R.J. Kost

Former State Sen. R.J. Kost was selected Monday night by the Northwest College Board of Trustees to fill the spot vacated by Dusty Spomer.

Kost was one of seven people to apply to fill the position, which will run through next fall’s election, at which point someone will be elected to fill the final two years of the term.

Kost, who is also on the Powell Valley Hospital board and other boards in the area, was the only one of the seven applicants to speak to the trustees during the public comment portion of the meeting.

“As Northwest College looks to the future and how to best meet the needs of the students, options for student opportunities need to continue to grow,” Kost said. “The strategic plan and financial preparation will be a leading factor on how continued educational success for students is accomplished. I want to be a part of that exciting future for this college. I've always supported the college and truly believe in the college and have been in education my entire life. And I hope to be a positive effect for the college board if I am chosen.”

Later, trustees went into executive session to discuss the applicants before returning to public session to vote to select Kost as one of three trustees representing voters in Park County School District 1 as well as those Park County residents near Frannie in Big Horn County school districts.

Kost, born in Greybull, spent 36 years in Park County School District 1 as a teacher and an administrator and then served one term as the state senator for District 19.

Kost holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physical education/health from Rocky Mountain College, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wyoming. He began his educational career in 1975, teaching math and coaching multiple sports in Dubois before moving to Powell in 1982, where he continued as a math teacher while also coaching football and wrestling until 1996.

In 2006, Kost became the curriculum coordinator for the district, a position he held until his retirement in 2018.

As a state senator, Kost was an advocate for Career and Technical Education in the Wyoming Community College system. He was also appointed by Gov. Mark Gordon to the State Board of Education in 2023.

Spomer first joined the college board in 2014 and was re-elected for a third term last fall, but his move to Cody makes him ineligible to stay on the Powell seat.