Mesa County School District Hires New Superintendent

A familiar face will be leading Mesa County Valley School District 51 into the future.

The school district has announced the replacement for outgoing superintendent Dr. Diana Sirko, who is retiring next year.

Who Is the New Superintendent?

Dr. Brian Hill has been tabbed to be the next superintendent of D-51 schools. Hill was interviewed Wednesday evening and the school board determined he was the best candidate for the job. Hill has served as the assistant superintendent since July of 2019, which means he's very familiar with the area, the schools, and the challenges they face.

What Previous Experience Does Dr. Brian Hill Have?

Prior to coming to Mesa County a couple of years ago, Dr. Hill was in Austin Texas for 11 years where was a teacher, then assistant principal, principal, and then assistant to the superintendent. He was the 2019 Region XIII Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Member of the Year, was named AISD’s Teacher of Promise his first year on the job, and was AISD’s Campus Teacher of the Year in 2010-11

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The Current Superintendent Isn't Finished Yet

Dr. Diana Sirko came to mesa County in 2018 as interim superintendent and was asked to stay on permanently. She plans to retire in June of 2022, but the school board wanted to get a head start on finding her replacement. The board says more than a dozen school districts in Colorado are in the market for a new superintendent, which means there is a lot of competition for top candidates.

A Tough Time For Schools

The past 12 months are probably the toughest times for schools in history. School administrators, teachers, staff, and students have been challenged like never before, and Dr. Sirko was tasked with guiding Mesa County schools through the pandemic. The school board has expressed its desire to have Dr. Sirko finish out her 46-year career in public education with the Mesa County school district.

With any luck and good fortune, by the time Dr. Hill takes over the top spot, the COVID-19 pandemic will be in the rear-view mirror and far behind us. We certainly want to thank Dr. Sirko for her service in Mesa County and wish her well in the future. We also need to send out a big welcome to Dr. Hill and wish him the best in his new venture.