By Julia Caulfield

The Telluride R-1 School District Board of Education has named John Pandolfo as the new district superintendent.

Pandolfo was one of three finalists for the position and came to Telluride this week for a series of interviews and a meet and greet with the community.

Pandolfo currently works as the superintendent of the Barre Unified Union School District in Vermont. While he has worked in education for over 20 years, Pandolfo didn’t begin his career as an educator. He was born and raised in central Connecticut.

“I went to college there. I graduated, I worked as an engineer for about seven years. I left and went abroad, and lived in Italy for about a year and worked as an engineer there” Pandolfo says.

After Italy, Pandolfo moved to California where he began teaching math.

“I kind of fell into teaching. It wasn’t a long, planned out piece. I spent six years in the Bay Area – teaching in the San Francisco district and Berkley. It became my mission to help students grow a love for mathematics, and that’s not necessarily easy” Pandolfo adds.

He also spent thirteen years teaching math in Vermont. In addition to teaching Pandolfo has spent eight years as an administrator – as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, and as a superintendent.

“I just feel like I can have a bigger impact on a larger scale with leading a system and helping to advocate for education in whatever larger venue there is” explains Pandolfo.

When it comes to moving the district forward, Pandolfo says his first step will be to hear from the school community.

“I think I can bring my expertise as an instructor and a strong educational leader, and really the ability to develop and implement curriculum. I think those are all areas I can offer and I think it’s going to be a collaborative effort, and for me to really look, listen, and learn to really help understand what everyone in this district feels is the direction we need to go, and then facilitate that collaborative work to get there. So, I’m really thrilled for that” Pandolfo notes.

Aside from work, Pandolfo says he’s excited to make Telluride home for the rest of his life.

“Everything that Telluride has to offer in terms of the incredible school system, what seems like an amazing community in itself, and all of the nature and physical environment that’s around. It just makes it a place that I don’t know why anyone would want to be anywhere else” adds Pandolfo.

John Pandolofo will assume the position as School District Superintendent in July. Current superintendent, Mike Gass, is retiring at the end of June.