LPOSD's educators head back to school

SANDPOINT — While students are enjoying their last few days of summer, teachers and staff of the Lake Pend Oreille School District gathered for their first day back at school on Thursday.

For LPOSD Superintendent Tom Albertson, this year’s “Welcome Back Breakfast” was from a different perspective, as he has attended in previous years as the Sandpoint High School principal. Thursday was the first chance he had, since taking over as superintendent on July 1, to address the entire staff.

“I am excited to work with my colleagues,” Albertson told the Daily Bee, adding that he will always view the LPOSD staff as his colleagues. “It’s not about me being a boss — my job is to support them. I truly believe what happens in the classroom is most important, and we’ve got to keep that focus.”

The annual breakfast is sponsored by the district’s Nutrition Services Department and Panhandle Alliance for Education. The breakfast was followed by an assembly at Sandpoint High School, where PAFE executive director Marcia Wilson presented a video, created in May, to tell the story of how local educators are preparing the next generation for adulthood.

“That’s what we do,” Wilson said, speaking to all of the educators and supporters of the district. “We share our expertise and our passion, we raise money, we lead the district, we are in the classroom, we are serving lunch, we are maintaining the grounds, but it all contributes to the most important job.”

The video outlines some of the programs that have led to student success, particularly at SHS, which has consistently been ranked as one of the best schools in Idaho by U.S. News and World Report. Filmed by local videographer Gwen Le Tutour, in collaboration with Lisa Gerber of Big League Creative, can be viewed on PAFE’s website at panhandlealliance.org.

Albertson said he would be remiss not to credit the district’s former superintendent, Shawn Woodward, who is featured in the video as well. The successes and programs described in the video are work that has been happening, and Albertson said his goal is not to change that.

“I am continuing the great things that you have done and the district has done,” Albertson said, garnering a round of applause from the teachers, staff and others in attendance for the work that Woodward did during his seven years with the district.

Albertson also briefly went over the district’s five priorities outlined in the strategic plan adopted by school board members last year. The five priorities include ensuring academic success for every student, engaging the community, recruiting, training and retaining highly effective personnel, utilizing resources effectively and being fiscally responsible, and providing safe and innovative learning environments.

While each one is important, Albertson said, he focused on the last one on Thursday.

“When we talk about what a safe learning environment is for a student, we are not talking about just physical safety,” he said.

It is important, he said, that every student is comfortable in the classroom, because it is their second home. He asked the teachers, “Is your classroom the classroom you want your own kids in?”

“That is this foundation here of having a positive culture and intellectual safety and, to start the school year off, that is the time to reflect on that,” Albertson said. “... Believe that you are the best at what you do. Reflect on the influence that you have on your students. You are a role model every day … the kids look up to you. View each student as a unique individual — each one is.”

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.