This is Mr. Rick Colpitts' seventh year as the superintendent of the Western Dubuque Community School District. Prior to his appointment here he served as the Executive Director of Human Resources for the Dubuque Community School District for three years. He began his career in education as a business teacher and coach at St. Albert High School in Council Bluffs before moving on to Columbus High School in Waterloo where he taught for two years and was the school business manager for four years. He was a teacher and coach at Union High School from 1993 to 2002 before he moved into the principal’s position in that building. From 2005 through 2012 he worked at Senior High School in Dubuque as an assistant principal and principal. His career in education has also included coaching several sports including football, basketball, track, softball, baseball and cross country.

Rick received his BA in Business Education in 1984 from the University of Northern Iowa. In 2002 he earned his MA from Drake University and he received his Education Specialist Certificate from UNI in 2009. In 1994 he was selected as the Teacher of the Year at Union High School. He was the Class 2A State Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2001 after his team won the state title. He was also chosen as the State Assistant Principal of the Year in 2009. In addition to his work in education, Rick has been an active volunteer in his community and in his church.

Rick is married to his wife Kim who is a 5th grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School in Dubuque. They have three children. The oldest child, Mandy, is an elementary teacher in Nebraska. Their son, Joshua, lives in Denver and works for Arrow Electronics. Kaylen, their youngest daughter, is a pastry cook in Minneapolis.