LEAP board hires new executive director

When the board of directors for the LEAP after-school program announced in August its decision to hire a new executive director, no one was more shocked than Cathy Gaiser.

Gaiser, who has spent the last five years growing and developing the program as its executive director, was asked to step down from her position over the summer.

“I didn’t do anything illegal or immoral, and that’s the bottom line,” Gaiser said.

Since LEAP was established in Bigfork in 2006, Gaiser has spearheaded fundraising efforts for the program, securing more than $600,000 in grants and donations.

“I put my heart and soul into this program,” Gaiser said. “To me it wasn’t about a career, it was about the kids. My biggest disappointment with not being part of LEAP anymore is not being around the kids anymore.”

Although Gaiser and her husband Bud were instrumental in founding Bigfork’s LEAP program, it is controlled by a board of directors due to its nonprofit 501c3 status.

Board member Denny Sabo said the change was prompted by a need for an executive director with more managerial and educational experience.

“LEAP has grown wonderfully,” Sabo said. “We needed someone with more experience to handle a much bigger, more complex program.”

Recently retired Swan River School teacher Betty Darr fit that profile, according to Sabo.

In addition to her 27 years of teaching experience, Darr has a master’s degree in education with an administrative endorsement. She also recently worked as a part-time consultant and school support specialist for the Office of Public Instruction.

“Betty’s experience and education make her highly, highly qualified not only to maintain the level of success that LEAP currently has, but to improve it,” Sabo said.

The board also believed that Darr’s teaching background would help the program strengthen its ties with the Bigfork and Swan River School districts.

“We want to make the relationship between LEAP and the school system more seamless,” Sabo said.

After hiring Darr, the board created a new position — program director — and offered it to Gaiser.

According to Sabo, it was the board’s intention to make Darr responsible for the program’s fiscal and administrative operations while allowing Gaiser to focus her efforts on putting together the various programs and educational opportunities provided by LEAP.

Sabo said board members hoped the program director position would give Gaiser the opportunity to stay involved with the program in a capacity better suited to her strengths.

“Cathy has done a wonderful job taking care of the kids and building a great program,” Sabo said. “We wanted her to stay on in the worst way. We thought the best possible outcome for LEAP would be for Cathy to stay on as program director and for Betty Darr to come on board as executive director.”

Gaiser, however, said she never received a job description for the position.

“I never had any clarity as to what my role would be,” Gaiser said.

Unwilling to give up, Gaiser tried taking matters into her own hands.

“I sent a letter to the board with a proposal (for what my role in the program could be), and they refused it,” she said.

Even if she had accepted a lower position, Gaiser said she wouldn’t have been comfortable answering to a new executive director.

“Can you imagine creating something for five years and then having someone come in over top of you?” she said. “I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.”

Although it was difficult for Gaiser to walk away from the program she put so much time and energy into building, she has come to terms with the situation.

“It was unfortunate that my board chose to see certain things in a negative light and not make it possible for me to stay there,” Gaiser said. “But, it is what it is. They (the board) believed it was their responsibility to conduct LEAP to the best of their ability, and they felt that their decision to replace me was the best thing for LEAP.”

Gaiser hopes LEAP will continue to provide Bigfork children with an enriching after-school environment.

“I’m sure LEAP is going to do fine,” she said. “I wish all those kids well, and I wish LEAP well.”

Gaiser plans to stay involved with the community in other ways. She will offer gymnastics classes this year for kids up to age 8 at the Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre building.

She has also enrolled in an online program to finish her bachelor’s degree in education.

On top of that, Gaiser is working with the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork to form a youth coalition that will allow high school students to have input on community initiatives and events.

“I love this town and everything about it,” Gaiser said. “I’ve been involved in so many kids’ lives, and I want to keep doing that. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”