<\/p>\n
Drew Pearson is the interim principal of Mancos Elementary School in the absence of Cathy Epps.<\/p>\n
Epps was injured in a Jan. 2 crash at the intersection of County Road 40 and Colorado Highway 184, about 3 miles north of Mancos. She hit a patch of ice coming off the county road and slid into the path of a semitrailer, according to Colorado State Patrol.<\/p>\n
Pearson taught physical education and gifted education for three years in Mancos before stepping into the interim principal role, he said Monday. He\u2019s is studying to become a school administrator, and Epps had planned to help him during the spring semester, he said.<\/p>\n
Pearson said school staff members have been supportive during the transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful to you for entrusting me with this,\u201d he said. \u201cThanks for the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
School board President Blake Mitchell thanked Pearson for \u201ctaking the bull by the horns.\u201d Superintendent Brian Hanson said he appreciated Pearson stepping up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s hit the ground running,\u201d Hanson said.<\/p>\n
After the crash, Epps was airlifted in critical condition to Farmington with injuries including head trauma, a punctured lung and a broken clavicle. She then was transferred to Craig Hospital in Denver for rehab. She is progressing well, but is not expected to return before the end of the school year, according to Hanson.<\/p>\n