Langohr to lead Glacier

Flathead principal to head new school

Flathead High School Principal Callie Langohr has been named the principal for Glacier High School.

Kalispell school trustees confirmed her transfer at their regular meeting Tuesday night, acting on a recommendation from Superintendent Darlene Schottle.

Langohr, a 1971 Flathead High graduate, has been acting as Glacier's transition principal as decisions were made for building design last year and for curriculum this year. Staffing decisions are next.

Working with a team of administrative assistants, she continues for now at the helm of Flathead High School as well.

She officially takes the title of Glacier High principal, a lateral move on the pay scale, on July 1 this year. Glacier High School opens in fall 2007.

Langohr said she looks forward to the challenge.

"This is an opportunity for me to make a contribution toward Glacier," she said, "to help with starting a school and starting students in the [school] community."

Within a month, the search will be under way for a Flathead High principal to replace Langohr.

Schottle said the application process will begin with other principals already working in District 5 who may be interested in making the transfer, then move to an outside search.

Langohr was the only in-house applicant for the Glacier job.

Langohr said she also looks at this as an opportunity for Flathead High School.

"There are a lot of good leaders in this district, and a lot from out of the district, who can make a contribution to Flathead," she said.

As the administrative representative on the High School Building Committee since the bond issue passed in November 2004, Langohr said she is well acquainted with "the nuances of Glacier."

With the Glacier High building well into the construction phase, a team now is working out a career-cluster curriculum for both high schools. Curriculum needs and student population will affect the number of administrators hired for Glacier.

Once that is in place, staffing will be the final piece of the puzzle.

Langohr sees that as a critical step for success.

"That's a 'don't screw up' step," she said. "You are dealing with people, with educators who have given their lives, some who have taught 30 years or more. We will make this a painless process."

She plans to begin the staff transition by asking Flathead teachers for their preferences about where they want to teach, and will honor as many requests as possible. Administrators also will work out a plan for the way teachers are notified of their assignments.

In the three-year planning process, she identified two prongs for the district's work - strategic planning and physical logistics.

The first year, 2004-05, was spent designing the Glacier High building. This year is devoted to curriculum and policies, with Flathead High renovations discussed in recent weeks.

The coming year will be spent on staffing and getting the furniture, fixtures, equipment and curriculum materials on hand that will be needed at both high schools.

As a Flathead graduate and the daughter of two former Flathead High teachers, Langohr said it took some doing to make the mental shift to being principal of a different school.

"I asked myself, 'How can I wear any colors other than orange and black?' That's always what has been in my heart," Langohr said. "Now I'll make room in my heart for Glacier."

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com