School board narrows superintendent search down to two candidates; public can meet them Tuesday

Columbia Falls School District 6 has announced a Wyoming man and the current superintendent of Helena Flats School as the two finalists for the superintendent position here.

The board interviewed four semifinalists Thursday and chose Cory Dziowgo (pronounced Jeffco) and Andy Maheras as the finalists for the position.

Dziowgo is currently the superintendent of Platte County School District 1 in Wheatland, Wyoming.

Maheras is the superintendent of Helena Flats School.

Both men will be at a public question and answer forum at 6:30 p.m. April 11 at the high school Little Theater.

The board will make a final decision on April 12.

Maheras grew up in Billings and graduated from Billings Senior. He started his career in law enforcement as a juvenile probation/parole officer with the state of Washington and Walla Walla County; then as counselor working with at-risk-youth for Children’s Home Society of Washington.

The Children’s home lost its funding, so he transitioned into public education in the Walla, Walla district. He’s been in education for the past 20 years — 14 in administration — the last eight in Montana.

He’s been the superintendent of Helena Flats for the past five years and was an assistant principal at Bozeman High School prior to that.

“I love the valley,” Maheras told the Hungry Horse News. “Columbia Falls was an opportunity I couldn’t not try for.”

Maheras coaches ski racing on Blacktail Mountain and played lacrosse in college.

“You have to lead by example,” he said.

He said he takes a collaborative approach to leadership and decision making and tries to get “as much information as possible,” before making a decision.

Ultimately, it’s about doing what’s best for the kids, he said.

He also holds a strong belief that all kids can learn and seeks to provide them opportunities, encouragement, and support to become their best selves, he said.

“Educators need to address the whole child and provide a setting that is safe for learning as well as provide instruction that is geared to meet different student needs,” he said in a statement.

Dziowgo is drawn towards this opportunity because the district has been dedicated to serving the interests of the whole child, he said in a statement.

He said if chosen he plans to continue to focus on the necessary atmosphere that is required to provide outstanding and well-rounded learning opportunities to ensure successful students. His educational leadership background has included providing similar resources for students, staff, and community members. He described his leadership style as a blend of servant leadership and transformational leadership, in a statement.

Dziowgo has been the superintendent of Platte County School District since 2020. From 2016 to 2020 he was the Middle School Principal for the district.

He started his career in education in 2006 as a chemistry and biology teacher in Rapid City, South Dakota.

He taught until 2010 and then became the Meeteetse School principal and activities director in Wyoming before moving to Platte County.

He could not be immediately reached for comment by the newspaper.

Current superintendent Dave Wick retires at the end of the school year after a distinguished career in Columbia Falls.