Colton alters lineup after Foley’s retirement

Colton’s long-time superintendent Dale Foley finished the very last day of his 17 years at the school Monday, Aug. 31, and walked out the door to retirement.

Taking his place as superintendent is Nate Smith, formerly the district’s principal for all grades. Smith will now serve as district superintendent half the time and as the junior high and high school principal the other half.

“I’m very excited about it,” Smith said.

The school has hired Gordon Steinbis from the Moscow Charter School to serve as part-time principal for the elementary grades.

Smith has worked for six years as the Colton kindergarten through twelfth grade principal. Originally from Grangeville, Smith graduated from the University of Idaho, and took his first teaching job in Grand Coulee. He served there as assistant principal and then as high school principal.

He and his wife moved to Colton in 2002 with their two children. Their five-year-old just started kindergarten at Colton.

The Colton school district had 167 students enrolled when the new year started Monday.

Smith said Foley has been coaching him on the ropes of being superintendent for several months.

While it may first appear that downsizing both the superintendent and principal positions to part-time might cut back on the amount of work done in each role, Smith said he doesn’t think much will be lost.

“I think every one is wondering how that role will be,” Smith said. “So far so good on Day Two.”

Foley and his wife of 44 years, Christy, moved to Colton when he was named superintendent 17 years ago. Before that, he was an administrator in Battleground, and prior to that he worked in Illinois for 12 years.

Total, that’s a 42- year education career which came to a close on the last day of August.

In an interview with the Gazette in early summer, Foley said that as the years moved by, he has learned a thing or two.

“People are more important than things,” he said. “There are few things worth more than family and friends.”

Foley said he plans on taking trips to visit their two grandchildren in Ridgefield. He said he and his wife, Christy, are in good health so they plan on trying more recreational activities. He also has it in mind to get out for more volunteer work.