Widefield School District 3 has found its new superintendent.
During its regular board meeting Thursday night, the District 3 board of education announced its selection of secondary student learning executive director Aaron Hoffman as the successor to current superintendent Kevin Duren.
Hoffman will take over for Duren on July 1.
Duren announced in January he would be retiring upon the conclusion of the school year.
“This is a very humbling experience for me,” Hoffman told the board upon his selection.
Much like his predecessor, Hoffman has a long history of both attending and working in the district. He was raised in the Widefield Community and attended South Elementary (now Venetucci Elementary), Watson Junior High and Widefield High School.
After graduation in 1988, he attended Colorado State University on a music scholarship and received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a concentration in Education.
Over the past 31 years, Hoffman has served as a math teacher, basketball coach, assistant principal and principal throughout WSD-3’s elementary, middle and high schools prior to his current role.
The district’s current assistant superintendent, Kirk Vsetecka, was the other finalist.
“We are beyond excited to announce our new superintendent, a dedicated educator who has been part of our community for decades. Mr. Hoffman’s deep understanding of our unique culture and commitment to our values makes him the perfect leader to guide our schools into the future,” said Greg Fisher, president of the WSD3 Board of Education in a press release.
Aaron Hoffman speaking to Widefield School District 3’s board of education following his selection as their next superintendent March 21, 2024.
He added that he is looking forward to getting back to visiting with the schools’ staff and students and to be the ambassador for the district to the community.
Hoffman capped his thanks and remarks with a quote from legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi.
“Leaders are not born, they are made. And they are made, just like anything else, through hard work,” he told the board. “And I look forward to doing the work.”
Later, during the public comment period of the meeting, as with other recent meetings, students, parents and faculty spoke to the board to further address comments allegedly made by members Fisher, Dave Dock and Tina West last November. The alleged comments disparaged the district’s current state of special education and LGBTQ+ students.
The board members have stated in previous meetings that they will not refute the alleged comments made nor will they step down from the board, which has led to student demonstrations calling for the board members to resign.
Public comments exclusively concerned the topics referred to in the alleged comments, with board members sometimes responding directly to various comments or accusations towards them.
Charlotte Dock, board member David’s wife, requested to share a word before the board moved on the next agenda item. Her comments, directed toward the audience, defended the actions and characters of the three board members while questioning the motives of some of the commentators.
She ended by saying the board would be willing to speak with parents either individually or in a group setting.
“Whatever you want to do but please, folks, this has got to stop,” she said.
Emily Sturt, an early childhood special education teacher working in the district, used her time to both highlight the work she and others are currently doing with its special needs students while also identifying areas that are currently lacking.
These areas included understaffing that’s forcing current staff to serve multiple roles and run-down facilities that are ill-equipped to meet the needs of some students with special needs.
She added that whether the alleged comments are true no longer matters.
“I think what matters is what happens moving forward,” she said.
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