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Kalispell School District to Interview 4 Finalists for Flathead Principal Position

Public invited to meet-and-greet with the candidates on Thursday

By Dillon Tabish
Students park in the neighborhood near Flathead High School on Oct. 20, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Four finalists have emerged to become the new principal at Flathead High School.

Mark Flatau, superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools, announced the candidates who qualified for interviews. A 16-member interview committee will meet the candidates on Thursday, May 25. Flatau said the school district plans to offer the position to the top candidate as early as next week.

Peter Fusaro is stepping down after 20 years at the high school, including the last 11 as principal. Fusaro accepted a new position at Flathead Valley Community College as director of the Trades and Industrial Arts Department. His contract as principal ends June 30. The school district began screening candidates on May 18. Flatau said the district received 10 applications.

The interview committee is comprised of nine FHS staff (Sean O’Donnell, Kelli Higgins, Mike Thiel, Kyle Samson, Christy Peeples, Jeff Thompson, Chelsea Cattelino, Cory Clarke and Rhonda Reilly), two FHS parents (Leslie Nyman and Heidi Diegel), two school district trustees (Bette Albright and Anna Marie Bailey), Glacier High School principal Callie Langohr, school district assistant superintendent Andrea Johnson and Flatau.

Candidates will rotate through a vetting process that includes formal interviews and a tour of the high school.

The public is invited to a meet-and-greet with the candidates after school on Thursday starting at 4 p.m. The event will be in the upper level of the Flathead library. At 4:30 p.m., each candidate will give a five-minute introduction.

Flathead High School Principal Candidates

Source: Kalispell Public Schools

Michele Paine

Michele received her Bachelor’s degree in English and her Teaching Certification from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. She received her Masters of Education in Curriculum Instruction from Montana State University in Bozeman and her K-12 Principal Certification from the University of Montana in Missoula. Michele began her career in the classroom in 1994, as a Language Arts, Reading, and Art teacher at Kennedy Junior High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1998, Michele became the Title 1 reading/English Tutor at the Kalispell Junior High and then the Reading Intervention Teacher at Flathead High School. In 2005, Michele became the Language Arts Facilitator for K-12 at Kalispell Public Schools. Michele is currently the Assistant Principal at Flathead High School where she has been since 2011.

Tres Genger

Tres Genger received his B.S. in Secondary Education with a double major in Physical Education and Business Education from Western Montana College in Dillon. He completed both a Master’s Degree and an Administrative Endorsement from the University of Montana in Missoula. Tres’ experience in the classroom and with students started in 1977 at Box Elder Schools in Box Elder.  Tres has been a teacher, a coach, a Driver’s Education instructor, and a substitute. Tres has been in High School Administration since 1993, serving as the Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Hamilton High School in Hamilton an Assistant Principal at Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Washington and an Assistant Principal at Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn, Washington. Tres is currently the Principal at Lindbergh High School in Renton, Washington, where he has been since 2002.

Peter Hamilton, Sr.

Peter received his Bachelor’s degree in Health Enhancement from the University of Montana in Missoula. and his Master’s in Education Leadership from Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Peter began his career with students in 2003as the Strength and Conditioning teacher as well as an Assistant Football Coach, Assistant Basketball Coach, and Assistant Track Coach at Hardin School District in Hardin. He then was a Health Enhancement teacher in Saint Ignatius and while there completed a Masters of Educational Leadership Internship.  Peter is currently the Principal at Cut Bank High School in Cut Bank where he has served since 2011.

John Blackman

John Blackman received his Bachelor’s degree from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, His Master’s in Education and and Education Specialists Degree from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. John also holds a Professional in Human Resources (P.H.R.) Certification. John began his career with students in the classroom in 1984 as an Art instructor at Wood River Schools in Blaine County, Idaho. Where he also served as Assistant and Head Football Coach, and Assistant Wrestling Coach. In 2001, John became the Vice-Principal at Wood River High, then the Principal in 2007. He is currently the Assistant Superintendent in charge of Human Resources Department and Safety and Security for the Blaine County School District in Idaho.