The Garfield Re-2 board of directors officially approved Heather Matthews as principal of Graham Mesa Elementary School and Kevin Marlatt as principal of Rifle Middle School at the May 24, 2011 regular school board meeting.

Matthews replaces Shawnda Zahara-Harris, and Marlatt will take over for Shane Bostic. Zahara-Harris and Bostic resigned earlier this year.

Matthews has seen many changes in the Garfield Re-2 School District. During her 18-years in the district, she has worked under four superintendents, six principals and worked in four different buildings in many different roles. She said she is ready for the most significant change of her career.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” explained Matthews. “I want to be a part of building something. Graham Mesa is a new building and they have laid a solid foundation, but they have not yet built the city.”

Matthews, a Colorado native, was born and raised in Colorado Springs. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., and a master’s degree in elementary education from Colorado College.

She began her teaching career at Roy Moore Elementary in Silt (now Cactus Valley Elementary). After a year traveling with Up With People, Matthews resumed teaching in Garfield Re-2 at Riverside, then a K-8 school.

She has served in a variety of roles including elementary teacher, reading coach and academic coach at Kathryn Senor Elementary and later Elk Creek Elementary. All of those roles, and the leaders she has worked under, have helped prepare for this opportunity.

“The leaders I have worked with over the years have helped me develop the skills that I will need as a principal. I want to share my passion for education with others,” said Matthews. “The staff at Graham Mesa is also very passionate, and they are very team oriented. I am excited to work with them.”

Matthews said the GME staff is focused on helping each of their students grow as individuals, and she wants to nurture that commitment.

Marlatt is very familiar with the Garfield Re-2 School District. For the 2010-11 school year, He was principal of Kaplan Academy of Colorado. Kaplan Academy was Garfield Re-2’s online high school in partnership with Kaplan Virtual Education. Kaplan is no longer affiliated with Garfield Re-2 School District.

“My wife and I are excited about the type of community that Rifle is. I have gotten to know the district personnel over the last year, and I am excited about continuing that relationship as well,” said Marlatt. “The processes that are used in the district fit well with my philosophy and my values.”

Prior to his stint with Kaplan, Marlatt served in a variety of capacities in several front-range districts including Denver Public Schools, Adams 12 and most recently Brighton, where he served as the Advancement Via Individual Determination District Director and Student Achievement Coach. He has taught special education, social studies, science and technology, including 10-years at the middle school level.

Marlatt is excited about working with the Rifle Middle School staff.

“The Rifle Middle School staff is committed to kids. They hold the highest value as they make decisions – what is best for kids. Whatever else we need to do, as long as we have those two things, together we can do anything.”

Superintendent Susan Birdsey is excited to bring Marlatt physically into the Garfield Re-2 School District.

“Kevin demonstrated that he is an excellent instructional leader at Kaplan. He developed strong relationships in an online environment where it can be difficult to cultivate relationships. We are so happy to keep him in the district as the new principal at Rifle Middle School,” said Birdsey.

“I want to help Graham Mesa Elementary best serve our students’ education as a whole child so that they have a place to call home away from home and insure their academic success,” she explained.

A committee of parents, school staff, and Garfield Re-2 administrators made the hiring recommendations to Birdsey, who then recommended Matthews and Marlatt to the board.