For the first few months of the school year, Salida High School found itself lacking an economics and government teacher. While the school managed by purchasing an economics course and having substitute teachers teach the course, it was not a permanent solution. Luckily, by the end of September, SHS welcomed a new economics and government teacher: Andy Schultz. 

“I’m still getting in the swing of everything. Everythings been going great, and I’m excited to get to know everyone here,” Schultz said. 

Schultz went to college at Colorado State University, where he majored in archeology and minored in history because he wanted to do hands-on science while traveling and working outside. He got his masters in education at Denver University. He was inspired to become a teacher because of the huge impact teachers had on his life as a child and because he likes working with children. 

“It’s fun! I like working with kids. I never liked school too much, and I fully believe a good teacher makes all the difference. […] Teachers can facilitate appreciation of learning rather than just liking school,” Schultz said. 

For three years, he taught in Denver; he student-taught at Grant Beacon Middle School and after taught at Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design (DSISD). There, he liked the hands-on learning and large projects that they were able to achieve, like making environmental impact reports for different neighborhoods or when they built fish tanks for different ecosystems. He has taught AP Environmental Science, biology, physics, and marine biology. 

“Biology was my favorite because I used to be an EMT, so I could really apply real experiences that I had gone through to the biology class,” he said. 

While Schultz has lived as far away as Spain and New Zealand, Colorado has always been his home base, as he was born in Denver and lived in Larksburg as a child as well as pursuing his higher education here. He wanted to come to Salida because he was looking to leave the city, and he and his family had always really liked Salida. While he is excited to be in Salida, he is apprehensive about leaving a place he was established for somewhere completely new.

“It’s always hard to leave a community you’re established in; I grew up two miles away from the school that I taught at. I had a bunch of old friends in Denver. [I’m nervous about] just re-establishing myself so that I can accomplish those same things up here,” Schultz said. 

While here, he will be teaching economics and government. With these classes, he is hoping to teach students financial literacy and an understanding of government and civics. Specifically, he is hoping the financial literacy skills that he’s teaching will help students get “ahead of the game” on fiscal matters when moving out of high school and into the adult world. Other than teaching, he is hoping to coach either football or basketball, as they were sports he played while in high school. He is also hoping to connect with students and the Salida community at large. 

“I’m most looking forward to being able to create relationships that I can see through high school. I’m hoping to coach, and I’d also like to become a member of the community outside of school–get to know people in the local community as well as the school,” Schultz said.

Outside of school, Schultz likes to do all the “typical Colorado stuff”. Specifically, he really likes hiking, skiing, and playing sports (especially basketball). He is also excited to try some local restaurants and play with his dog, Rufus. Schultz is looking forward to acclimating to Salida and becoming a part of both the SHS and Salida communities.