When Lindsay Hentschel enters the principal role in July, a familiar face will return to the halls of Roaring Fork High School (RFHS). In February, current principal Megan Baiardo announced plans to depart at the end of the school year. Hentschel, a longtime educator within the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD), said, “It feels a little bit like coming back home.”
Having served as one of the assistant principals at Glenwood Springs High School (GSHS) since 2022, Hentschel expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with an experienced leadership team at GSHS but underscored her affinity for Carbondale, saying, “My heart is really in the Carbondale community.”
Hentschel and her husband, Hadley, arrived in Carbondale in 2003 and have been part of the RFSD family ever since. Hadley has taught science at Roaring Fork High School for 21 years.
While the couple was teaching at RFHS, they went on long and arduous journeys to and from Haiti to adopt their sons, Mykerson and Leander, who were then ages 4 and 6, respectively.
Fast forward 10 years and Leander, an eighth grader at Carbondale Middle School, will be a freshman at RFHS next school year. Mykerson, who will be 17 this summer, is currently enrolled at GSHS and is deciding between the two high schools for next year. As Hentschel explained, “I’m letting him feel that out for himself.”
Hentschel taught at Carbondale Middle School for four years before transitioning in 2007 to RFHS. In 2013, she assumed a district-
level role as an instructional coach, overseeing professional development and subsequently crafting curricula implemented district-wide.
Hentschel’s shift from teaching to administration was motivated by her belief in the importance of teacher input in decision-making. She emphasizes the significance of educator participation in curriculum development and professional growth and highlights the role of school administrators in cultivating supportive environments for both staff and students.
“I feel like the district has come a long way in ensuring that teachers have more of a voice in curriculum and professional development. That’s still a value to me — that teachers are respected as professionals and are the people closest to the work who should have a say in how the work is executed,” Hentschel shared.
In March 2020, Hentschel earned a graduate certificate in restorative practices from the International Institute for Restorative Practices.
Restorative practice extends beyond conflict resolution and is an ongoing practice of cultivating relationships. It acknowledges that “while conflict is inevitable, violence is optional. It’s rooted in how you develop relationships that allow you to work through difficult problems together. Even when having disagreements, you should keep moving forward and be in good community with each other,” she said.
She advocates for a balance between structured expectations and supportive care, ensuring everyone feels understood and supported. “The idea is that you’re creating a sense of balance between those two things — like I’m being asked to do something challenging to me, whether as a student or an educator, to grow, knowing that I have the support I need to do that,” Hentschel said.
While the conversation around school safety and security, particularly regarding campus accessibility, is ongoing for the school district, Hentschel reflects on the balance between maintaining an open campus and ensuring student safety.
As a former teacher and current administrator, she acknowledges the complexities involved, including potential impacts on faculty and student schedules. She emphasizes the importance of thorough planning and community input in addressing these issues.
With RFSD currently engaged in discussions with community partners about conducting an equity audit as part of its new diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism policy, Hentschel highlighted challenges stemming from a predominantly white teaching and leadership staff’s limited perspective on systemic barriers.
“We might have a good idea about how to teach academics, but we might not be fully grasping the factors in our systems that are getting in people’s way,” she shared.
Hentschel credits longtime educator and former RFHS assistant principal Barbara Mason, who mentored her while she was completing her master’s in education, with shaping her approach to educational leadership.
“Barbara helped me understand how to be a strongly feeling person and still be a strong leader,” she said.
Community holds deep meaning for the Hentschel family. Following a year of travel and a COVID lockdown in Denver, when they returned home, the children expressed feeling safer in Carbondale, contrasted with the sense of anonymity they felt while traveling.
“They were like, ‘People don’t know us here [in Denver].’ Familiarity brings a sense of safety, and that’s why we highly value our community,” Hentschel concluded.