Durango School District 9-R has appointed three assistant principals for the 2014-15 school year – a district veteran and two newcomers.

When 9-R officially begins Aug. 25, Dylan Connell, who was assistant principal at Miller Middle School last year, will take on a double challenge as assistant principal at Florida Mesa and Sunnyside elementary schools, both southeast of Durango. Connell, who began his career in education in Texas, has five years of experience as principal or assistant principal.

April Neibauer comes from Lafayette, a suburb of Boulder, where she was an assistant principal. She will replace former Durango High School assistant principal and current Miller Middle School Principal Cito Nuhn. At DHS, Neibauer will oversee the ATLAS Small Learning Community, which offers an approach to education known as International Baccalaureate. Neibauer has taught English and history at secondary level. She also has been on the Urban Renewal Authority and has been a city council member.

Vicki Trousdale will be assistant principal at Miller Middle School. She comes from Colorado Springs where she was a master teacher and instructional coach for several years. Trousdale has taught humanities and language arts. She last taught at Discovery Canyon Campus, a K-12 setting that adheres to the International Baccalaureate approach.

In another administrative move, Vanessa Fisher, who was principal at Sunnyside last year, this year will be principal at Sunnyside and Florida Mesa elementary schools.

daler@durangoherald.com