Private schools under new leadership

Three of Flathead County's private schools welcomed new administrators this fall.

The new leaders bring a variety of experiences and perspectives to their positions, but all are bound by a common desire to serve their students, staff and God. Following is a brief profile of each newcomer.

Joanna Eichner

St. Matthew's School

On the first day of classes this fall at St. Matthew's School, Joanna Eichner stood on a landing to greet students. When the morning bell rang, she headed upstairs to what used to be her classroom.

It was a bit of a shock when she remembered her new room was the principal's office downstairs.

Eichner taught at St. Matthew's for eight years before becoming the school's administrative leader.

She has replaced the legendary Gene Boyle, who retired from the principal position last spring but who is still coaching the St. Matt's football team and volunteering as the school's guidance counselor.

Eichner got her undergraduate degree in education from Gonzaga University and her degree in educational leadership from the University of Montana.

Aside from substitute teaching in Butte and Helena, Eichner has spent her entire career at St. Matthew's.

"There's no way I'd ever leave," she said, smiling.

In addition to her new office, Eichner has had to adjust to the administrative duties of her new position in the 263-student school. She interacts less often with students, but supports them by supporting teachers.

"I love teaching, and I know it's where I need to be. I haven't lost that," she said. "But I'm excited to work on the level of supporting teachers. They work really hard, and they're pretty hard on themselves."

Eichner said she also is excited about seeing students of all ages. In her previous position as the sixth- through eighth-grade math and English and eighth-grade religion teacher, she interacted very little with younger students. Now she sees them all when she supervises the playground at lunchtime.

"I'm looking forward to that," she said. "I'll get to be with kids at all stages and phases."

Todd Kotila

Whitefish Christian Academy

After nearly 20 years in Seattle, Todd Kotila's goal was simple.

"I just wanted to come home," he said.

He grew up in Polson and left for the "big city" of Missoula to go to college. After earning an undergraduate degree in classical Greek and Latin, Kotila and his new wife moved to Pasadena, Calif., so he could attend Fuller Theological Seminary.

It was a bad year to move to Los Angeles County, Kotila said. It was 1992, the year four L.A. police officers were acquitted in Rodney King's beating. Someone was shot on the Kotilas' street in the ensuing riots.

"Shock wouldn't describe moving to Los Angeles that year," Kotila said.

He and his wife relocated to Seattle, where Fuller had a satellite school. To avoid going into debt to pay for school, Kotila got a job in the shipping department of a company that made Bible study software.

Eleven years later, he was the company's vice president.

Despite working his way up the corporate ladder, Kotila longed to return to Montana. His two daughters were rapidly growing up, and his three-hour commute to work cut into his time with them.

He had experience teaching Greek at grad school and teaching Latin for a home-school cooperative that followed a classical education model.

That, combined with his knowledge of how to run a business and his graduate degree in theology, made him uniquely qualified for a headmaster position at Whitefish Christian Academy, which has 113 students.

"This is a perfect fit," he said. "I have no doubt this is where God wants us."

This year, Kotila has a steep learning curve as he figures out how to run a private school. But he already has big plans for the future, including adding a high-school program at Whitefish Christian.

Ben Pflugrad

Valley Adventist

Christian School

Working as the only teacher in a four-student school wasn't quite what Ben Pflugrad had in mind when he took a job at Valley Adventist Christian School.

But 2009-10 is becoming a year of renewal at the school, and Pflugrad hopes the years to come will see a growth in students and teaching staff.

"I wasn't looking to come to a one-teacher school, but I kind of feel like the Lord has led me here," he said.

Pflugrad isn't unfamiliar with the unexpected. He didn't expect to attend college, but the state of the economy when he graduated high school in the early 1980s changed his mind. People with a year or two of post-secondary education were having an easier time finding work than those with only a high-school diploma, so Pflugrad headed for Boise State University to get an associate's degree in anything that would land him a job.

After one year, he had a new goal. He decided to become an elementary school teacher.

"I got my life focused more, I guess," he said. "I really wanted to make a difference in kids' lives."

He had been born and raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and he wanted the freedom to talk about his faith in school.

Pflugrad's first teaching job was at an Adventist school in Caldwell, Idaho.

He later moved to an Adventist school in La Grande, Ore. He was there for nine years before taking the position at Valley Adventist in the Helena Flats area.

"It is a little challenging this year for me," he admitted. "But one thing about a small school: You can create a family atmosphere."

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com