Droessler is new Alberton School superintendent

Alberton School is a three-story brick school which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 13, 1997.

Constructed in 1919 at a cost of $70,000, the school was built to replace a wooden structure that burned in 1916.

It continues to serve as a school and remains architecturally intact with administration and classrooms in the modern school constructed in the 1960s 20 yards to the east.

Pictures of graduating classes adorn the original school near the gymnasium and it’s common for third-generation students to point out one or both grandparents from those classes.

For the 2023-2024 school year, 148 are enrolled with 73 being PK-5, 37 in middle school and 38 in high school.

Damian Droessler is the new superintendent and the name may ring a bell.

“I was coaching college football in Wisconsin and was tired of moving around so I looked online and St. Regis had a PE position open. So, I applied and was accepted and moved out here sight unseen, and that was 13 years ago,” Droessler smiles.

He went to Big Sky High School and then Hellgate Elementary, both in Missoula for a total of nine years and is now back in Mineral County.

“If I was ever going to become a superintendent, I wanted to be sure it was at a Class C school where you can still be with the staff and students and be a part of the community on a regular basis,” he said on what drew him to Alberton.

Droessler’s wife is the K-8 Principal at Target Range Grade School in Missoula, which is where Jeff Crews, former Alberton School superintendent relocated. Crews is their new superintendent and during his hiring process, Damian and his wife discussed this opportunity and everything lined up.

The Droesslers have three boys and a foster daughter (ages 5, 8, 9 and 13).

“It’s a busy household. It’s great!” laughs Droessler.

He will tell you that team strategy is management style.

A former college football player, he’s also a Green Bay Packers fan. And Alberton Principal Chris Whiteman, who is beginning his second year in his position and also played college ball, is a Buffalo Bills aficionado, so their methodology is aligned.

“To this point,” Droessler said, “It’s been a lot of listening. Finding out where I can support. What has been started and it’s my position to keep those going because I don’t want to have a bunch of re-starts for staff. I don’t think that’s fair just because of an administration change that they should have to be uprooted and change everything that they do and have done well.”

He is delighted to have staff that have been in place with a working history of the school process.

“It’s great to have Chris (Whiteman) here to bounce ideas off and the same with Arra (Rausch, District Clerk) and Betsi (Wood, District Secretary) who have historical knowledge. I’ve got a great team.”

The first football game is Friday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. on their home turf playing Noxon.

The entire school year is laid out at www.alberton.k12.mt.us/