School superintendent of the Year

By CONSTANCE SEE/Whitefish Pilot

Whitefish School District superintendent Jerry House was surprised when called to the stage to accept the award for Superintendent of the Year at the Montana Association of School Superintendents meeting in Missoula last week.

"It's so relevant and really meaningful to be selected by your peers," House said. "Whoa. What an impact. I kept thinking, I've come so far and mom would be so proud."

Walking up to the podium, House said all the struggles along the way flashed across his mind.

Growing up as one of six children in a lower-income family in Washington, House recalled a youth where basic survival, not education, was the priority, but he chose to pursue a college degree.

As a teenager, House played baseball and studied civil engineering in college. After less than a year, he switched majors deciding to become a teacher and coach.

Over the next several years, he taught almost every subject, except home economics. He taught history, basketball, wrestling, science, English — even cheerleading. When coaching girls basketball in the Tahoma School District of Washington, his team took home their first state title.

District curriculum director Bobbie Barrett said she remembers how impressed she was when House and his wife Debbie arrived from Washington as a team seven years ago, to interview for the superintendent's job. Debbie immediately became involved in the Parent Teacher's Association and after school CARE program.

"Debbie is my driving force," House said. "I share this award with her. Our drive comes from wanting to see kids become successful."

Nominees were judged on communication, professionalism, leadership for learning and community involvement.

Letters explaining how House exemplifies those skills were submitted by Barrett, Evergreen superintendent Joel Voytoski, former Whitefish Middle School principal Kim Anderson and Raymond James Financial branch manager Lin Akey.

House always demonstrates leadership skills, said Dave Means, the district's special services director.

"Jerry's enthusiasm for helping all kids learn is infectious," Means said. "You know he cares. He really demonstrates that when he dives quickly into problems looking for solutions."

"He deserves this award," Barrett said. "First, he has a gift of involving the community, and secondly, he has the gift of unbounding personal energy. He leaves others gasping to keep up with him."

In addition to the award, House was given $500 to help him attend the national award ceremony in Tamp Bay, Fla. next February. Fifty superintendents will vie for the national superintendent award at the East Coast meeting.

House's award is the third state educational award received within the district in about a year. In February of 2006, Kim Anderson won the state's middle school principal of the year award. In September of 2006, high school social studies teacher Gary Carmichael won the state's teacher of the year award.

"That demonstrates a lot of power and influence in Whitefish schools to have the outstanding teacher, and leadership at the building and district levels," Barrett said. "That's hot."