School board race: David Shaffer

Editor’s note: This year four people are running for three seats in the School District 6 board election. The following are their views on education and serving on the board. Ballots were mailed out to registered voters last week. There is no walk-in vote due to concerns about spreading novel coronavirus.

David Shaffer...

Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you do for a living, family, etc

I am a contender that has not succeeded yet, I have applied many times in the past to get involved on the School Board in School District 6 .

Background: I am 77 years old, I married Carla K Shaffer for 50 years before her death in April 2019, I married Peggy Sue Shaffer on Sept, 11, 2019 , my 10 children, that grew up in Columbia Falls Montana all graduated from Columbia Falls High School are Michael, Karey, Kathy, Khrissy, Monte, Korrie, Mark, Matt, Micah, and Mason. Only two of my grand children have graduated from Columbia Falls with one scheduled for this year and one more to go.

Occupation: I am a retired school teacher. I taught mathematics and physics in School District 6, retiring with 30-plus years professionally teaching at the end of the 1999-2000 school year also at that time I taught for 10 years (1990-2000) mathematics at Flathead Valley Community College as a part-time instructor evenings and in the summer and retired from there also.

After retiring from the state of Montana I taught physics for two years in California for San Rafael City Schools Terra Linda High School.

After 9/11 I took a job for a year teaching teachers how to teach mathematics in Omak School District in the State of Washington as the district math specialist.

I then taught mathematics and computer science for the Inchelium School District on the Colville Indian Reservation in the state of Washington for seven years. I retired from the state of Washington after training my student teacher my philosophy in teaching mathematics for her to carry on after my retirement. This year finishing 40 years of teaching professionally.

I began teaching after graduating from the University of Utah with a master’s degree in mathematics, physics and secondary education 1970.

I signed on to teach in Columbia Falls Junior High School in 1971 and taught in both the junior high and high schools. I was excited with the technology changes that we were able to start in both mathematics and science in our high school. Our initial funding came from National Science Foundation and then a mill levy that our district obtained to get us jump started in using computers and calculators in our teaching efforts. Our board of trustees were very supportive in our efforts to improve the teaching of our students. We have some of the most exceptional teachers in the state and we worked hard to teach with enthusiasm and helped the state in the developing the use of graphing calculator and computers for students to enhance their use in learning.

The reason that I am running for the trustee position is that I have a vested interest in our school system where 10 of my children graduated. I love our school system, staff and students. I have a drive to help where I can since I do not now teach professionally. Specifically I have a desire to see the Hungry Horse School open. I know of many children in the area that would benefit from the opportunity to have their own school close by and not have to travel through the Columbia Falls Heights during blizzards. Also since we are dealing with the COVID-19 virus, I would like to assist the system though the new and trying times.