South Routt Superintendent Kirk Henwood Opens Up About District & Regional Support for Education
Kirk Henwood, Superintendent of the South Routt School District, has felt the power of education his entire life.
Coming from a family of educators, Henwood used his upbringing to develop a diverse background in the field, which he has used to contribute to his district and the educational communities of the Yampa Valley as a whole.
His parents, who were both school administrators, as well as his teachers inspired him to become an English teacher. After graduating, Henwood attended the University of Colorado – Boulder before joining the Peace Corps, where he taught English in Poland before transitioning to a Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. After moving to the Montrose area, he became a middle school principal and eventually a deputy superintendent. He also earned his doctoral degree.
After relocating to the Front Range, he and his wife quickly realized that they wanted to return to the western slope. He became the superintendent in South Routt three years ago, where he has since worked to enhance educational opportunities for students while also supporting his staff and the community.
Throughout his career, Henwood has witnessed shifts in the landscape of education, which has allowed him to use his background to create educational environments that are safe, restorative, inclusive and positive.
Courtesy image/South Routt School District
He noted that cell phones and similar technology have had one of the deepest impacts on schools.
“The prevalence of cell phone technology…for both adults and students has really changed the landscape of public education,” said Henwood.
Henwood has seen a transition in the public school funding landscape as well. To address resulting shortfalls, the South Routt School District has established a “grow your own” ethos to staffing, particularly for paraprofessionals and classroom teachers.
“In rural and resort communities, the housing challenges are so extreme. We’ve lost potential employees every year because we offer them jobs and then they realize they can’t afford to live here,” said Henwood. “That’s why growing your own is so appealing…you know that they have housing and that they are stable in the area.”
The district has also started to reach out to families to discover if South Routt high school graduates would be interested in returning home after college to work in the district.
In regards to technology support funding for the students and staff of South Routt, the approach is collaborative, as the Steamboat Springs School District technology department provides support to South Routt through a MOU.
The South Routt School District utilizes the Steamboat Education Fund to bolster its Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) programs, as well as other interventions, which in turn led to the closure of achievement gaps amid high levels of student growth. As a result, the district has become a “School of Distinction”, as defined by the Colorado Department of Education.
“We’re really proud of the systems for interventions that we have, particularly for our middle school,” said Henwood. “We try to do a good job at the middle school level so the support needed at the high school is very specific.”
The district underwent a notable turnaround to lead to the accolades from the state. Henwood noted a major part of this success lies in the middle school staff not experiencing any turnover in recent years. Further, he said that accountability measures for educators has resulted in hard work being done at a high-quality level.
Henwood added that a high degree of communication and collaboration between Routt County superintendents has resulted in idea sharing and a collective drive for success.
“I do appreciate [that other superintendents] are as motivated in South Routt’s success as I am,” said Henwood. “And, the same is true for me. I want the kids in Hayden and I want the kids in Steamboat to be successful.
Henwood called it “a regional collaboration around success”, noting that it is unique to the Yampa Valley and the communities within it.
Further, The Yampa Valley Partnership for Students, Stewardship, and Sustainability Collaborative Project (YVPS3), which entails the districts of South Routt, Moffat, Hayden, Steamboat in addition to Colorado Mountain College and Colorado Northwestern Community College, has resulted in graduation pathways that are not only postsecondary workforce oriented but also include higher education support as well.
Courtesy image/South Routt School District
“That’s all part of that regional collaboration that we engage in and that we embrace,” said Henwood.
Henwood hopes that the possible development at Stagecoach Ranch will bring additional funding to the district, offsetting the closure of the coal mine and power plant. He went on to explain that while he understands that people don’t want increased taxes at any level, he also wants communities to be mindful of the potential negative impacts that can result for school districts as well as police forces, fire departments and libraries, all of which Henwood sees as the “fabric of communities.”
In November, Steamboat Locals’ writer John Camponeschi will be presenting a four-part series of stories that dive deeper into the ways that the SSSD, and other Yampa Valley schools, are providing the best possible education for students with limited resources.
Read Part 1 – Steamboat Springs School District
Read Part 2 – Hayden Valley School District
This series of stories is proudly presented to you by Jon Wade and The Steamboat Group as a continuation of their commitment to “Keep Steamboat Special” by supporting non-profits and events that promote a positive and ever-improving Steamboat lifestyle! You can also support their efforts simply by making a request on the Steamboat Locals Choice for Music. For every song request made in the month of November, The Steamboat Group will donate $2 to Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Colorado, up to $500 total!