CREEDE— The 78th Annual CASB (Colorado Association of School Boards) Convention is one of Colorado’s biggest school board member education events of the year, bringing together CASB members, superintendents and education experts. During the convention, which was held at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Creede Principal John Goss was formally recognized and received the Demont Award.

Representative Jim Wilson (R-Salida) created the Demont Award in 2002. A former teacher, principal and superintendent himself, Wilson brought about the award as a way to recognize school administrators who made significant impacts on their school districts.

“I created the Demont Award as a way to personally recognize educators and administrators for their invaluable contribution to their students,” said Wilson. “My father said one should always leave something better than they found it. The Demont Award, named in honor of my father, recognizes the administrators and educators who truly embody this message.”

A panel of three members, including Representative Wilson, annually bestows the award on one administrator from a rural school district in Colorado who demonstrates a high moral character, a strong compassion for children and made positive contributions to education. In Wilson’s words “Leaving it better than they found it.”

The administration nominated Goss as he impressed the judges when he expressed how he felt so lucky to be where he is.

Goss has worked in Creede School District for more than 42 years. He reflected that after 42 years, what it is all about to him is building relationships with teachers, administrators and students; finding ways to keep these relationships secure and when harmed, repairing them. He stated that a lot of what Creede School District does revolves around restorative practices, which he highly recommends to all schools and districts.