Former school leader heads state board

Educational consultant and former Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent Darlene Schottle has been selected to serve as the chairwoman of the Montana Board of Public Education.

Schottle, of Bigfork, said she is looking forward to serving in the new role. Appointed to the board by the governor in 2015, she served as vice chair for three years.

Schottle’s career in education spans 40 years with 11 as superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools and one year as vice president of Flathead Valley Community College. She currently works as an educational consultant through the School Administrators of Montana.

Schottle earned a master’s and doctorate from the University of Nevada and an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia.

The state board consists of seven members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate for staggered seven-year terms.

The board supervises public elementary and secondary schools in Montana including the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. Its duties include adoption of accreditation standards for schools, adoption of special education policies, teacher and administrator certification and administration of state funding.