The average tenure for a school district superintendent ranges between three and five years.
In Greeley-Evans District 6, Deirdre Pilch has stayed a “trusted, respected and involved” superintendent for the past 10 years, according to Board of Education President Michael Mathews.
In October, the Colorado Association of School Executives named Pilch Colorado Superintendent of the Year for 2025, becoming the first District 6 superintendent to receive the recognition.
Current and former District 6 Board of Education members, city officials, county commissioners, neighboring superintendents, staff members, district leaders and community members packed Zoey’s Cafe & Events on Tuesday to celebrate Pilch. Yet, she threw the attention and credit back to those who have supported and worked with her over the past 10 years.
Backed, beloved by a community
Pilch, decked out for her celebration in a sparkly blazer and sparkly shoes paired with her equally bubbly personality, talked about how it takes a village to earn such an honor. An application of more than 70 pages, which required the help of 14 people to complete, became “a beautiful reflection” of all the work of the people in attendance at Tuesday’s event, Pilch said.
This was conveyed in a text message from a friend of Pilch, who read the statement to the crowd on Tuesday: “Everybody in Greeley should really be holding their head a little higher today.”
“So I hope that in some way, my recognition helps you to know how much your work matters and how much your investment in District 6 has mattered,” Pilch said. “And I hope you carry your head high.”
Her triumphant tenure all began with the 2015 District 6 Board of Education, who took a chance on Pilch. Without a strong board of education, Pilch could never do what she does, she said.
She expressed her gratitude for past and present board members, who have challenged her, helped her through mistakes and worked tirelessly to make a difference in the community they love for the students they love.
Mathews has operated alongside Pilch for eight years. Mathews, whom Pilch called her “greatest fan, cheerleader, mentor and coach,” said it doesn’t take long for people to realize she’s special, but many don’t know just how hard her job really is.
As board president, Mathews has had a front-row seat to the difficulties of leading District 6 for the past 10 years.
“When I say hard, I don’t mean it’s stressful or long hours,” he said. “It’s hard in that way too, but I mean it’s difficult in that most people can’t do it.”
Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education President Michael Mathews, left, hugs Superintendent Deirdre Pilch during a ceremony to celebrate her winning the Superintendent of the Year on Tuesday. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Historically, school districts across the nation grapple to maintain consistent leadership, especially when significant challenges like book ban appeals and the COVID-19 pandemic arise. COVID caused a majority of Colorado students to attend a school district with an acting principal because leaders resigned or were terminated for not accomplishing what education needed during that hardship, Mathews said.
Meanwhile, District 6 had security in Pilch, who successfully navigated safely bringing teachers back into the classroom in 2020, he continued.
Before, during and after COVID, Pilch has honed in on her skills to successfully manage about 2,500 employees as the fourth-largest employer in Weld County. But for Pilch, “it’s never about the numbers, it really is always about the people,” Mathews said.
Pilch called the district’s employees the “real heroes” of District 6.
“They do the work that I got to talk about in my application for superintendent of the year,” she said. “They have been willing, truly, to run through fire with me and for me at times.”
As the face of this district, she has also engaged with the community, which Mathews called the most important factor for tenure.
School district success relies on the input of several people, in addition to the board, and strong relationships with key leaders in the community. Pilch sang the praises of the Success Foundation, the University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College, county commissioners, former and current mayors of Greeley and Evans, city council members and a handful of others who have supported District 6.
“I am well aware that what we have been able to do is really miraculous,” Pilch said. “I am well aware the changes we have made in this community are unprecedented. We have done that because of tremendous support from many other leaders who have come alongside me as a superintendent.”
Hundreds of people gather to celebrate District 6 Superintendent Deirdre Pilch after she won CASE’s Superintendent of the Year award for her work in the District 6 School District on Tuesday. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Pilch’s involvement and presence in the community helped lead efforts to pass its first mill levy override for operational dollars in 2017. In 2019, voters also approved a $395 million bond issue to replace two buildings, construct a new K-8 school and fund more additions and renovations at schools.
“Because of that … our community believes in our district,” Mathews said.
This was not always the case. When Mathews moved to the community, he didn’t hear good stories about District 6. He saw Pilch flip the script, he said, improving academic success and extending college and career opportunities for all students.
In her tenure, the district’s graduation rate has risen by 10%.
“That’s 130 kids a year whose lives are changed for good,” he said. “A hundred and thirty students every year walking across the stage who weren’t walking across the stage 10 years ago.”
The demographics in the school district have also changed since Mathews first joined the Greeley-Evans community. According to Mathews, the school district grew in diversity and need: about 70% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, and more than 50 languages are spoken in the schools.
“In that moment, we needed somebody who was not just good but who was extraordinarily good,” Mathews said. ”This superintendent is extraordinary at what she does. I don’t know that I’ve known anyone who does that job as well as she does.”
Pilch staying put
The “blonde from Boulder,” Pilch called herself, said she has no plans to retire.
She believes the district has more work to do and feels honored to be the one assigned to lead District 6 in reaching its full potential. Pilch wants to set the bar even higher than winning Superintendent of the Year.
“I need a few more years to do that last layer of work that we’ve got to do for the students here in District 6,” Pilch said. “I want to live up to your expectations, and I’m going to do what you expect me to do as your superintendent.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘Our community believes in our district’: Superintendent of the Year celebration honors Deirdre Pilch )
Also on site :
- Andre Onana mix-up 'gifts' Tottenham Europa League final goal as Man Utd fans fuming
- Clippers traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in ‘worst deal in history’ – now MVP winner could be NBA’s first $80m man
- Karrion Kross reveals backstage reaction to viral rant; explains issue with major WWE star