Coal Ridge High School Principal Candidates

Michael Mikalakis 

Michael Mikalakis has been part of the Garfield Re-2 School District for 19 years, beginning his career at Kathryn Senor Elementary and teaching English at Coal Ridge for nine years.  Most recently, Mr. Mikalakis has served for nine years as the Assistant Principal of Coal Ridge, where he provided instructional leadership and coaching across departments, conducted formal staff evaluations and coaching cycles, and designed, structured, implemented, and delivered Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) focused on effective instruction, curriculum design, and classroom management.

He holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Colorado Christian University and a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education with a Major in English and a Minor in Speech from Olivet College.

Jessica Newman

Jessica Newman is currently the Dean of Students and Operations at Ascent Classical Academy in Grand Junction.  Prior to that, she spent nine years as the Assistant Principal at Orchard Mesa Middle School and West Middle School in Mesa County Valley School District 51. She has served on the Family Engagement District Committee and coordinated Extended Learning Time Opportunities for middle school students.

Ms. Newman has taught English Language Arts at both the middle and High School levels, and taught High School Spanish both in person and online. She is originally from Arizona.

Ms. Newman holds a Master's Degree from Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Arizona with a Major in Spanish and a Minor in Secondary Education in English.

Troy Snyder 

Troy Snyder is currently the Director of Quality Schools International Zhuhai, a pre-k through 12th-grade international school in China. He has held a variety of roles, including Head of School at Colorado Timberline Academy in Durango, CO, Assistant Principal in Millsap Independent School District as well as the American International School of Egypt, and he has served as both a high school educator and an adjunct professor.

Mr. Snyder holds a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Texas Christian University, a Master's in  Business Administration from Texas Christian University, a Master's of Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Political Science from Colorado State University. 

You can read their personally submitted bios here.