LHS superintendent retiring while ‘still active’

After 23 years in the Lakeland School District, Chuck Kinsey is looking forward to having more time to spend with kids – as Grandpa.

Kinsey is retiring this year as Lakeland’s superintendent after a career including 12 years as principal at Lakeland High School and four years as the district’s assistant superintendent.

Education was a career Kinsey decided on when he was a junior in college. The idea of coaching and teaching appealed to him. He was a high school principal in Minnesota when he and his wife, Carol, decided they wanted to move their family westward.

“A friend said North Idaho is a nice area,” Kinsey said, and that’s where they landed, making a home for the past several years in Twin Lakes.

Growth has been the biggest challenge for the Lakeland School District, Kinsey said. Since he was hired, the district has grown from six schools to 11.

Business Manager Tom Taggart was chairman of the district’s board of trustees when Kinsey was hired as the high school principal.

“There had been personnel issues there prior to him taking over,” Taggart said. “Boy, he just came in and took over and was an excellent principal and built a staff there that was real loyal to him.”

Taggart was hired as business manager years later – on the same day Kinsey started as superintendent.

Taggart said he was impressed by his ability to speak candidly with his boss. The two were in disagreement over the particulars of a supplemental levy that was going before voters, but Taggart said he was able to be open and share his ideas.

“He takes input real well,” Taggart said, “but when it’s time to make a decision, he’s the boss and you’re ready to follow him because you know he did listen.”

Kinsey said every time he was ready for a new challenge in his career, a position opened up in the district.

“Every position I’ve been fortunate to have, I’ve enjoyed those positions,” he said.

He said he’s also enjoyed the people he’s worked with over the years and the community support for the schools.

The 59-year-old said he and his wife, Carol, decided in January that they were both ready to retire. She’s retiring from the Coeur d’Alene School District, where she spent two decades teaching.

Besides playing with his grandkids, Kinsey said he plans to spend more time on his hobbies, which include fly fishing and riding horses with his wife.

“I wanted to go out when I was feeling good and still active,” Kinsey said.