Superior local takes reins at school superintendent

Growing up with both parents as teachers and then one going into school administration, Logan Labbe thought he would have a different direction in life. But after testing the water, he found that teaching, coaching and supervising kids was exactly where he was meant to be.

“I grew up in Superior and my dad was the principal at this school for his last 27 years before retirement and taught math before that for a total of 32 years. My mom was also a teacher in Superior for 29 years, so I was literally raised in the school. I spent so many hours here after games and all the events and said to myself that, ‘I’m not getting into the education business whatsoever. Not going to do it,’ but I couldn’t be happier,” he said with a big grin.

Labbe went to the University of Montana on a track scholarship pursuing human health performance as he wanted to go down the athletic training route.

“We all have our journey and I decided to switch over to business management information systems which is where I got my degree. I had been doing some volunteer coaching out here. Also, a little in Frenchtown and Missoula. And I had a realization that this is what I needed to be doing. I want to help kids!”

Labbe went back to school and conducted his student teaching at Frenchtown, which was a great experience, he said.

“All the while I was doing [fire fighting] every summer as I was working for the Forest Service right out of high school. It was an awesome job, and my own kids are going down that route, too. Anyway, I had firefighting in my back pocket if I didn’t get a teaching job because I love that as well. Being outside and doing what is needed to get the job done. I tossed out some applications and was picked up in Philipsburg (Granite High School) teaching Business Technology, where I stayed for five years.”

Labbe also coached all three sports (track, football and wrestling) during his tenure and was the part-time athletic director starting his second year.

This is where he met his wife, Toni, who also was an employee of the school.

Mike Cutler, who was the school superintendent, urged him to continue his school administration education, which he did through Rocky Mountain College night classes.

“We had just had Eliason, so I was holding him with one arm while working on the computer. Coaching three sports, AD, plus teaching. That was insane. It was a crazy time in our lives,” Labbe grins. “But it really prepared me for this job because it’s never the same thing twice. That’s why I love it because every day is different.”

An opening became available in Superior in school administration, plus there was a physical education position for Toni. Both Logan and Toni love the Phillipsburg area and she has family there, so it was a bittersweet move. But the family of six planted roots in Superior 2015 where Labbe has been the principal of both the elementary and the high school and is now the new superintendent.

“Superior is an amazing place,” he said. “It has a family feel here. And that’s within the school, too. Everyone takes care of each other. Byron (Quinlan) and others showed up to help us move in. It was just really cool how so many helped back then and continue to help as it's the kids who we all care about. That’s what makes this so special. We wouldn’t be here with our kids or let them go to this school if we didn’t know that they were getting a top-notch education.”

Labbe takes the reins from Scott Kinney who along with Autumn Schultz, district clerk, has taken the school district to another level, he said. The superintendency program was another back-to-school time for Labbe who tackled this in his 4th year when he was the principal for the elementary school.

Labbe admits he may not have as much experience as some school superintendents, however, he has a sharp eye that has observed everyone and everything for the last eight years.

“I know enough people to know that these people are really good at what they do. They care about the kids, first. And that’s the school I want to be in. Because if it’s not about kids first, it’s a broken system.”

Labbe said the school board has always held this value and said that they don’t get enough credit for helping drive the ship. He feels fortunate in so many ways with one being that there is only a single position that needs to be filled for the 2023-24 school year, but he has that covered with staff until the hire is made.

Labbe will continue coaching track this year to see if it’s still doable with his new position. An Open House for parents and guardians is Aug. 21 where a stakeholder’s survey will take place to give the entire administration and teaching staff input on areas of concern, ideas to consider and what they feel is working well which will be the foundation for strategic planning and goal setting for the upcoming school year and beyond.