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Craig — 1976.

Four years into his teaching career, a math teacher at a relatively small Illinois high school earns a master's degree in administration.

The instructor doesn't know if, or even when, he'll use it.

Then, one day, his principal gives him an offer that will change his life.

Fast-forward to a sultry afternoon in June 2008.

Less than two business days away from retirement, Joel Sheridan, Moffat County School District assistant superintendent, had hardly sat down behind his desk before his fingers sought pen and scratch paper.

As he spoke, the solid fingers that held the pen jotted a few words, then stopped, then started again, as moving of their own accord.

Sheridan is a man on the move.

Nearly 30 years ago, however, he was the math instructor pondering whether to step up into a new position.

"I really wasn't ready to quit coaching or teaching," he said, "but I liked the challenge" posed by becoming an assistant principal.

"I think that's what we respond to : challenges," he said. "I would have been very happy staying in teaching and coaching for more years, but : I really enjoyed that job."

Before starting his course as a school administrator, Sheridan was a math instructor and coach at Mater Dei High School in Breese, Ill.

For a total of seven years, Sheridan taught math and coached various sports, including football, basketball and track.

Sheridan said he enjoyed watching students meet with success on the field and in the classroom.

"I felt just as enthusiastic seeing a kid learn math concepts as I did seeing kids score a touchdown," he said.

Yet, when the chance opened up to become an assistant principal, Sheridan took it.

He didn't stay rooted to one job description. From assistant principal at Mater Dei, he moved into the school's principal position.

In 1990, Sheridan moved to Craig where he met Pete Bergmann, then a long-time science teacher in the school district. Bergmann eventually became Sheridan's assistant principal.

Bergmann "was really an asset to me," he said, adding that Bergmann's familiarity with the district and the staff helped ease his transition.

Sheridan left the School District in 2000 to become assistant superintendent and then interim superintendent for the Aspen School District.

When he returned to Moffat County in 2002, he agreed to become the School District's second-in-command under Bergmann's leadership as superintendent.

Sheridan's duties now include a wide swath of responsibility - from overseeing curriculum to leading staff development.

Nearly all of that comes to an end Monday.

In December 2007, the Moffat County School Board voted to accept Sheridan's resignation as assistant superintendent - a position he's held for six years.

His tenure ends June 30.

Sheridan said he will continue to help the School District with its bond issue construction projects on a part-time basis.

Still, Sheridan will leave "huge, huge shoes to fill," said Christine Villard, the School District's student services director.

On July 1, Villard will replace Sheridan.

She first met Sheridan when she began working for the School District as a school psychologist in 2000. Although she served schools across the district, her office was located at the high school, where Sheridan was principal.

"Since the first time I met Joel, I think the first thing that stuck out for me was his intelligence," she said.

Villard later worked under Sheridan's supervision when she took her directorship position with the School District.

However, Villard said, it wasn't a typical supervisor-employee dynamic.

"You never feel like you work for Joel," she said. "You always feel like you work with him."

Bridget Manley can be reached at 875-1795 or bmanley@craigdailypress.com.