Gratitude in Action: Celebrating Our Board of Education’s Impact on Schools

January is a special time to celebrate School Board Recognition Month. It’s an opportunity to appreciate the hard work and dedication of our board of education. These members volunteer countless hours to ensure our schools offer the best education for our community’s students.

Our school board shapes how and what our students learn. They decide who teaches and influence the facilities we use. They also oversee important areas like budgeting and leadership, including the role of the superintendent. Being part of the community, they understand our unique challenges, values, and culture. It’s important to remember that they do all this without any financial compensation.

Sadly, their efforts often go unnoticed. Let’s take a moment to recognize their calm and steady commitment to our youth and the staff at Eagle County School District.

Meet our board members:

Dan Reynolds is our board president and District G director. When he’s not working as a transactional attorney in Vail, he’s either skiing or cheering for his kids on the ice rink. He joined the board to ensure our students receive the best education. His sense of humor keeps meetings lively!

Lelia Conlin, the board vice president and District B director, lives in East Vail. As a structural engineer, she volunteers at her daughter’s school in her spare time. She finds inspiration in the kids and community.

Lucila Tvarkunas serves as our secretary/treasurer and District D director. She moved to the valley from Argentina in 2000. Lucila is committed to being a voice for our Hispanic community while enjoying family trips and outdoor activities.

Kelly Alter, director for District A, has lived in Eagle County since 1994. She started her involvement in education when her children were young, joining the Education Foundation of Eagle County’s Board in 2012. Kelly believes that investing in public education is crucial for our children’s future.

Harry McQueeney is the director of District C. A former assistant principal at Eagle Valley Middle School, Harry has lived in Eagle County for over 30 years. He wants every child to receive the same excellent education his children did and is active in community housing efforts.

Juan Peña is the director of District E and has called Eagle County home for 48 years. A 1991 Battle Mountain High School graduate, Juan is dedicated to ensuring the best for our community’s children, balancing his role as a fleet manager at Beaver Creek.

Gretchen Hovey, the newest board member and director for District F, is a consultant focused on improving local food systems. She values the dual-language program at Edwards Elementary and believes in equitable access to education for all kids.

The board meets once or twice a month at Red Canyon High School in Gypsum. They prepare extensively for these meetings, ready to make significant decisions that impact our schools. At each gathering, members of the public can speak about any topic. If you want to share your thoughts, you can find meeting dates and times on our website at eagleschools.net/boe.

A huge thank you to our current members and to those who came before. Your service is deeply appreciated.

Philip Qualman is the superintendent of Eagle County School District. You can reach him at philip.qualman@eagleschools.net.