The biggest challenge is to meet the needs and bring kids to a place thats up to speed with what we can give them as far as care and nurturing.. Editor's note: This Q&A article was compiled by Whitefish Pilot editor Whitney England. Of course were outdoor enthusiasts, so that was the first appeal; then the great schools, the fantastic gym, the theater, the awesome town, the airport. Three years ago the outdoor-loving family visited Whitefish and Glacier National Park while looking for a location to call home after Diehl retired from the military. Darcy Schellinger grew up in Billings, MT and graduated with a degree in Business Finance from Montana State University. We must eradicate the pop politics of the public square to preserve their innocence so they can put their energy into building skills to achieve after high school and build a life for themselves. Background: Current Vice Chair for Whitefish School District School Board. The queer community has become a targeted group recently and this should be addressed at the district level. I feel like Im a really good listener; I like to listen to all perspectives before weighing in on a decision.. | However, he would like to see that progression continue and figure out the next steps in returning kids to normalcy in the classroom. Diehl and his wife Amina have two teenage kids currently attending Whitefish Middle School. Teachers/ Staff It was just humbling and incredible the amount of initiation random people who wed never met took to reach out she recalled. In my opinion, the most significant challenge is coming out of the pandemic both academically and emotionally. Various art shows have displayed student works across the county, state and at the national level. Jerries commitment to providing excellent education for the students of Whitefish was the reason for her desire to serve on the Whitefish School Board. Whitefish, MT 59937 His wife has a masters in public health and has been highly involved in infection mitigation in Montana during the pandemic. There is no staff matching your search criteria Administration. An injury ended her professional dancing career, but opened up the opportunity to move somewhere new and start a dance school. Speech and Debate activities offer students an opportunity to hone their skills in a variety of competitive events at both the local and state level. - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, Id bring a sense of leadership and sharing in ideas, Morrow said. To view and listen to the School Board Meeting, a video link will be available the day of meeting. She said her personal qualities of commitment and loyalty will help her make a difference if she takes on this role. As the election approaches, Kearns hopes voters will keep in mind that although shes new to living in Whitefish, she understands the community and just has a desire to serve for the betterment of local education. 2010 saw our first national 1st place winner in the category of Hospitality and Tourism. The School Board needs to engage with other community groups to find solutions for our housing issues. As the pandemic narrative on masking and jabs unravels, it's clear our children were subject to political agendas and not health measures. Whitefish Middle School Back to top Bulldog Tip Line (406) 730-3080 | speakup@whitefishschools.org News & Announcements 7th Grade Girls Basketball Tournament @ West Valley 8th Grade Girls Basketball Tournament @ Kalispell Middle School Whitefish High School Expansion Information Poster The Bulldog Buzz As the election approaches, Kearns hopes voters will keep in mind that although shes new to living in Whitefish, she understands the community and just has a desire to serve for the betterment of local education. In 2017 she said her family had a tough time after her husband was involved in a tragic avalanche accident in Glacier National Park. For public correspondence to be published within the school board business meeting materials, it must be received by 3:00 PM on the Friday before the scheduled monthly business meeting. Morrow has been a dancer her whole life and also enjoys going to restaurants and reading in her free time. Children are the future of our country, and I believe it is essential for their success to provide them with a solid educational foundation that is instruction-based and not agenda-driven. In addition, I have extensive business experience dealing with budgets, personnel and scheduling, and I have held many volunteer roles in the community. She had a great public schooling experience all the way from kindergarten through her postsecondary education at University of Montana, and knows her education has allowed her many opportunities in life. Whitefish High School. David Diehl now works as a director of operations at RightOnTrek. Students in the Whitefish School District have several programs to choose in furthering their artistic skills: drama, instrumental music, vocal music, and visual arts. She and her husband enjoy everything outdoors from whitewater rafting to hiking to just being outside with their kids. I definitely want to come with the intention of open mindedness to the position, she said. To this board Todd brings school and nonprofit board experience. The family enjoys skiing, spending time outdoors and fishing, Lengacher himself says given a free day he would be out on a river fly fishing. Whitefish Bay Schools | An Exceptional Place to Learn | Whitefish Bay . While most recently living in Seattle, his family was coming out to the Flathead Valley more often and developing a stronger desire to stay in Montana. No jobs currently. Candidates listed in alphabetical order by last name: Occupation: Dentist (disabled due to a hand injury), stay-at-home mom. Joined by their golden retriever, they all enjoy supporting the local outdoor community and are grateful for the accessible, beautiful places that surround Whitefish. And I really am supportive of standardized curriculum to support teachers, but at the same time not constrain their ability to be flexible.. Bennetts says she was inspired to run for school board for a number of reasons including wanting to help make sure every child has access to an excellent education. And just very subtly, but very intentionally took care of us.. A Whitefish native, Elizabeth has called Whitefish home for 38 years. Trustees - School Board - School Board - Whitefish School District Trustees If you would like to email all of the school board trustees please send your email to trustees@whitefishschools. An aspect of life that is really important to Kearns is that relationships matter. In the past she worked for a nonprofit that partnered with schools to deliver extended programming this work helped her grow to recognize the struggles that teachers and students face daily. Although Diehl has never served on a school board before, he believes his leadership experience from his military career would be an asset to the Whitefish School Board. Written public correspondence can be submitted by emailing the Trustees at trustees@whitefishschools.org or by a written letter sent to the Whitefish School District Trustees at 600 East Second Street, Whitefish, MT 59937. Whitefish School District Three years ago the outdoor-loving family visited Whitefish and Glacier National Park while looking for a location to call home after Diehl retired from the military. Ray and Jerrie directed the American Field Service (AFS) exchange student program in Montana for many years. Use of Browser Cookies: Functions on this site such as Search, Login, Registration Forms depend on the use of "Necessary Cookies". Not only did I receive excellent academic preparation from Whitefish schools, it also provided a safe and caring place for me to be myself and grow into a productive community member. For more information on the election call the district office at 862-8640. When considering the issues facing the school district, COVID and continuing to adapt to the issues arising from the pandemic is definitely on her mind, she notes. Im actually looking forward to, if I were on the board, helping begin to make a plan for that, he expressed. For more information on ballots, contact the Whitefish School District office at 862-8640. She and her husband Joel Shehan have one son in third grade at Muldown Elementary and the family enjoys being in the outdoors, especially hiking and paddle boarding. Website Disclaimer. And given his background in education, he feels like the Whitefish School Board would be a good fit. I dont know what all our needs are right now, so first of all I want to be a sounding board and listen and learn, Diehl said. BA History and Political Science U of M. Minor Library Media U of M. When I talk about moving here and being in the school district, I understand that those values exist here, and I want to guard those and keep those.. 406-862-3505. 1118 East 7th St., Whitefish, MT 59937 P: (406) 862-8620 F: (406) 730-2176 It has all the elements that makes it so appealing to all of us. Our WHS choir students may participate in Concert Choir, Voce Primo and Chorale. Would you like to continue working on this application? The election is May 4 and the mail-in ballots are scheduled to be sent out on April 14 and arrive in voters mailboxes by next week. Over the last year, Lengacher says he supports the decisions the board made regarding reopening schools during the pandemic. He added that other priorities for him as a trustee would include ensuring quality teaching materials and a supportive standardized curriculum for teachers, empowering kids to make their own decisions, supporting extracurricular programs and improving communication in parent-teacher relationships across the district. She attended Whitefish public schools from kindergarten to her graduation in 2002. Whitefish High School Dr. Katie Clarke is a communication researcher. When considering the issues facing the school district, COVID and continuing to adapt to the issues arising from the pandemic is definitely on her mind, she notes. Especially in Whitefish, it's a small community so your actions can have a direct and immediate impact.. One of the things that drew her to Whitefish, which she discovered on a ski vacation with friends, was that people were friendly and the community. However she does believe a huge concern facing the school district is continuing to recover from the educational setbacks and emotional disturbances to students caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although new to living fulltime in Whitefish, Kearns didnt want to wait any longer to get involved in the community. I feel like the hybrid model was a balance of the needs of maintaining safety as well as recognizing in-person education is invaluable.. She has a bachelor's in fine arts and communications, and currently working on her master's degree in professional counseling. I bring accountability, when I tell someone Im going to do something, I do it; it doesnt matter if it feels uncomfortable., copyright 2023 Search: There is no staff matching your search criteria Administration. Admin Assistant, Clerical, Office Administration, Healthcare Administration. Search: There is no staff matching your search criteria Teachers. I just think theres lots of possibilities for us to continue to be innovative given the relatively small size and the support for education in Whitefish.. School board elections: Whitefish | Daily Inter Lake I do not envy those decisions they had to make, she said. Muldown Elementary School She just opened her own studio called Whitefish School of Ballet and serves as the artistic director. But do they leave the room feeling like they are heard and hopeful; I think I can offer that.. Ray and Jerries family include 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren plus 24 exchange students who have all attended the Whitefish schools. The district is engaged with leaders in the community to work towards affordable housing solutions. The board should consider creative options, such as involvement in affordable housing at the city level, or spearheading their own housing initiatives. She served on the local and state Reading Councils and made many presentations at those as well as at the International Reading Association. Accommodating growth, utilizing resources efficiently and student mental health are important challenges our school district has been facing. Morrow moved to Whitefish one year ago in search of a friendly place to settle down and potentially start a family. Her post high school education included an undergraduate degree in History from University of Puget Sound (2006) and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University (2012). Location: Whitefish School District Board Room 600 East Second Street Whitefish, MT 59937 An injury ended her professional dancing career, but opened up the opportunity to move somewhere new and start a dance school. The use of multiple assessment tools has vastly improved curriculum offerings and the instructional methods used to reach students at all levels of learning. She also works full time as a pediatric physical therapist at Montana Childrens in Kalispell. And I feel well informed just given the proximity to my wifes work., copyright 2023 Our schools have implemented multiple intervention strategies for those students in need of additional support through mentoring and individual tutoring. Im actually looking forward to, if I were on the board, helping begin to make a plan for that, he expressed. Location: WMS - PAC. My concern lies with the willingness of the board to step on the rights of parents. She says she always had a desire to get into local politics and government and knows she has a lot to offer in the role. In spite of the pandemic, our high school is ranked number two in the state and our reading and math scores are on the upswing across every grade level in the district. In the past she worked for a nonprofit that partnered with schools to deliver extended programming this work helped her grow to recognize the struggles that teachers and students face daily. Athletic/activities programs function as an integral part of the total curriculum by providing a variety of experiences in sportsmanship, teamwork, competition and by helping the individual students develop a healthy self concept. $570,000. David Diehl is a retired U.S. Air Force command pilot and colonel who moved his family to Whitefish in July 2020. Finally, bringing a science background to the board offers another perspective of data interpretation and problem-solving. After moving around a lot as a youngster himself, Diehls father was also in the Air Force, he wanted his two kids to attend one high school instead of moving several times. Prior to becoming a trustee I actively attended Whitefish School District board meetings and work sessions. Current trustees Ruth Harrison and Betsy Kohnstamm both . P: 406.862.8650 F: 406.862.8664. Although originally from Dallas, she was living in Las Vegas and was a dancer for Cirque du Soleil. There are some changes that just inevitably bring challenges because that is how new leadership works, she expressed. Student publications include the high school newspaper, The Bulldog Breeze, the literary publication, Snow Ghosts, and the annual WHS year book. Ms. Catey Nasello Principal Mr. John Coyne Assistant Principal . The top challenges currently facing the district are issues related to the pandemic, growth of the student population and affordable housing. The secondary program has excellent fine arts programs along with the advance placement classes in English, Government, Science, and Math. Why are you the best candidate for this position and what will you bring to the board if elected? I see the school district doing lots of good work, he said. He was inspired to run in the trustee election because of his desire to serve and give back to the community. I am a Whitefish native and graduate of Whitefish Schools; I greatly value the educational opportunities offered by our schools. No, I do not want to apply for that job. Powered by Ive always been interested in the educational and artistic development of children. If elected, Lengacher says other priorities would include understanding the impact that the pandemic has had on education and also how its accelerated the income, education and Access gap within the community. Kearns would like to help mend that and wants to start by serving on the school board. National award winners have had their works displayed via the national duck stamp for the U.S. 600 East 2nd St. Whitefish, MT 59937 . org. I am not privy to the inside workings of the schools, and all my dealings with any staff have exceeded my expectations. These essential cookies may also be used for improvements, site monitoring and security. As far as how the district handled COVID-19 and reopening schools, she supports the decisions made regarding the hybrid teaching model. I will strive to bring creative solutions to ensure fair and just policy, and reject policies that create more problems. Ill show up prepared and do the very best I can to represent all the needs of the varying parties.. Whitefish School District Address 600 East Second Street Whitefish, MT 59937 USA Industry Education Report Job Most Popular Elementary Principal Job Categories Elementary Schools Elementary School School Administration Bilingual Elementary Teacher Other Helpful Pages Related To Elementary Principal Elementary Principal Salaries All Jobs Whitefish, MT 59937 Suicide rates have increased. However, I dont claim my diverse perspective is what qualifies me alone for this position. For reference, kindergarteners in 2020 who are now in second grade have never experienced a normal school year due to Covid. As much as anything, I want to leverage my experience with schools and with boards to build the best and highest functioning board we possibly can.. Editor's note: This story originally ran in the April 14, 2021 edition of the Whitefish Pilot. I think theyre one of the most important demographics that we have and the best investment is in the development of a child, she added. My goal is to reunite our district with the common goal of doing what is best for our children, which is ultimately what is best for society as a whole. If elected to the school board, keeping that genuine community feel and engagement is one aspect she would prioritize. After your information is complete, you will receive a confirmation number, and your information will be saved allowing you to return at any time to submit additional applications. And my experience in after-school programming gives me insight into the daily challenges faced by our staff and teachers. From everyone I talked to, this district worked hard to put in place what I would call an adaptive management approach she said. Whitefish School District Staff. Study after study reveals that every school that is really excelling, by whatever metric, has a board that is excellent by every metric, he says. Muldown Elementary School; Whitefish Middle School; Whitefish High School; Whitefish Independent High School . As a board, we must continue to provide stability and continuity in our schools as well as realistic and open discussions about anxiety, depression and suicide. Three years ago Lengacher and his family moved to Whitefish and chose this town specifically based on the size and the community. And out of the variety of ways to participate in building and shaping my community, serving on the school board is a great fit given my skills and experiences. What really drew me here was the people that live here they have these wonderful qualities of really fierce independence and strength, coupled with a very strong sense of community, Kearns said. WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT - TalentEd Hire In the past year just seeing the way public discourse has evolved and how relationships in our communities have become so fractured, it made me rethink waiting (to get involved).. Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community Thats something she believes every child should have. The election is May 4 and the mail-in ballots are scheduled to be sent out on April 14 and arrive in voter's mailboxes by next week. Whitefish, MT 59937 Family, educational and community involvement are Jerries passions. Mrs. Kristine Yorba Secretary Web Accessibility Complaint Form Web Accessibility Statement. If elected he says his first task would just be to listen to the issues at hand and learn from the trustees, administrators and community members. The Running Start program provides eligible high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to get a start on their college career by earning dual credit simultaneously with WHS and FVCC.
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