The Garfield School District Re-2 would like to invite the public to meet the three final candidates for the Graham Mesa Elementary School principal position. The event will be held at Graham Mesa Elementary School on Thursday, June 15, beginning at 6 p.m.

The three finalists are Ryan Fideldy from Graham Mesa Elementary, Blake Hesselberg from Wamsley Elementary and Brian Sprenger from Harrison K-8 in Canon City.

Ryan Fideldy has been with the Garfield School District Re-2 for 11 years. He began his teaching career in 2006 at Roy Moore/Cactus Valley Elementary where he was a fourth-grade teacher for eight years. Fideldy began his career at Graham Mesa Elementary in 2014 as the instructional coach where he supports teachers in classroom instruction and delivery. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in Elementary Education and holds a middle school English Language Arts/Literature endorsement.

Blake Hesselberg, a graduate of Rifle High School, returned to Garfield School District Re-2 last year. He began his teaching career in Fountain-Fort Carson District Eight in 2004 as an elementary teacher and moved to middle school in 2013. Hesselberg took 18 months to work in the oil and gas industry and returned to public education as the instructional coach at Wamsley Elementary. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and has an administration license from the University of Phoenix.

Brian Sprenger is currently the assistant principal and athletic director at the Harrison K-8 school in Canon City. He began his teaching career as a fifth-grade teacher in Colorado Springs District 11 in 2004. Sprenger has held a number of positions including teacher learning coach, administrative substitute and the dean of students at a K-5 elementary school. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Broadcasting from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a Master’s Degree in Education Policy and Leadership.

Garfield Re-2 had a field of highly qualified candidates that included both in-state and out-of-state candidates. The new principal will take over for Heather Grumley who tendered her resignation earlier this year to become the Garfield Re-2 assistant superintendent.

The public will have the opportunity to meet with all three candidates on Thursday, June 15, beginning at 6 p.m. Each candidate will have the opportunity to make a general statement, and answer a few general questions. The rest of the time will be spent meeting with community members and parents.

All candidates will meet with the interview committee that includes community members, parents, teachers, staff and district administration on Friday, June 16. A final decision is expected shortly after the interview process concludes.