Two SBPS Administrators have announced plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year.
With the past 30 of his 31 years being spent in education at SBPS, Bert Wright, Principal of Westmoor Elementary will be retiring at the end of this school year. Wright started as a teacher at Westmoor Elementary in 1995 teaching 5th grade for 10 years before moving to Bluffs Middle School where he taught Social Studies and Math before becoming Assistant Principal and later Principal at the middle school. In 2018, Wright returned to Westmoor Elementary to serve as Principal for the remainder of his tenure with the District. A former Jaycees Educator of the Year, Wright received his Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology/Anthropology and Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Masters in Educational Administration from Chadron State College. Wright coached boys’ basketball, girls’ golf, and boys’ golf for the District including the 2010 Class B Boys State Championship Golf Team, and was named Western Conference Golf Coach of the Year in 2010.
Scottsbluff High School Activities Director Dave Hoxworth also plans to retire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Hoxworth’s career spans 31 years in the District where he has served as elementary and middle school physical education teacher, the Dean of Students/Assistant Activities Director at Bluffs Middle School, and currently 10 years as the Activities Director at Scottsbluff High School. In addition, Hoxworth spent 17 years coaching football and both boys’ and girls’ basketball. In 2024 Hoxworth was named the NSIAAA Nebraska Athletic Director of the Year and in 2023, received the NSAA Distinguished Service Award. Hoxworth has served as a member of the NSAA Class B Caucus and is currently working with a team of ADs and NSAA Representatives to address Competitive Balance in the state of Nebraska. During Hoxworth’s tenure as Activities Director, Scottsbluff teams have earned 61 district titles and 3 state championships, the community has been awarded the Boys’ and Girls’ Class B State Golf Championships by the Nebraska School Activities Association, and Scottsbluff High School created an athletic Hall of Fame, now in its second year.
“Bert Wright and Dave Hoxworth epitomize the definition of outstanding educators and school administrators,” said Dr. Andrew Dick, SBPS Superintendent. “In addition to my time as Superintendent, I had the privilege of serving alongside Bert and Dave as part of the administrative team at Bluffs Middle School and saw firsthand, early on in their administrative careers, the talent and commitment they both exude. Bert and Dave are high-character, high-relationship individuals, which is undoubtedly sought-after by the parents of the children we serve. These two leaders have been incredibly dedicated to the important work we do and have created a legacy that has impacted thousands of students throughout their combined 61 years with Scottsbluff Schools.”
The SBPS Board of Education accepted Wright’s retirement at the December regular meeting. Hoxworth’s retirement will be placed on the January regular meeting agenda. The District will be accepting applications for both positions on its job board located at www.sbps.net with the selection process occurring in early 2025.