Mancos School District RE-6 announced May 15 that James Hughes will replace secondary Principal Ed Whitner, who submitted his resignation to the Board of Education in April.

Hughes, who grew up in Blanding, Utah, has 21 years of experience in education, He is director of technology and student accountability in Lamar.

Before working in Lamar, Hughes taught middle school math and coached a variety of sports in Delta for a total of seven years. He also served on the leadership team and filled in for administration staff as a substitute.

Hughes even taught on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, in Coffman Cove with 27 students total in the K-12 school.

“I was the principal/teacher, secretary, registrar, lunch lady sometimes. We kind of did everything,” Hughes said.

Hughes shared that he has visited Mancos and wanted to live in Mancos someday.

“I always talked about living in Mancos at some point and working there,” Hughes told The Journal. “I didn’t think it would actually ever come true, so I was super-excited when that position opened.”

Ultimately, it was the family-centric culture and emphasis on project based learning that led Hughes to the district.

“There is such an amazing culture,” Hughes said. “There’s such a sense of family and belonging. They really focus on project-based learning, and they have incredible goals. … They’re really moving in a super-positive direction, and they’re a very close knit campus. They’re willing to work together.”

After visiting the campus for two days, Hughes said he became even more excited and is ready to begin working to continue making Mancos an exceptional place for students.

“Everyone was so welcoming and supportive, and you can tell that every decision they make is focusing on what is best for our students,” Hughes said.

“I know what it’s like in a small town and trying to make things work, and I’ve worked in bigger districts like Delta and Lamar,” Hughes said. “I know what the possibilities are, and I have a huge drive for putting in different interventions to support students, and I believe in offering all kinds of help for students that might need it.”

After learning that he had been offered the position, Hughes said that it all felt meant to be.

“I believe that God directs us where we need to go, and I felt like this is what I was supposed to do, and that things were going to work out the way they were supposed to. I felt like I was going home,” Hughes said.

Hughes’s first official day as principal is July 22.

Hughes added that he is excited to get to know parents and students in the district, and is eager to hear everyone’s voice.

“I really want to get to know all of the people that I work with, all the staff and teachers, and I want to be able to support them the best way I possibly can,” Hughes said. “I believe in building a good relationship and understanding what their wants and needs are and trying to help support them so that they, in turn, can focus on the students. That is the best way I can serve teachers and serve the students. I want to take the vision and the goals and the mission that the district has and really support that and really strive to keep going in a positive direction. I have a lot of ideas.”

“I am honored to be a part of the Mancos Bluejays family,” he said in an email to district families.