Sandpoint panel chooses principal

A committee of administrators, teachers, students and parents has chosen Becky Kiebert to be the next principal at Sandpoint High School.

The Lake Pend Oreille School Board will vote on the recommendation on Tuesday. If approved, Kiebert will replace Jim Soper, who is moving to Kansas.

Kiebert has been principal at Lake Pend Oreille High, the alternative school in the district, for four years. Before that, she was a counselor at Sandpoint High and Priest River High. She has worked in the district for 12 years. Kiebert earned a doctorate degree in education from the University of Idaho.

Superintendent Mark Berryhill said what distinguished Kiebert from the three other finalists – and 19 applicants – was her knowledge of education, energy and potential.

“She just doesn’t have the experience of running a school of 1,300 students, and that was the only down side, so to speak. But everything else was so positive that the committee just felt she was a great candidate for Sandpoint High,” Berryhill said.

Lake Pend Oreille High has 120 students.

Kiebert could not be reached for comment Friday. In a statement released by the district, she said: “Sandpoint High School is the cornerstone of this community and I fully intend to do whatever it takes, working with staff, students and parents, to continue the progression towards excellence.”

The district will start advertising a replacement for Kiebert’s position at Lake Pend Oreille High on Monday, Berryhill said.