Many of us recall favorite teachers who shaped our interests and inspired us to learn. For Jeff Schuessler, literature teacher Mike Dallas of Clear Creek High School was that special educator.

Schuessler received a Bachelor Arts degree in English Literature at Regis in 1992. While playing semi-pro baseball and coaching at Clear Creek High School the next eight years, he somehow found time to acquire his Master’s Degree in English Literature in 1999.

Schuessler’s decision to begin teaching English at Gilpin County School in 2000 was partly due to his literature teacher Carmen Cassis’ influence during his sophomore year in college.

He has coached girls’ basketball for the Eagles from the beginning and boys’ baseball 15 of the last 22 years. For seven years, the golden voice you heard calling the play-by-play at football games was his. Schuessler has acted as athletic director since 2010. Recently on a Saturday during a middle school football tournament and varsity football game, he logged a 14-hour day contentedly attending to one task or another. It is a labor of love.

Everyone affectionately calls him “Shoe.” Schuessler is driven by his passion of sharing his knowledge of sports and literature with the students.