Editorial: Leader in the trenches

By all accounts, John Pacheco was exactly what the Eagle County School District needed.

Pacheco, who will leave his post as interim superintendent of the district this week, is credited with healing the wounds left by years of poor communication between the district office and teachers.

During his time here, he led the push to reform the district’s merit pay system for teachers, moved staff around into more effective positions and improved the district’s transportation and food service.

Those who worked alongside Pacheco describe him as a leader who listened well, who used that feedback to make changes and was willing to be honest — frank, even — when asked for his opinion.

Just as he vowed at the beginning of the year, Pacheco did not seek to become the district’s permanent superintendent. When he leaves next week, he’ll leave behind a district that still faces several challenges — an achievement gap between English and non-English-speaking students and teachers who still struggle to buy homes here, just to name a few.

But his leadership over the past year helped get the district back on track after the sudden departure of several top administrators — including former Superintendent John Brendza — last spring and summer.

Sandra Smyser will take the reins from Pacheco. It will be her task to take advantage of this healing period and lead the school district into a successful future as the Eagle County School District’s new superintendent.

Surely, she has the bigger challenge of the two.

But gratitude is due to Pacheco, who took over our public schools this past year and got them turned in the right direction.