New faculty and staff at Niwot High School

When the 2022-2023 school year kicked off at Niwot High School this year, the faculty, staff and students offered a warm welcome to a new registrar, a new counselor, and eleven new teachers. The faculty have accepted positions in math, social studies, French, drama, and science.

Four of the new recruits took time away from their busy fall schedules to talk about their experience and their first impressions of the school.

Erin Smith, an instructor in math, was born and raised in Louisville, Colorado. She received her bachelor's degree in math from CU Boulder along with her secondary school teaching license, and then started her career at Trail Ridge Middle School, where she taught 7th grade math. Smith worked there from 2020-2022, and now she is excited to be at Niwot High.

"I have always wanted to be a high school teacher," Smith said. "It is such a unique time in students' lives, and I love being a part of that. My high school math teachers had a huge impact on me, and I want to have that same impact on students." She said that her first few weeks at the High School have been outstanding. "The students have been engaged and respectful, and I couldn't ask for a better team of teachers. Go Cougars!"

Social studies teacher Matthew Payan moved to Niwot from Orange County in Southern California three weeks ago with his wife, Jessica, and his two children, Amelie (3) and Charlie (1). "After visiting our family in Gunbarrel last November," said Payan, "we fell in love with Colorado and decided that we wanted to raise our family here." Payan taught social studies at Santiago High School in Garden Grove, California, for seven years.

This year he will be teaching the World History and Geography Honors and the U.S. and Colorado Government courses. In addition to his classes, he will serve as the faculty advisor for Model UN as Niwot makes its return to the competition (after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic), and a new club called the Young Senators, which will be focused on building political efficacy and civic engagement. Payan is also looking forward to the opportunity to coach baseball in the Spring and potentially help out the football team next season.

Payan attended California State University, Fullerton, where he earned his undergraduate degree in history, and he is currently finishing up a master's degree in history as well. He and his family lived with his parents for two years to save money to buy a house and decided that if they could get jobs in the Boulder area, they would take the plunge and buy a home. "I applied to many schools in the area," Payan said, "but Niwot was at the top of my list. Their history of academic and athletic excellence, their wide-range of course offerings and opportunities, their diverse student population, and their supportive administration and faculty showed me that Niwot was the right place for me." When Jessica got a job working remotely, the couple decided to buy a new build in Erie, and they are currently living with an aunt and uncle, patiently waiting for their house to be finished. In his free time, Payan enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking, fly-fishing, hiking, and enjoying all that Colorado has to offer.

Cody Klaiber is one of two new science teachers. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, he went to school in Grand Junction at Colorado Mesa University, where he obtained both a B.S. in chemistry and an M.A in education. Klaiber taught in Mesa County Valley School District 51 for four years prior to coming to Niwot. His experience at the high school so far has been a very positive one. "All staff members have been extremely welcoming and supportive," Klaiber said.

The High School's new counselor, Diana Carty, worked in education for twelve years and she is excited to join the Niwot and St. Vrain communities. "It's been a very busy start to the year," Carty said, "and I've enjoyed meeting so many students and families already. The entire community has been so welcoming, and I am so grateful to be part of such a hard-working, student-centered counseling team." Carty is a California native and relocated to Colorado in 2019 with her husband, daughter, and beloved old dog. When Carty is not at school, she loves to hike, read, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy all the great things Colorado has to offer.

The other new hires at Niwot High include Byron Rudisill (science), Synthia Auligne (French 0.5), Amanda Foust (drama 0.5), Chelsea Sloan (Registrar), Eva Klauber (math), Craig Sherman (math), Melissa Collins (math), and Anna Healy (social studies).