning community, both internally and externally.”

Colia was one of three candidates selected for an interview by a Roaring Fork High School selection committee made up of staff, parents and students. The names of the other candidates were not released.

School officials indicated that the district has begun advertising for Colia’s replacement at Carbondale Middle School and that a search committee will be impaneled soon.


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