Superintendent still a teacher at heart

If Jerry House finds himself having a

bad day he heads to the place where his career began — the

classroom.

“On my most stressful days, I need to

go see the kids,” he said.

As Whitefish School District’s

Superintendent for the last 11 years, House would sneak away to one

of the schools in the district to remind himself of why he chose a

career in education. He might sit in tiny kindergarten chairs or

listen in during a special project presentation at the middle

school.

It’s not so different from many folks

who leave the classroom to take up administrative positions, he

said during an interview with the Pilot last week.

“We’re always teachers first,” he said.

“My heart and soul is with the kids.”

House retires this week from his tenure

in Whitefish and a 40-year career in education. Before coming to

Whitefish in 2000, House retired from Washington state after

serving as a teacher, a coach and a superintendent.

His decision to enter education came

during college. House was studying civil engineering when he

realized he needed to change his major.

“There were teachers that had impacts

on my life. There was expectations from those individuals,” he

said. “I wanted to teach. I wanted to coach.”

Few of his civil engineering credits

transferred to his new major, but that didn’t matter much because

it was what he wanted to do. Even after being drafted into the U.S.

Army for three years and returning to finish school, he still

wanted a career in education.

“That had an impact,” he said of his

time serving. “After that I was much more disciplined. I realized

education was the vehicle to get me where I wanted to go.”

During his years as a teacher, House

taught grades five through 12. The classes and teams coached are

extensive including history, basketball, wrestling, science,

baseball, English — even cheerleading. House retired in Washington

and began looking for opportunities in other states.

His decision came down to two

districts, including Whitefish. House admits he wasn’t sure about

moving to Montana, a place he thought of as way out West (even

though he lived in the Seattle-area at the time) and with a cowboy

mentality. Once he and his wife Debbie flew here, they were

sold.

“We absolutely fell in love with this

place when we landed,” he said.

As a former triathlon competitor and

long-distance runner, House knew he wanted to be here when he saw

the streets filled with runners, bikers and those enjoying the

outdoors. He later learned that was the first sunny day after the

winter.

“It was cabin fever,” he said. “It had

nothing to do with being over active.”

Still, House stayed and found a

community he loved — a community that supports education.

“It’s been 11 years of sheer joy,” he

said.

He easily lists the number of ways the

community has stood behind the school district.

There’s the volunteer that has been

reading to students every day for a decade or the parents that work

in the classroom at Muldown and the Parent Teacher Association.

Also important is the financial

support, ranging from passed levies and donations to replace aging

gymnasium floors at the middle school to the donation of musical

instruments.

House points to the donation of 12

violins that began the district’s orchestra program as an

example.

“That’s how it got started,” he said.

“Now we’re known across the state. We get superior ratings and

festivals. Students go on to perform in the Bozeman Symphony or

with the Glacier Symphony and Chorale. The kids have excelled —

that’s an extension of what the community has provided.”

In the district, House has been honored

to work with excellent staff, teachers and administrators.

“They really care about the kids,” he

said. “They work to nurture them from kindergarten to

graduates.”

Whether it be the person who cleans the

school, the person who cooks lunch or the teacher in the classroom,

House sees everyone working as a family under the same

philosophy.

“If it’s best for the kids we’ll do

it,” he said.

The Montana Association of School

Superintendents named House Superintendent of the Year in 2007.

However, ask him what he’s most proud of during his time at

Whitefish and he won’t mention personal awards. Instead he’ll speak

about district programs and milestones, like the remodel of the

middle school.

First on his list is a set of district

programs and a town hall meeting on suicide held this winter.

The district’s Quick Response Team and

the Student Assistance Program have had a major impact on the

district, he said. The QRT responds in times of crisis, including

when the district deals with suicide. SAP works to help identify

students with risky behavior and provide support groups for

students.

Dave Means, the district’s special

service director has worked with House for the last seven years.

Means said House has a broad knowledge when it comes to education,

but it’s programs like QRT and SAP that show House has done more

for students.

“He always stresses high expectations

for reading, writing and math, but he balances that with a really

caring nature for students,” Means said.

House also lists Speak Up Whitefish as

a positive for the district. The program brought educators and

community members together to study the district and then suggest

changes for improvement.

“We’re still looking at that today,

some six to seven years later,” House said. “We’ve made some of the

changes gradually.”

House has tried to stay connected to

the classroom. He said those visits also served as a way to become

even better informed about what was happening at the most basic

level.

“If you really want to know what’s

going on in the classroom, go see,” he said. “If you really want to

know if technology is working, go and ask.”

In retirement, House plans to spend

time with his family, but he also plans to do some consulting work.

He might not be quite ready to give up the rewards of working in

education.

“It’s been a 40-year ride of joy,” he

said.