406-862-3505. My degree from an elite university demonstrates my commitment to providing pathways to higher education for all students. What is the most important issue(s) facing the Whitefish School District right now and how would you work to address it? Ms. Victoria Buls. Her interest in children is a huge reason why she is running for a trustee seat on the Whitefish School Board. I am committed to Whitefish kids and all the dedicated, talented professionals who support them. She served as the local American Cancer Society Education Director for many years. Im actually looking forward to, if I were on the board, helping begin to make a plan for that, he expressed. I feel this pay it forward, as far as Im incredibly grateful for my career and my education that I received as part of a Montana public school system that allows me to have the life I have today; I want that for every kid.. Diverse perspectives are crucial in order to govern a community in a representative way. Having a safe learning environment is paramount for our school districts staff and students. Following in her grandparents and parents Griz Alumni footsteps, she attended the University of Montana in Missoula earning a Bachelors in Exercise Science, and graduate degree with a Masters in Physical Therapy. Having lived in different places, and living in Seattle, we were looking for a place where we could have more of a direct impact on the community he said. Search: There is no staff matching your search criteria Administration. Giving solid leadership direction along with flexibility, I think thats kind of the best you can hope for.. Suggestions may be selected), To be informed of or opt-out of these cookies, please see our. Todd and his wife met at a small progressive K-12 school in Seattle and they also worked together at a boarding school on a 500 acre working farm in southern Vermont. 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. Location: Whitefish School District Board Room 600 East Second Street Whitefish, MT 59937 Ray and Jerries family include 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren plus 24 exchange students who have all attended the Whitefish schools. The board should consider creative options, such as involvement in affordable housing at the city level, or spearheading their own housing initiatives. Instrumental Music all students have the choice of instruments beginning with the 5th grade and may specialize with one or more instruments by the time they finish their high school career. Why are you the best candidate for this position and what will you bring to the board if elected? For more information on ballots, contact the Whitefish School District office at 862-8640. In addition to her work with schools, she also has experience in mediation. Attended public schools in Billings; obtained a business finance degree from Montana State University in Bozeman. I believe the school district did the right thing in how they proceeded he said. Search: There is no staff matching your search criteria Teachers. The election is May 4 and the mail-in . Student publications include the high school newspaper, The Bulldog Breeze, the literary publication, Snow Ghosts, and the annual WHS year book. Although she doesnt have any children of her own yet, she loves spending time with kids and volunteering in programs serving youth. Finally, bringing a science background to the board offers another perspective of data interpretation and problem-solving. In addition, I have extensive business experience dealing with budgets, personnel and scheduling, and I have held many volunteer roles in the community. All parents are encouraged to attend and become active members regardless of the grade of your child. In addition to her work with schools, she also has experience in mediation. The use of multiple assessment tools has vastly improved curriculum offerings and the instructional methods used to reach students at all levels of learning. Job in Whitefish - Flathead County - MT Montana - USA , 59937. She also works full time as a pediatric physical therapist at Montana Childrens in Kalispell. 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. How do we all catch up after the last year to two years of interrupted educational experiences and make sure were serving all these kids not just their educational needs but the extreme stress and emotional burden that theyve been carrying, she said. The schools annual Back to School Bash is a major event for our CARE program to demonstrate the chapters philosophy and mission. But in addition to those interests, Lengacher has an even stronger passion to serve in the local community. WMS Jazz Band Festival @ U of M. Date: Mar 17. Five candidates are running for the Whitefish School Board. 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. I think that is a really important skill set that Im bringing to the table because our job on the school board is listening to a bunch of varied positions and opinions of people that are not agreeing with each other, Kearns said. NEW - 2 DAYS AGO 2.46 ACRES. Darcy Schellinger grew up in Billings, MT and graduated with a degree in Business Finance from Montana State University. The election will be held on May 3 at the Whitefish School District Board Room, 600 East Second Street. It is there she met her husband, Kyle, a Whitefish native. In 2017 she said her family had a tough time after her husband was involved in a tragic avalanche accident in Glacier National Park. 600 East 2nd St. Whitefish, MT 59937 . The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community, Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, career . (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot). But do they leave the room feeling like they are heard and hopeful; I think I can offer that.. Whitefish, MT 59937 . In addition, students have taken the lead and their voice may be heard on the Big Fish Radio. 6th Grade and Intervention Teacher. But one main reason is to give back to the community. Privacy Policy Over 300 course offerings are available to students who have an interest and aptitude to challenge them in a diverse curriculum taught by nationally known instructors. 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.. Bennetts expressed great respect for the current board members, administrators, district staff and everyone already involved in the district. She attended Whitman College and graduated from the University of Montana. How do we all catch up after the last year to two years of interrupted educational experiences and make sure were serving all these kids not just their educational needs but the extreme stress and emotional burden that theyve been carrying, she said. I believe the school district did the right thing in how they proceeded he said. She acknowledges the challenges the pandemic caused in the educational setting, but also respects the decisions the district made by implementing the hybrid in person and online model. Whitefish, MT 59937 If you want to view and listen to the meeting via mobile device, you are encouraged to install the Zoom app. Emily Morrow believes that children are one of the most important demographics and has been committed to serving kids in many ways throughout her life. 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. Lastly she added that with skills shes obtained through her career combined with her hardworking attitude she knows she could make a positive impact if elected to the board. - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, Her oldest daughter will start at Muldown in the fall. Whitefish School District #44 is located in the scenic resort community of. F: (406) 862-2586, 1143 E. 4th St., Ive been in senior leadership positions quite often and understand the difficulties presented, he explained. I can get established in the community and serve it at the same time.. She and her husband enjoy everything outdoors from whitewater rafting to hiking to just being outside with their kids. Show Calendar. As far as how the school district handled the COVID-19 pandemic, Diehl said he supported the districts methodical approach to reopening schools. An aspect of life that is really important to Kearns is that relationships matter. Kearns and her family moved to Whitefish in September 2020, although they have been coming to the area to visit often since her husbands family has owned a cabin in Essex for many years. The election will be held on May 3 at the Whitefish School District Board Room, 600 East Second Street. P: (406) 862-8688 A close family friend, Ben Parsons, passed away from the accident and Bennetts says the community of Whitefish stepped up to support her family during the hardship. I come from a long line of teachers as well, children are just extremely important. Bennetts grew up in Great Falls and her father was a school teacher for 40 years. Family: Married to Bill Paatalo; three kids and one due this week. Our school district can look to other nearby districts and learn from how they use their funding to support programs for students who are in the most need of intervention and adapt our strategies accordingly. If elected to the school board, keeping that genuine community feel and engagement is one aspect she would prioritize. I will strive to bring creative solutions to ensure fair and just policy, and reject policies that create more problems. Pet exams oftentimes turn into conversations about our lives, families and various community topics. As an accomplished soccer player, I have helped local soccer teams by assisting in coaching. In my opinion, the most significant challenge is coming out of the pandemic both academically and emotionally. Whitefish, MT 59937 It's a tumultuous time, and we must fight against the spirit of the age's attempt to create a new normal for our kids. His wife has a masters in public health and has been highly involved in infection mitigation in Montana during the pandemic. Location: Whitefish School District Board Room 600 East Second Street Whitefish, MT 59937. Powered by From everyone I talked to, this district worked hard to put in place what I would call an adaptive management approach she said. Hes worked in schools both domestically and internationally, helping to develop educational programs in 13 countries. A Whitefish native, Elizabeth has called Whitefish home for 38 years. Whitefish, MT 59937