New Fossil Ridge High School social studies teacher Dillon Turpin inspires his students to be active in their learning.

Turpin, who joined Fossil’s staff this year, has taught in Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado, most recently for six years at Northridge High School in Greeley. 

“I don’t want to go anywhere else. This has been my destination school since I moved to Northern Colorado,” Turpin said. “I just want to be here, grow, be a part of the Fossil family, and can just continue here and hopefully retire here.”

Turpin earned his bachelor’s degree from Briarcliff University and his master’s from the University of Kansas. Turpin’s inspiration was a college professor who, despite being young, wrote a number of dissertations and books on history.

“He just inspired me to be like, ‘Wow, if he’s that young and has a passion for something like that, I think I can do something like that too,’” Turpin said.

Turpin said that the school’s community is what he loves most about coming here.

“When I first got here, Mr. Barry said Fossil family, and at first I didn’t know what that meant,” Turpin said. “People here, if I have a question, I can ask anybody, and they’ll point me in the right direction if they don’t know, or they’ll help me figure it out.”

Turpin acknowledges the happiness he has found here and is excited for the future he has at Fossil. 

Even when there are hard days, Turpin has never regretted his career choice. 

“There are days where it is tiring. I put in all this work, and then there’s all the other stuff behind the scenes,” Turpin said. “But regret, no. Are there tough days? Absolutely there are.”

The best part of his day is seeing his students and getting to talk to them, Turpin said.

“Best trait in a student [is] one that challenges my thinking, one that does not accept things at face value,” Turpin said.

“I get to see the students when they’re in the seats, when they can come and tell me about the day they’re having, other conversations that they had, or we get to talk about sports,” Turpin said.

Junior Spencer Easter called Turpin one of the best teachers he’s ever had.

“He actually makes me think and teaches in a way that actually makes you form your own opinions, and is interactive and engaging,” Easter said. 

Easter describes Turpin’s teaching style as “based on questions” and “not just a bunch of busy work. You’re actually like, learning stuff.”

Junior Kaylee Skaff connects with Turpin’s teaching and appreciates his personability.

“We are able to joke around during class, while also he does a really good job teaching the content, but still making it fun,” Skaff said. “He does a good job of keeping that controlled and educational while still, like us having the freedom to discuss.