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Editor's note: An earlier version of this story and the story that appeared in today's Craig Daily Press had an incorrect name for the superintendent candidate. His name is Dennis Wilson.

It was 1980, at a golf course in Bridgeport, Mich., when Dennis Wilson changed directions.

His cross-country coach took him aside to tell Wilson how disappointing he had become.

Wilson, now 47, said that pivotal moment was the first time he ever thought about becoming a teacher.

"I didn't meet his expectations in a race I ran," said Wilson, one of three finalists for the Moffat County School District superintendent position.

Wilson said he was struggling at that time, as a student and in his personal life, "for a lot of reasons."

"He really got personal with me," he said. "He told me what he thought of me as a person and a student. He really connected with me. He let me know I didn't meet his expectations."

The exchange between student and coach inspired Wilson to never settle for less in his life.

It motivated him to arouse similar "Ah-hah" moments in others, first as a teacher, then a high school principal and now as a district superintendent.

"I try to provide opportunities for students to excel, surpass their potential," he said. "For me, that's when I see the light go on when a kid really gets something."

Wilson began his 21-year career in education teaching Spanish and computer science, as well as coaching track.

He spent six years in the classroom, first in Illinois and then Michigan, then earned his masters in educational leadership in 1993 from Central Michigan University.

Wilson accepted his first administrative position in 1994 as principal of Au Gres-Sims High School in Au Gres, Mich. Two and a half years later, he was superintendent of the Au Gres-Sims School District.

He has had two other superintendent positions since then, most recently with Uinta County School District No. 1, based in Evanston, Wyo.

Wilson said he moved "out West" to follow his family, but he wants a change from Evanston.

He said he thinks Moffat County is a place where he can succeed because his philosophy seems to match what the community wants from its schools.

The Moffat County School Board has requested Wilson share his views during a public interview at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the administrative building at 775 Yampa Ave.

District officials plan for Wilson to be the second of three superintendent interviews this week, with the other two scheduled for today and Friday.

Whomever the School Board selects will take the position when Superintendent Pete Bergmann retires later this year.

"I see a sense of pride and a willingness to get better," Wilson said about Moffat County. "I sense that and I say, 'Wow.' They talk a lot about student success, and they mean it. In the end, that's all we should be focused on."

Success is a tricky word, though, Wilson added. It does not mean someone has reached his or her full potential.

"We can always be better than we were yesterday," he said. "That's what I believe and what I try to convey with my position."

Wilson said he has a history of not letting students slip through the cracks.

As a volunteer with Youth Unlimited Opportunities in Evanston, Wilson said he helped establish an accredited, alternative school for grades seven to 12.

The school uses flex-scheduling so students can work outside jobs. Classes are centered on project-based learning, which asks students to delve into large issues using all of their classes.

For instance, the city of Evanston wanted to make a local river deeper to encourage recreational use, Wilson said. The students looked at biological consequences of the city's plan in science class, social consequences in social studies and some engineering in math.

"Every kid can have an ah-hah moment," Wilson said.

He said his zeal for that flash in a student's eyes surpasses all his other dreams.

"Oh sure, I could have gone into business," Wilson said. "Education is just a great profession. We don't always get a lot of positive feedback. Everyone wants to blame education, but it's a great and noble profession. We work with our country's most valuable resource. That's pretty indescribable."