Poudre School District is pleased to announce that Danielle Hir and Lucas Riojas will serve as co-interim principals of Poudre Community Academy for the 2023-24 school year. Their first days in the positions are July 17 and 19, respectively. Thank you in advance for welcoming and supporting Danielle and Lucas in their new roles.
As you likely know, Danielle has served as a dean and Lucas as an assistant principal and athletic director. PCA’s team has done an incredible job over the past several years, increasing student enrollment, adding an eighth-grade program, starting an athletics program and more. We are confident that Danielle and Lucas will work together well to support you all in the school year ahead.
"Danielle and Lucas are committed to ensuring PCA’s dedication to supporting the needs of all students and helping them discover their passions and pathways to success after high school,” said Dr. Julie Chaplain, assistant superintendent. “I am excited to watch them collaborate with their staff and community in 2023-2024.”
Hir said she is excited and grateful to serve PCA in this capacity. “I’m eager to uplift the voices of staff and students, support our families and connect with the community in new ways. PCA is a special place and I’m honored to contribute to its success.” Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Iowa and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University. Besides teaching math, Danielle has served as a coach, dean, MTSS coordinator, PSD’s Pride Affinity Group facilitator, cofacilitator of PSD’s Staff Equity Coalition, and Camp SOL Coordinator.
Riojas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Journalism and a master’s in educational leadership, both from Colorado State University. He also earned an MBA in Sports Management/Athletic Administration from Northcentral University in Arizona. He has worked in PSD since 2002, when he became an assistant physical education teacher and coach. Since that time, he has held a variety of teaching, coaching, and administrative roles at Boltz and Webber middle schools, Poudre High School, PCA, and Highland High School in Ault.
“I am a strong believer that our primary role as educators is to help students build the skills necessary to contribute to society in a positive way,” Riojas said. “I’ve seen firsthand how committed the wonderful staff at PCA are to helping our kids reach that goal, and I’m honored to support the entire PCA community any way I can in this new role.”
Danielle spends her free time with friends, family and her wife, Brittany Staie, a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. She loves to climb, volunteer, try new foods, walk her dogs, and travel as much as possible.
Riojas enjoys spending his time outside of school with the loves of his life – wife Liz, who is a nursing supervisor at MCR in Loveland, and children Max (9) and Marlie (6), who will start fourth and first grade, respectively, this fall at Laurel Elementary School. He loves coaching and attending all of his kids’ sports, traveling with family and friends, and judging impromptu family dance contests. He’s also a rabid Colorado sports fan, so he always has something to say about all the hometown teams.
We anticipate hiring PCA's next great, permanent principal around winter of 2023 or spring of 2024. More information will be shared as it is available.