Although Dr. Lewis is stepping into the role of Boulder High’s principal in the coming year; she has known BHS for decades. Dr. Lewis’ dream has always been to be the principal of Boulder High. “I keep telling everybody this, but I’m just so humbled and honored, I’m not a title chaser. To be in this seat, it fills my heart so much,” She adds that she wants students to know that she is “an open book. I’m an open door policy type of person.”
Kristen Lewis was born in Mississippi, where she decided, at the age of five, that she would be a teacher. She had two younger sisters, and she described creating mini workbooks for them and pretending to be a “teacher” when she babysat them. By the age of 8, she had moved to Parker, Colorado, and then to Rock Creek just in time to go to high school. She admits she went to Fairview, saying that her kids jokingly call her “a traitor.”
Throughout high school and college she did everything from swimming and softball to horseback riding and cheerleading. Cheerleading is actually what landed her a job at boulder high. “My friend asked me to help clean up her cheer routine and her head coach signed me on as an assistant coach for BHS in 2004.” The head coach quit a month later and Dr. Lewis went on to coach the cheer team here for 10 years. “I didn’t know it at the time but that moment shaped my entire professional life,” she states. Explaining that the same year she interviewed for and got a coveted Social Studies teacher position at Boulder High.
“In my first year of teaching I had five classrooms and three preps,” she recalls, “it was crazy.” She ended up teaching Social Studies at Boulder High for 11 years. “I majored in U.S history, but I never taught it,” she adds that her favorite class to teach was AP World History.
She felt that she would never leave the classroom; she loved the kids and she loved teaching. However, after 11 years and encouragement from Dr. Hill, she became the Dean of Students and then an Assistant Principal. During COVID-19, she became the covid coordinator, which was an intense 24/7 role that burned her out. She needed a change, so she applied to be the principal of Manhattan Middle School and got the job. She recalls that the move was “bittersweet, because [BHS] was my home.”
“I always say middle schoolers are like puppies; they follow you around, and they’re so fun. High schoolers are like cats. I love that.”
“When this position opened up at Boulder High, I was so excited.” She says that she wouldn’t have left Manhattan for any other school. Her family supported her applying to BHS and said, “You should go home. Boulder High is your home.” Dr. Lewis shared, “Since I’ve gotten this position so many teachers have reached out and said, you’ve come home. I’m so happy.”
Dr. Lewis has a passion for our school and a proven track record of leadership. When asked what she wants to bring to Boulder High, she said: “the spirit and community. Staff, students, parents, our community members working on the culture, working on just everything and lifting it back up.” We can expect positive changes for next year, from the overall vibe to specific programs like 360 and Panther Pride. Dr. Lewis says that Boulder High has “been through hard times. And I’m really excited to be back and see it sparkle!”
