Principal's goal: educating whole child

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

David Sobson knows Wellington and her youngsters well. He started teaching kindergarten at Eyestone Elementary in 1992 and has taught every grade except first. That experience, along with his last four years as an assistant principal under outgoing administrator John Karbula, will serve him well as Eyestone's new principal.

"I'm excited by the opportunity," Sobson said, just before school started. "Lots of people have been stopping by to congratulate me, which is nice, but now I'm ready for the kids."

Born in Detroit, Mich., Sobson grew up in upstate New York and attended the University of Buffalo. After studying biology, he spent some time doing a variety of jobs, including working in construction and on a fishing boat. But while on the West Coast he decided to finish his education and concentrate on elementary education. He taught five years in public school and five years in private school in California before deciding to come to Colorado. He thought Wellington a great place from the beginning.

"You could feel the atmosphere created by supportive parents and staff," he said. "And we've been able to maintain that feeling even with growth."

Sobson expects to carry on with the strong staff development programs set in place by Karbula, and he would also like to expand after-school opportunities for both students and their parents. Cougar Kids Club provides enrichment activities and will likely merge with a tutoring program started last year. A grant will help supply extra busing services. He hopes to provide various workshops for parents as well. While academics are important, Sobson wants to encourage students to explore all their skills and interests.

"We look at educating the whole child," said Sobson.

Sobson practices the whole person philosophy by playing jazz on his guitar, skiing Colorado's back country, hiking, reading, gardening and spending time with his wife and daughters. His youngest daughter is a ninth grader at Weber junior High in Fort Collins, and his oldest daughter elected to finish out her high school career in sunny (and warm) California.

Making "good things happen for kids every day" is Sobson's major expectation. With the continued support of parents, colleagues and long-time friends he has already made in Wellington, he expects to relish attaining that goal.