Clearing up misinformation on WHS administrator's status

Many community members have recently expressed concerns regarding a proposed reassignment of high school assistant principal Jackie Fuller to a teaching position at the middle school. There has been quite a bit of misinformation and speculation and I am happy to let the community know that Jackie has chosen to stay in her position at the high school.

Ms. Fuller originally requested to be reassigned to a middle school teaching position. There was never anything punitive or performance-based in the private discussions about her requested move. While we tried to accommodate her request, we could not reach an agreement with all parties involved.

Principal Kerry Drown, Ms. Fuller, and I have had very positive discussions with the Whitefish High School staff about this issue so we can now continue to put our energy in positive directions. I am confident that Mr. Drown and Ms. Fuller will continue their work together as a team to help Whitefish teachers and students thrive.

Collaboration and communication are so essential to our strong, successful schools and community. I know that as a school district we all share the same high goals for our children. Beyond parents, our community at-large plays an essential role in helping us succeed every day. The passion of the Whitefish community on so many levels is unprecedented for a small town.

As we look to the future, I am particularly excited to create more opportunities to develop shared goals, help our staff grow professionally, and implement additional steps to strengthen the foundation of our school system together.

I always enjoy the opportunity to talk with community members and I’m happy to meet at any time. Thank you for your support of Whitefish Schools.

Heather Davis Schmidt is the Superintendent of Whitefish Schools.