The Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering will be the name of the new PK-8 school to be built in west Greeley.

The Board of Education unanimously approved the name at its meeting Monday night. A committee of 14 District 6 staff and community members reviewed 70 names that were suggested for the new school through a community survey this summer. The committee met four times to whittle the names down and come up with a recommendation for the Board of Education.

Julie Hill, executive director of The Success Foundation Serving Greeley-Evans Schools, said everyone on the committee got a chance to be heard and reach a consensus on naming the new school. The Tointons received more than 30 nominations through the community survey.

“Our committee agreed that the legacy created by Bob and Betty Tointon is something that should be celebrated and honored,” Hill said. “We are proud to recommend the Tointon name for the new PK-8 school in District 6.”

Juan Cruz, a retired Greeley police officer who served on the Naming Committee, said there were many worthy names on the list and it was a difficult task to narrow it down.

“As we looked at the emphasis of the school being engineering, Tointon as an engineer would connect to the school,” Cruz said. “This individual cares about this community.”

The Board of Education previously approved a pre-engineering focus for the new school, which will be located at the intersection of 71st Avenue and 4th Street. Bob Tointon is a trained engineer who worked for most of his career in the construction industry. He has also been a strong supporter of public education, including: 

• Starting the Tointon Institute for Educational Change at the University of Northern Colorado in 1995, in which 52 District 6 administrators have participated.
• Started the Student Recovery Program in District 6 in 2007. This program helps mentor male Latino high school students who are behind on
• credits and helps them to complete high school.
• In 2014, the Tointons invested in the blended learning pilot program at Bella Romero Academy.
• Bob Tointon serves on the Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council.
• The Tointons were strong supporters of the District 6 2016 and 2017 Mill Levy Override campaigns and the 2019 Bond Issue.

Terri Pappas, vice president of the Board of Education, said she is honored the name of the new school will be the Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering.

“I am grateful for everything that the Tointons have done for this community,” Pappas said. “I am going to approve this 100 percent.”

Bob Tointon was present in the virtual board meeting, and accepted the honor. His wife, Betty, passed away this summer.

“All I can say really is thank you very much. This is a great honor,” Bob Tointon said. “Certainly not one I anticipated. It’s too bad Betty can’t be here, but she is probably up there somewhere looking down with a smile on her face. I have great expectations for this school.”

The Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering is now in the design phase and is slated to open in the fall of 2022. It is funded by the bond issue approved by District 6 voters in November 2019. To view a conceptual flyover of the new school, visit https://www.greeleyschools.org/Page/24335.