Native Coloradan at home as new CLPE principal

By Brenda Rader Mross
North Forty News

Roxann Hall's principal goal has always revolved around family.

Hall waited until her four children graduated from high school to pursue a career in education administration. She said she was thrilled to be hired as the new principal at Cache La Poudre Elementary School, because she wanted to work for a progressive school district in northern Colorado and still be close to her family.

Hall's husband of 34 years, Terry, will continue to live in Akron--a couple of hours away--where he is an electrical engineer. Daughter Kelly lives in the same small community about 35 miles from Fort Morgan on the eastern Colorado plains, where she is a lawyer in the same firm as her maternal grandfather, Bill Paynter.

The Halls' other daughter, Vanessa, lives in Westminster and is studying agronomy. Eric, the youngest, is pursuing a master's degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado.

Mike is the couple's only child not currently residing in the Centennial State. The graduate of West Point is serving overseas after completing a tour of duty in Iraq.

"We're breathing a little easier now that he's stationed in Germany," his mom said. "There were some horrible times when he couldn't call."

Her children may have children, but clearly as a mother, Hall's worry never stops. As principal, Hall has added 300 more children to her priority list.

"I think it's the goal of an effective principal to treat every child like your own children or grandchildren," she said. "We want every individual to succeed in every academic subject, as well as in a social aspect. I want kids to feel welcome and happy, and at the same time, assure they are making a year's growth."

Hall is very data-driven - something she considers one of her strong points.

"A good principal has to have knowledge of data and know how to use assessments to help to move students to prosper," she said. "A good personality is important, as well as being able to listen to parents and teachers and incorporate what you're hearing into practice."

Born in Brush and raised in and around the Sterling area, Hall is the product of small schools, where she received what she termed "an excellent education" that inspired her to become a teacher. She has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Colorado Women's College in Denver and a master's degree in teaching from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

Since 1975, she has taught at all levels from elementary school to college in several school districts in eastern Colorado and in Florida. Art history and theater were two subjects she "really got into" as a high school teacher.

"I loved directing musicals, but, oh, I cannot sing!" she claimed.

Hall has also served on the Akron School District Board of Education.

The 55-year-old didn't aspire to become a school administrator. Hall said she loved teaching too much, but her colleagues pushed her into the career change.

"I was very productive in the classroom," she said, "but I realized as an institutional leader for a whole building, I could affect more students."

So when the last of her brood graduated from secondary school, Hall decided, "It's my turn."

Hall's family has been nothing but supportive about her choice to take her career to the next level. She got her principal licensure from Colorado State University, the same college her two daughters attended.

Hall lives just two miles from CLPE. She considers both Fort Collins and LaPorte beautiful places to be, and the latter integral to the success of the school.

"I already feel as if I've been embraced by the community," she said. "I've been out and about introducing myself (since early summer) and have met some great people."

Hall has found the same to be true of her fellow Poudre School District employees.

"PSD has a good reputation and is on the leading edge," she said. "My experience has been fantastic. The district hires superb people. Anything I've asked for has been done in a heartbeat."

Hall feels positive about the transition to an elementary school without sixth-graders, who are now attending school across the parking lot at Cache La Poudre Middle School.

"I don't think people will see a big change," she said. "We've kept core teachers. We'll have more space, but overall things will look about the same. Our students can get a world-class education here."

When Hall isn't at her principal's desk, she prefers to be outside. She enjoys hiking, jogging and biking. Her family loves to sail and water ski together on Sundays. Weekday evenings home alone for Hall usually include precious reading time, during which she likes to peruse historical fiction and educational journals.

In Hall's book, balance is important to sanity and survival.

"You can't overload yourself," she advised.

Hall's small-town-girl status is entirely by choice; she has lived in big cities but prefers the connectedness of rural communities. That doesn't mean the lady doesn't like to travel; au contraire, she loves it so much she's been around the world, including three trips to the Taj Mahal in India.

"I've seen the world, but I love the culture here," she said. "(Northern Colorado) ranks second to none."