New PCS Supt., Jr./Sr. Principal excited for new roles at school

By Becky Uehling

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

For both Mark Jolliffe and Dalton Pettera stepping into administration jobs at Perkins County Schools, and becoming members of the Grant community, are exciting opportunities and the two are ready to get the year started. 

Although the two have been preparing for their roles at the school for months, and officially starting their jobs on July 1, they will officially introduce themselves to the Jr./Sr. High Students and their parents during a Back to School Night on Tuesday, Aug. 1. 

Principal Pettera

Originally from North Platte, Dalton Pettera, 32, has not strayed far from his hometown since graduating from North Platte High School in 2009. 

After high school, Pettera headed to UNK where he graduated in 2014 with a teaching degree in health and PE K-12, and then was hired at McCook as the K-3 PE teaching. 

In 2017, after earning his administration degree from UNK, Pettera became the dean of students for McCook. 

Earlier this year a principal’s job opened at Perkins County and Dalton was ready for a change in his life, and decided to apply. 

“I was ready for some new challenges and something different,” he said. 

His wife, Rachelle, who is also a teacher, was also ready for a change—to be a full-time mom to the couple’s daughter, one-year-old Stevie. The Perkins County job is allowing her to do that, he said. 

For the upcoming year, Pettera is looking forward to getting to know all of the students, building on the success of Perkins County in all areas, and focusing on building a sense of school spirit in all of the students and teachers at the school, he said.

Superintendent Jolliffe

For 54-year-old Mark Jolliffee, originally from Scottsbluff, stepping into the lead at Perkins County Schools is a breath of fresh air. 

Having spent the majority of his teaching career in a large metropolitan area of Wichita, Kansas, Jolliffe said being in a rural area is reinvigorating and he is looking forward to the experiences here. 

Graduating from Scottsbluff High in 1988, Jolliffe attended Western Nebraska Community College on a golf scholarship. He then went on to play golf at Newman University in Wichita. 

Originally seeking a horticulture degree, Jolliffe switched to education and graduated in 1992 with a teaching degree in science. 

He went on to teach 8th grade science at Wichita public schools for 10 years, and served as a golf coach. 

After earning his admin degree, he served as assistant principal and principal at various schools in and around Wichita. 

Recently eligible for retirement in Kansas, looking for a change, and wanting to be closer to his aging mother, who still lives in Scottsbluff, Jolliffe decided to pursue the superintendent’s position at Perkins County when it became open earlier this year. 

Jolliffe especially was ready to leave the big town and the many issues it is struggling with, including crime, delinquency among students, the varied challenges with students and technology, among other things, he said. 

Jolliffe said Perkins County is an excellent school with a great reputation, and he is also excited to build on the legacy of excellence here. 

He said he has an open door policy for students, parents, and the community at large, and welcomes anyone to come and visit with him about any school issues. He is even considering starting a coffee with a superintendent time during the week. More information will be forthcoming with this, he said. 

Heidi Jolliffe, Mark’s wife who is originally from Wichita, was also excited to move to a smaller town, and for her husband to have a little bit less stress, he said. The two have been overwhelmed and grateful for the warm welcome they have had from the community here, he said.