After one term on the Park County School District 1 board, but decades of prior experience in education, Laura Riley decided it was time to move on. 

“It would have been different if I hadn’t thought that all of the candidates that were running weren't potentially great options,” Riley said. “But I think that we had a great plate of candidates, and I just had to make that decision, that my family had to start coming first, at least at this point in my life, because you can’t roll time back.”

Riley joined the board after retiring from PCSD1 in 2019.

“I thought I could bring a good background and perspective and viewpoints,” she said, adding that she hopes she accomplished her goal. 

Riley attended her last board meeting on Nov. 25. Freshman trustee Ben Borcher took her seat on Dec. 10.

Riley loved being part of the conversations in the community and will miss that, she said.

“She was active; my memory is that she attended all of our board meetings, she  attended all of our training, all of our professional development, I can't think of a meeting or an activity or event that she failed to attend,” Board Chair Kim Dillivan said. “I thought she was just an excellent board member.”

It was obvious that Riley cared about the district, he added, also noting the quality of her questions and comments. They were relevant and meaningful, he said, which signaled to him that she came prepared to meetings and events and cared about the district.

“I've been fortunate enough to see the whole district and how they run. It's kind of been front and center in my life for a long time,” Riley said.

Prior to her board tenure Riley worked in PCSD1 as a substitute teacher before moving to in-school suspension. She then went to Northwest College and later came back to PCSD1, first at Westside Elementary School and then in the Support Services building as the administrative assistant in the district’s technology department. Riley also had years of experience working in eastern Wyoming as a substitute teacher prior to moving to Powell. 

From Riley’s perspective it is important to respect the viewpoints of teachers, parents and students. Teachers are professionals, Riley said, and should be listened to about what they need to teach successfully. 

“She was in the district for a long time, and that certainly is a different lens. I would describe her as an amazing advocate for our students, but also our staff,” Superintendent Jay Curtis said. “She had a lens and maybe a heart for the staff that really can only come from working alongside them. She was a tremendous advocate for them during her time.”