Kalispell principal named tops in state

Montana’s school counselors have chosen a Kalispell principal as the state’s top administrator.

Kalispell Middle School Principal Barry Grace recently was named 2011 Administrator of the Year by the Montana School Counselor Association. According to a press release from the organization, the award is “given to an outstanding administrator or counselor who is dedicated to working with Montana’s youth.”

Deb Burfeind, seventh-grade counselor and department head at the middle school, said Grace won because all three KMS counselors nominated him.

“Our peers were impressed with that,” she said.

Burfeind, sixth-grade counselor DawnAnn Anderson and eighth-grade counselor Susan Sherman composed their nomination letter together.

“What we wrote in the letter [is] he is so good to work with as a counselor,” Burfeind said. “His door is always open. I can go in at any time and ask him about something.”

Grace takes time to connect to students, she added.

“From our viewpoint, he really puts kids first,” she said. “He goes to every lunch and is on his knee talking to every kid, telling them jokes, sitting at the table with them.”

He also watches out for students’ welfare, Burfeind said. He is aware of students who might need clothing. He will ask counselors to investigate if a student is crying.

Grace also spends significant time in classrooms, she said.

“He’ll sit down at a table where kids are doing a project and work with them on it,” Burfeind said. “He does all the things you hope as a counselor your administrator will do.”

Grace, who has been an administrator in the district since 1995, was humble about the award.

“It’s great. It’s nice to be honored by people that you work with and for,” he said.

Grace said he and the school counselors “function as a team.”

“It’s a great team that helps students. That’s what we’re all about, is helping students,” he said.

Superintendent Darlene Schottle praised Grace and Elrod School Principal Jeff Hornby, who won the award last year.

“They work well with kids and connect with students ... they’re obviously doing it with heart,” she said.

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