{"id":45201,"date":"2021-08-12T00:36:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-12T06:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/meet-dolores-interim-superintendent-reece-blincoe\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:23:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:23:49","slug":"meet-dolores-interim-superintendent-reece-blincoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/meet-dolores-interim-superintendent-reece-blincoe\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Dolores\u2019 interim superintendent, Reece Blincoe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Reece
Reece Blincoe with his dog, Bernie.<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Sometimes you have to pack your whole life into an RV and just go for it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what Reece Blincoe did. He\u2019s now the new interim superintendent for the Dolores RE-4A School District.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s taking over for Lis Richard, who resigned.<\/p>\n

Fresh in from Georgetown, Texas, he\u2019s finally making his two-decadeslong dream to live in Colorado a reality.<\/p>\n

After working in education for 34 years \u2014 11 as a superintendent \u2014 he retired.<\/p>\n

But that didn\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a very active mind, and that doesn\u2019t stop,\u201d he said. \u201cI never really stopped looking into education.\u201c<\/p>\n

An outdoors enthusiast, Blincoe frequently visited Colorado, particularly Pagosa Springs, Durango, Dolores and even Frisco.<\/p>\n

For Blincoe, the decision to take this job was a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew a lot of people were retiring and that school districts really needed help \u2014 not only in Texas, but in Colorado as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He became particularly fond of the area during his occasional pursuits of elk, although he never had a successful hunt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that elk are the most beautiful, majestic animals on this planet,\u201d he said. \u201cI may pick it up and do it again. I may just pick up my binoculars.\u201d<\/p>\n

His recreational interests include other outdoor pursuits.<\/p>\n

In fact, he was in Frisco to compete in a triathlon when he heard that he\u2019d been named a finalist for the superintendent position.<\/p>\n

He headed back to Texas and filled a trailer with belongings to bring to the area.<\/p>\n

His mother and stepfather were camping in Pagosa Springs at the time, and they asked if he needed to borrow their RV.<\/p>\n

He said no. He would try to find a place.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to July 23. Blincoe was officially hired.<\/p>\n

His first day was Monday, July 26.<\/p>\n

He called his mom back.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave the RV,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s moving into a house in downtown Dolores, where he will be in the center of things.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the way he likes it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to see me out and about,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe in being in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

A lover of cycling, running, hiking and fly fishing, becoming a Coloradoan was a natural transition for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want people to know that I also fit Colorado,\u201d he said. \u201cSo that\u2019s a big reason why I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n

His daughters weren\u2019t surprised by his decision.<\/p>\n

A family man, he talks to them about four or five times a week, he said.<\/p>\n

All he wants for his birthday and Christmas?<\/p>\n

Framed pictures of them and his granddaughter, he said.<\/p>\n

While the environment caters to his interests, Blincoe\u2019s focus is bringing his expertise to Dolores.<\/p>\n

As a former superintendent, his district was nominated as one of the top three small school districts in Texas for two consecutive years. He also led his school district to become the first to teach all second and third grade students how to play chess.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn interim superintendent helps you get through a time process until you can hire your next superintendent,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I believe that to be my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

He is, however, interested in potentially staying on as the permanent superintendent.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy goals are to help as much as I can this year, get school started,\u201d he said. \u201cAnother one of my goals is obviously to keep all the students and staff safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blincoe is excited to boost concurrent credit opportunities in Dolores to foster career readiness \u2014 something he was passionate about in Texas.<\/p>\n

He also will help to refine the district\u2019s unified improvement plan and strategic plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was always a teacher,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople used to ask me, \u2018Do you miss teaching?\u2019 when I moved into administration, and I would tell them \u2018Only every day.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

He wants his main focus to be the students this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery decision we make is going to be based on that one concept,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat is best for students? Are we improving the community? Are we improving our students? Are we helping them realize their dreams? And if we\u2019re not, then we shouldn\u2019t be doing that thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blincoe is determined to do his best to make everybody happy, he said. He realizes every decision won\u2019t always appeal to everyone, though.<\/p>\n

If you see him around, Blincoe encourages you to come up and say, \u2018Hi\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll recognize my dog before you recognize me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Look out for the fluffy, cute, black and white Bernedoodle named Bernie, he said.<\/p>\n

His dog \u2013 a Bernese mountain dog and poodle mix \u2013 was born in Montrose, he said. Dolores was the first place he let him out for fresh air on the ride home \u2014 foreshadowing for his future, perhaps?<\/p>\n

You can catch Blincoe running in this weekend\u2019s 5K race as part of the Escalante Day celebrations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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