This school year, I'll be highlighting VCHS's greatest asset: its people. More importantly, I want to share with you what makes them tick - their purpose, their goals, their aims, their calling.
If I were a rich man,
Daidle deedle daidle
Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb – Tevye the Dairyman
As a BMHS Senior, Jim Pyke was the lead actor – Tevye – in Fiddler on the Roof. Always a Renaissance Man, Mr. Pyke
is
most certainly a “rich man,” with faith, family, many friends and the Vail Valley as home.
Attending Meadow Mountain Elementary, Minturn Middle School and BMHS, Mr. Pyke found strong high school mentors in Football Coach Mr. Phelan, Mike King and his Theater Director, all 4’ 5” of Ms. Guilano.
With a natural bent towards STEM subjects and a love for football, Mr. Pyke immersed himself at CU-Boulder as a Math major and support staff for the CU Buffs. At CU, he was able to stay connected to a Vail buddy, Mr. JC Moritz, another Buff and childhood friend since diaper days. During those college days, the two were able to go to back-to-back Orange Bowls and also backpack together around Europe. Mr. Pyke recounted one funny, not so funny, experience. While trying to enjoy the Greek Islands, Young Moritz enjoyed some tasty baklava, but had a serious allergic reaction to the honey. Mr. Pyke recounted with a grin, “His head was already big but it became larger than Charlie Brown’s.” The two found a rustic Greek medical clinic where “Charlie” received a healthy dose of Cortisone – after that, all was well.
After college, Mr. Pyke returned to the Vail Valley where he worked for East West Partners and Cordillera as Information Systems Manager and VP of IT technology, respectively. He later started his own consulting practice,
Integrated Technology & Consulting
which he still owns and runs today. Mr. Pyke enjoys helping people, especially those who are intimidated by computers. He takes satisfaction in helping “even out the playing field,” bringing the average layperson into what might seem to be the mysterious world of technology. Over the last 3 years at VCHS, he’s brought that to his work as AP Computer Science Principles and Cybersecurity Teacher.
Mr. Pyke is energized teaching his students, especially in helping them see the relationship between what they are doing in the classroom and what’s going on in the real world. For him, application is the name of the game. He’s passionate about seeing high school students study his subjects. Why? He said, “There’s a convergence going on as technology is becoming more and more important. Not enough people are available to support future trends.”
As to his thoughts around adversity and failure, I asked Mr. Pyke to share a story. At one time, he was responsible for large networks and data storage. A server wasn’t working and for the next 36 hours without sleep he worked to get it up and running again. How did he work through that challenge and what did he learn? He said, “It’s okay to raise your hand and ask for help. Not everyone knows everything.” He teaches that same principle of success to his students today.
Mr. Pyke is married to Liz and the two met as Vail ski instructors. They have 3 kids: Ethan, Olivia and Eliza.
Mr. Pyke, lives of purpose…
