New school trustee has passion for education

Anna Deese brings a diverse resume to her position as the newest trustee on the Whitefish School Board.

The 37-year-old mother has served in the National Guard, worked in the information technology industry, and has taught science at both innercity and rural high schools. She currently helps run Project CRISS, a Kalispell firm that offers professional development and support for teachers.

It’s her varied background that she hopes brings a dynamic voice to the board.

“I think I’ll be able to empathize and understand the different perspectives that come up between parents, teachers, administrators and outside business interests,” she said. “Because part of my job now involves looking at a lot of education research and initiatives and trends, I’ll be able to ask questions that others may not. I’m mostly hoping I’m supportive of people’s innovative ideas... to help the students.”

With an uncontested election, Deese was seated to the school board by acclamation and will serve a three-year term.

She originally applied to fill a vacancy following Pat Jarvi’s passing.

“If I put my name in up front, I may as well follow through with it,” she said.

Originally from a suburb of Chicago, Deese found a love for education as her life was being turned upside-down. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer the same day her father passed away, so she left her career at a technology firm to come home and care for her mother.

“I did some substitute teaching to pay the bills,” Deese said. “That’s when I realized I like teaching.”

She received her teaching certificate from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and later earned National Board Certification in 2011.

Her first teaching job was at an urban Chicago high school.

“I loved watching the students discover,” Deese said. “I also loved all the preplanning. To make a plan and then try to execute it — but you have to be on your toes and react to the students.”

She taught science at rural Harrisburg High School near Eugene, Ore., after her husband, Charlie, entered graduate school at the University of Oregon. The couple moved to Whitefish in 2011 and Deese started work at Project CRISS.

“There are things I miss about being in the classroom,” Deese said. “But my current job is a great mix of what I loved about education and a lot of what I loved about the business world.”

Part of her motivation to join the board is to simply be more involved in the community. She’s also looking ahead at the school system her toddler son, Desmond, will eventually enter.

“I know decisions made now will impact him — even if it’s three or four years down the road,” she said.

One of those big decisions to be made within the next few years is how to address the aging Muldown Elementary facility. Deese says she’s interested to listen to the community’s input on the project.

“As the largest elementary school and as one that has some facility issues, something has to happen,” she said. “It will be interesting to hear what options come out of the planning process and to hear what people think should happen.”

She believes the district is in good shape and that she isn’t taking her trustee seat with an agenda.

“I think everyone has the best interest of the students in mind,” she said of the district.

“I think I’ll be able to come in and ask some good questions, and if ideas are needed maybe I’ll be able to find ideas within my experiences. I believe I’ll be able to respect everyone’s point of view and help make some good decisions.”