Missoula administrator selected as new Whitefish superintendent

Heather Davis Schmidt has been selected to take the helm of the Whitefish School District this summer.

The Whitefish School Board unanimously approved hiring Davis Schmidt at its Wednesday meeting.

Davis Schmidt is an executive regional director at Missoula County Public Schools.

“I’m very excited,” Davis Schmidt said Thursday. “I think the Whitefish community is very engaged in education. There are good things happening in Whitefish and I’m excited to be part of that.”

Trustee Pat Jarvi said while all the candidates had strengths, Davis Schmidt matched well with Whitefish. She fit the district’s goal of ensuring students are prepared for beyond high school, Jarvi noted.

“We felt her vision fit the vision our district as been working toward,” she said. “Many of the students felt she really seems to have their concerns and their interest in her vision.”

Davis Schmidt previously was curriculum and Title I director at Missoula County schools, and the dean of students and administrative intern at Big Sky High School in Missoula. She taught at Seeley-Swan High School from 2002-07. She has a doctorate and master’s from the University of Montana.

Davis Schmidt said she considers herself a public servant, who has always enjoyed working with students.

“I believe that all students can learn and we have a responsibility to help young people learn at high levels,” she said.

The board interviewed four candidates for the position earlier in the week, and hosted public forums for each one. Candidates also toured each of the schools, meeting with administration and students.

Whitefish High School senior and school board representative Daniel Cameron said Davis Schmidt impressed the students when she met with them.

“It was all about the students for her,” he said. “When she was answering our questions or she was asking us questions.”

Boardchair Shawn Watts said Davis Schmidt’s resume was “head and shoulders” above the other candidates.

“My perception of that only strengthened through the entire process,” he said.

Trustee Dave Fern said in speaking with her colleagues he was impressed with what others had to say about Davis Schmidt.

“We made calls to four or five different schools she supervises in Missoula to ask about communication skills and relationships,” he said. “We were impressed with the results [of the calls].”

Pending contract negotiations, she will replace Kate Orozco, who is resigning after four years with the district.

Twelve candidates applied for the superintendent position and four finalists were selected for interviews.