Dustin Hunt Says Sterling Can Do More, Launches Community Initiatives

Since his arrival in July, RE‑1 Valley Superintendent Dustin Hunt has been credited with helping pass a "much‑needed school bond initiative" and with forging closer ties between the school board and Sterling and Caliche residents, district leaders say in a community profile published Feb. 19, 2026.

"Since his arrival in July, Mr. Hunt has fiercely advocated for students and staff, assisted greatly in the successful effort to pass a much‑needed school bond initiative, developed an unprecedented working relationship with the school board and community, and has already built a strong unified vision toward making RE‑1 Valley a premier school district in the state. He’s a genuinely kind, thoughtful leader who will continue to positively impact the community for years to come," Luke Janes, the district’s chief financial officer, wrote in nominating Hunt for a Community Champion profile in the Sterling Journal‑Advocate.

A profile in the Sterling Journal‑Advocate, published by Callie Jones on Feb. 19, 2026 at 6:30 AM MST, highlighted Hunt’s "first seven‑plus months on the job" and his outreach to families, teachers and regional partners. The profile also includes a passage of praise that reads, "Dustin believes schools are the heart of the community, and he actively works to strengthen that connection through transparency, relationship‑building, and a strong focus on doing what is best for students. His positive energy, approachability, and willingness to roll up his sleeves have already made a lasting impact in a short amount of time," she added; the profile excerpt provided does not include the speaker’s name.

Hunt frames his approach in similar terms on the RE‑1 Valley website, where a welcome message dated June 30, 2025 is signed "Gratefully, Dustin Hunt Superintendent." In that note he writes, "With nearly 30 years of experience in education, including roles as a teacher in Idaho and as both a high school principal and superintendent in Wyoming, I am deeply committed to student success, collaborative leadership, and community engagement."

The welcome message also lays out Hunt’s personal ties to the region: "My wife Heidi, who is also an educator, and I are excited to call this community home, and we look forward to being active members of our community in many facets. We’re especially grateful to be near our four grown children, who have started building their own lives close by." Hunt adds, "I love the West, the outdoors, and the unique strength of rural communities. I believe that schools are the heart of our rural communities, and I am eager to support and build upon the great work already happening here in RE‑1 Valley Schools."

School board vice president Ronda Monheiser is listed in the profile as having commended Hunt’s leadership. The district’s public contact information appears on the same RE‑1 Valley page: RE‑1 Valley School District, 301 Hagen St, Sterling, CO 80751, phone numbers (970) 522-0792 and (970) 522-0525, and office hours Monday‑Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

As RE‑1 Valley pursues the projects enabled by the bond and a stated goal of becoming "a premier school district in the state," Hunt’s public messaging and district leaders’ nominations frame his tenure around transparency, relationship‑building, and hands‑on community engagement in Sterling and Caliche.