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The Garfield Re‑2 School District is pleased to announce that longtime Rifle Middle School (RMS) administrator Rob Dean has been selected to serve as the school’s next principal, effective July 1, 2025, pending Board of Education approval at its June 25 meeting.

Dean takes the reins from outgoing principal Jenny Nipper. Nipper was recently named the next Assistant Superintendent for Garfield Re-2. Mrs. Nipper officially begins her tenure on July 1, 2025, and has already begun her work at the District Office.

Dean brings 23 years of educational experience—spanning teacher, assistant principal, high‑school principal, and athletics director—to his new post, along with a Master of Education in Administration from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma. Yet it’s the relationships he has built at RMS that fuel his excitement.

The Garfield Re-2 School District is pleased to announce that Jenny Nipper will be the new Assistant Superintendent for the 2025-26 school year. The appointment is pending board approval at the May 28, 2025 School Board meeting.

Mrs. Nipper is currently the Principal of Rifle Middle School in Rifle, CO.  Nipper began her career in the Garfield Re-2 School District as a substitute teacher. She grew her skills, becoming a math and science teacher at Rifle Middle School and Riverside Middle School before being named Assistant Principal at Rifle Middle School. In 2017, Nipper was named Principal. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cincinnati Bible College and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University.

Garfield Re-2 Superintendent Heather Grumley has informed the Garfield Re-2 School Board of her intent to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

Grumley will continue as Superintendent through June 30, 2025.

Every day in school is critical. 

As a four-day school week, if a Garfield Re-2 student misses just two days a month, that is about 30 hours of math instruction and 60 hours of English Language Arts instruction that they are missing. 

“We know that the best indicator of student success is having a great teacher in front of students. We want all of our students in class if they are healthy,” said Assistant Superintendent Lisa Pierce, who facilitated the concerted effort by the District to support improved attendance.

The Garfield Re-2 School District will host the first Community Connected Fair on July 31, 2024 at Coal Ridge High School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Garfield Re-2 is bringing over 20 community organizations together under one roof for families to learn about, and sign up for educational and athletic programs. Organizations include local city recreation programs, youth football, youth wrestling, One Door, Boy Scouts, youth cheerleading, R.I.D.E and many more.  Families can go to the Garfield Re-2 website (https://www.garfieldre2.net/departments/communications/community-connected-fair) for a complete list of organizations.