Woodward shares vision for LPOSD

SANDPOINT — Community residents got a glimpse Thursday into the future of local education after meeting with Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintenent Shawn Woodward.

Since moving into town 10 weeks ago to replace former superintendent Dick Cvitanich, Woodward has maintained a busy schedule meeting community members, visiting schools and learning the district’s inner workings. His latest engagement with the community took place at the East Bonner County Library, where he met with the Friends of the Library.

“The funny thing is, there are probably people here who know more about the district than I do,” he told attendees.

If that was the case, it likely won’t be for long. Woodward said he’s been spending his days learning the ins and outs of the district with help from staff members and regular calls to Cvitanich. He told community members his work is fueled by an excitement to be at the helm of a promising school district.

Woodward said he chose to work at Lake Pend Oreille School district for three primary reasons. For one thing, quality of life was a major factor. The opportunities for outdoor recreation are a great resource for him and his family, and the beauty of the area is unmatched.

“Since I’m from Washington, I’m not easily impressed with natural beauty,” he said. “But I have to tell you, coming across the Long Bridge, I nearly got into an accident.”

The school district’s merits were also persuasive. Woodward appreciated both the signs of strong academic growth and the tradition for persistent community support. The schools themselves were performing excellently, too, with 10 out of 12 ranked at four or five stars on a statewide quality scale.

According to Woodward, there were plenty of changes ahead for the district — some of them to provide significant challenge. One of them, a switch to the same standards as 44 other U.S. states, will bring higher expectations for local students.

“We may end up a grade or two above where we are now,” he said.

However, the district is also gaining new tools to help meet those challenges. Woodward said the new standards also introduce teaching approaches that aren’t based on simply teaching to the test.

“This is much more focused on promoting critical thinking and not as much on rote memorization,” he said.

Thanks to a grant, the district will also be able to use a program called Schoolnet, which will allow teachers to apply collected data to improve their students’ education. District officials also hope to implement technology in ways that make education easier and more appealing to young students.

Nevertheless, the district still needs to maintain that strong community support to continue thriving. To volunteer at a LPOSD school, call Brenda Woodward at 263-2184 ext. 1017.