Post Falls School District hopes to choose new principal soon

The Post Falls School District aims to pick a new high school principal by mid-March.

John Billetz is resigning at the end of the school year after 11 years at the helm of Post Falls High School. He has taken a new job as executive director of the Idaho High School Activities Association.

The job listing for his successor closes Feb. 28. So far, 14 people have requested applications, including Dena Naccarato, the school’s assistant principal, and Mike Yovetich, principal at River City Middle School.

As an educator whose career has been spent advocating for the balance of academia and activities, Billetz said Thursday he’s had his eye on the association job for a number of years. The timing is right for him to take the position, he said.

Billetz said he’s an avid supporter of sports, music, drama and debate because they teach life skills such as unity and tolerance. “A lot of students, because of activities, do better in school and stay in school.”

Billetz, 54, is a Pennsylvania native but has spent 30 years in Idaho education as a principal, football coach and athletics director. He was named Idaho Secondary Principal of the Year in 2003.

His biggest challenge was dealing with unmotivated students, something that plagues all schools, he said. He tried to increase communication with parents and started a freshman transition course and mentorship between seniors and underclassmen.