When David Grubbs officially became superintendent of Estes Park School District R-3 on July 1, he stepped into a district preparing for a new school year while continuing to navigate familiar challenges, including declining enrollment, long-term facility planning and changing school finance policies.
Just a few weeks into the job, however, Grubbs isn’t talking about sweeping reforms.
Instead, he says his priority is listening.
“My first portion of me being here, July, August, September especially, is going to be a lot of listening and gathering information,” Grubbs said during an interview this week with the Estes Valley Voice. “I’m not going to bring in change for the sake of change.”
Students will return on a staggered schedule beginning Aug. 11, with sixth- and ninth-grade students returning first, followed by secondary students on Aug. 12 and elementary students on Aug. 13.
Learning before leading
Since arriving in Estes Park, Grubbs has spent much of the summer meeting with administrators, staff members, and school board members while learning how the district operates.
Coming from the Windsor area, where he spent 20 years as principal of Grandview Elementary School, Grubbs said one of the first things that stood out was the commitment of employees in a smaller district.
“The people have been what’s made it awesome,” he said. “There are so many folks that do more than one role.”
He said he has been impressed by employees who balance responsibilities that might be split among multiple positions in a larger district.
Rather than arriving with a list of changes, Grubbs said he wants to understand what is already working well before proposing anything new.
“My role, the way I see it, is finding that healthy balance of, yes, if it’s a sense of community pride that we’ve always done and it’s good for kids in a modern era, let’s keep it going,” he said. “At the same time, we shouldn’t just do things for the sake of doing them.”
“If I have a suggestion, I’m darn certain it’s going to be better in the long run versus different,” he added. “Even good change is hard on people.”
He has already met individually with four of the district’s five board members and plans to continue meeting with staff, parents, and community members throughout the fall.
“If people do have questions, suggestions, or things to offer, I encourage them to reach out,” he said. “I’ll sit down and listen.”
A career shaped by relationships
Although Grubbs is new to Estes Park, he is not new to Colorado education.
Originally from the Western Slope, his career includes eight years as a classroom teacher, two years working in professional development, and 20 years as principal.
His first teaching job brought him back to the same rural K-12 school in Mesa he attended as a student, where several of his former teachers became his coworkers.
One of them, his high school math teacher Dave Bristol, left a lasting impression.
Grubbs laughed while remembering instinctively calling him “Mr. Bristol” after Bristol insisted he could simply call him Dave.
“I still remember going, ‘Okay, Mr. Bristol,'” Grubbs recalled.
Years later, Grubbs thanked Bristol, a Vietnam veteran, for his military service on Veterans Day. As he recounted the memory, his voice broke with emotion.
“He got very emotional and made me emotional,” Grubbs said. “Every year I would call him on Veterans Day.”
The experience, he said, reinforced the importance of building relationships, something he hopes to carry into his work as superintendent.
Leaving Grandview Elementary after two decades was emotional, Grubbs acknowledged, but he said leading an entire district offered a new opportunity to serve students.
“I’ve just been feeling very blessed driving up here every day,” he said. “I’ve been entrusted with this, and I’m excited. It’s a new spark.”
Balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s plans
While Grubbs said he is still learning the district, he acknowledged several issues that will require attention in the coming months.
Like many mountain communities, Estes Park has experienced declining student enrollment. Asked about staffing, Grubbs said it is too early to determine what changes are needed.
“I want to see the staff working with the kids, hear firsthand from the principals after we get going,” he said. “Then another element will be talking with the kids and the parents too. What do they feel like they’re missing?”
Facility planning is also expected to remain a priority.
In September, the Board of Education is expected to review two long-range facilities proposals developed over the past year. Grubbs said those discussions will help shape future investments, while immediate safety and security concerns will continue to take precedence.
One issue already on his radar is traffic flow during elementary school pickup and drop-off.
“I need to see it in person,” he said. “Talk to more parents who drive in it. Talk to the staff who supervise it.”
Grubbs is also becoming familiar with Estes Park’s unique funding model, which relies more heavily on local property taxes than many Colorado districts.
He said he has been meeting regularly with Director of Business Services Brian Lund to better understand the district’s finances and monitor potential statewide funding proposals.
Preparing students for a changing world
Grubbs said the district already has policies in place regarding student cell phone use after adopting restrictions last year, ahead of new statewide requirements.
This year, he said, the focus will be on consistent implementation.
“We know the kids have access before and after school,” he said. “If we can turn their attention to something different during the school hours, we’re really hopeful that the kids themselves see the benefit.”
He also expects conversations surrounding artificial intelligence to continue evolving.
While AI can be a valuable educational tool, Grubbs said students should learn to think critically about what it produces.
“It can be an amazing tool,” he said. “Be critical. Use what you’ve already learned. Use your own background. Use your emotions and make it better than AI.”
Asked about concerns some Colorado families have expressed regarding federal immigration enforcement, Grubbs said he is still learning how those conversations have unfolded in Estes Park but emphasized that students learn best when they feel safe.
“Our job is to educate kids,” he said. “We know we do that the very best when a kiddo feels safe.”
Looking ahead
Asked what he hopes to see one year from now, Grubbs didn’t point to a new program or completed construction project.
Instead, he said he hopes students continue to grow academically, staff members feel supported, and families remain engaged in the district.
“If we can identify those things,” he said, “then I think we will have had a good year.
For now, he said, his focus remains on getting to know the district and the people who call it home.
“I’m looking forward to learning right alongside you,” he said.