St. Regis picks new superintendent
Photo by Nick Ianniello<br>St. Regis' new superintendent, Patty Kero (center), talks with St. Regis parent, Lisa Green (left), and Sandy Winegar (right) at a community reception for superintendent applicants Wednesday at St. Regis High School. Kero was chosen from five other applicants after a closed meeting Wednesday night.
The St. Regis School Board decided on a new superintendent after interviewing five candidates Wednesday.
Former Seeley Lake Superintendent Patty Kero was chosen after a late night school board session Wednesday evening.
Kero was picked from a pool of other applicants that included: St. Regis Principal Don Almquist, former Superior Principal Chris Martineau, former Fromberg Superintendent Allan Anderson, and Montana State University Northern Director Mark Allen.
Interviews were held last Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and were open to the public. After a closed session to decide on the best candidate, the board offered Kero a two-year contract that starts July 1.
St. Regis School Board Chair Shelly Dunlap, said that the board was looking for a strong educational leader who cares about the students and will insure they receive the best education possible. She added that they were looking for someone who could work well with support and teaching staff.
"We also want a good fit for our town and a candidate who realizes the importance of the school to our community and is interested in strengthening that bond," Dunlap said.
Dunlap said that Kero received a master's degree in education from Harvard University and recently received a doctorate from the University of Montana. She added that Kero has been in administration for 14 years in Montana, Nevada and Idaho, including a job as the superintendent at Seeley Lake.
Kero is the program advisor for the Center for Leadership Development at the University of Montana, where she teaches classes on leadership and coordinates the student leadership program.
Kero said that she was really excited when she heard the position was open in St. Regis. "I love being at small rural schools," Kero said. "I feel that the teachers and administrators and the staff become very close to the students."
Kero said that as superintendent she would like to focus on declining student enrollment, which she feels is a problem that all rural schools in the state are facing. She also said that she wants to improve student achievement.
"That's probably on the forefront of any school administrator's, or really, any teacher's mind, is how to really improve student achievement," Kero said.
She added that before she makes any changes to the school system she wants to make sure she is very familiar with the way things work in St. Regis. "Right now, I think my job is to learn as much about the students and the community around the school as I can before I make any big changes," Kero said.
Kero will be taking the place of Becky Aaring, who has stepped down as superintendent. Aaring said that she will miss working in St. Regis, but she is ready for a new challenge in her life. She has no plans for future employment.