Despite all these responsibilities, Potomac's new principal, Kim Kingston, has an even tougher challenge ahead.
“Now I have to learn all of your names,” Kingston told a class of first-graders Thursday. “I'll know 'em before I come to school.”
Kingston, 43, hails from Gillette, Wyo., where she's worked for six years as an “instructional coach,” which mentors dozens of teachers. Before that, Kingston worked as a teacher in Montana for a decade at schools in Libby, East Helena and Hardin.
On Thursday, Potomac Elementary School held a “meet-and-greet” assembly in the Potomac Community Center gymnasium so Kingston could chat with all 107 kids, school board trustees, parents and volunteers.
The students signed a large yellow welcome sign. Earlier in the day, when Dierken took Kingston to visit each classroom, she was taken aback that all the kids already knew her name.
It shows the camaraderie among students and teachers in a rural school, she said. She equates a rural school setting to that of a family, whereas bigger school districts function more like a business.
Kingston was nearly brought to tears by the assembly in her honor.
“This is such a warm welcome,” she said. “I can't wait to learn from you and grow with you. This is bigger than life.”
She used words like “cool” and “awesome” when talking to a group of eighth-graders. She got down on her hands and knees to talk to the first-graders sitting cross-legged on the gymnasium floor.
“I didn't think she'd look so young,” said Brooke Cheff, a fifth-grader. “She's very pretty.”
Though it's exciting to have a new principal, Cheff said it's hard to see the old one go.
“It's cool, but weird too,” said the 11-year-old.
Why does 10-year-old Naomi Grant think Kingston will make a great principal?
“There's just something about her,” she said.
Dierken, 60, has worked at Potomac Elementary School for 22 years, the last eight as principal. He took over during a time of high turnover among administrators. He's proud of bringing stability to the rural school.
There are 10 students at Potomac whose parents had Dierken as a teacher.
Now his focus has shifted.
“I'd like to see New England in the fall,” he said.
And should boredom strike, there's always substitute teaching.
The Potomac School Board examined 10 applications for the principal's job. They offered interviews to four in March. Most were either from Missoula or the Bitterroot.
“She stood out,” said Alicia Vanderheiden, a school board trustee. “She knocked our socks off in the interview.”
Not only is Kingston from Montana, had excellent recommendations and much teaching experience, but she is friendly and will work well with the community, Vanderheiden said. Potomac Elementary relies heavily on volunteers, and not just people who have kids in school.
Kingston is the mother of six boys, ranging in age from 11 to 23.
Her two youngest boys, 12-year-old Connell and 11-year-old Colton, will attend Potomac Middle School next fall. Sporting shorts, they accompanied their mother Thursday on a tour of the school. Back home in Gillette, it's 73 degrees, Kingston explained.
She has a son who will attend Sentinel High School next fall as a senior. Two sons attend the University of Montana. Braydon Schilling, 20, is a football player for the Grizzlies. She has another son who lives in Butte.
“I feel like Missoula has always been my home,” she said.
Though Kingston has 16 years of teaching experience, she still knows what it's like to be a student.
She is graduating next month with a double master's degree in educational leadership and curriculum and instruction from the University of Montana.
Kingston took online courses when possible, and then spent the last three summers in Missoula attending classes at UM. Next month, she'll participate in commencement ceremonies.
Though Kingston plans to achieve her doctorate degree in education, she'll take next year off to focus on her new job.
She wants to get back into the classroom to work with kids. On Thursday, she promised a class of first-graders cookies next fall.
As the administrator of a rural school with limited resources, Kingston imagines part of her time will be dedicated to writing grant applications “so our kids have some of the same benefits as the kids in town.”
Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com
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