Assistant superintendent to retire at end of year

Kalispell Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Andrea Johnson will retire at the end of the school year, pending school board approval Tuesday.

Johnson plans to become full-time doctoral student at the University of Montana.

Her contract with the school district ends June 30. Johnson joined Kalispell Public Schools in 2015 from her previous position as superintendent of Townsend School District. She has worked in education for 32 years, of which, 27 were in administration.

Over the past year, Johnson said she formally began working on her doctorate. Next school year, she plans to complete her dissertation and earn a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree by May 2019.

“It was a very hard decision,” Johnson said about stepping down as assistant superintendent. “Dissertations can take a long time and it takes a lot of work to get it done. For some people it can take a year. This is a goal I have never finished and I want to finish it.”

As assistant superintendent, Johnson’s work involved overseeing curriculum and instruction for grades kindergarten through 12th and supervising elementary and middle school administrators.

Johnson noted that the past years have been spent doing extensive curriculum reviews and adoptions of reading materials in kindergarten through sixth grade, math materials in sixth through eighth grade and the continued development of courses at the high school level, for example.

“I think there have been a lot of changes and accomplishments in last three years, but you don’t do it alone,” Johnson said noting the team effort working with principals and teachers.

She was also involved in the implementation of a free preschool program in 2016, as part of a Montana Preschool Development Grant for high-need communities to develop high-quality, full-day preschool programs.

Kalispell Superintendent Mark Flatau said he appreciated Johnson’s contributions to the school district over the last three years. Decisions on filling the vacancy are anticipated in the coming months.

Johnson’s retirement won’t mean an end to working in education.

She has explored different opportunities such as teaching at the college level, working in professional development, or potentially going into educational research.

“I’ve had a lot of really good experiences,” Johnson said. “Now, I’m starting a new chapter in my life.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.