Troy School Trustees approve Schertel as next superintendent

Replacing a long-time and trusted school administrator has become a more challenging task than ever before so when the Troy School District Trustees considered Christina Schertel for the soon-to-be vacant superintendent position, they didn’t dally long before making their choice.

At Monday night’s meeting, the trustees were unanimous in their vote to make her the next Superintendent of Schools. While contract details still need to be worked out, the happiness of outgoing Superintendent Jake Francom, the board and others in attendance was obvious.

Francom, who served Troy as a principal and superintendent for the last decade, said during the meeting, “I think the board would be crazy not to hire her. Because if you don’t, I may steal her away.”

Schertel has never known another school system outside of Troy.

A Maryland native, she earned her teaching degree at St. Mary’s College. She also met her husband, Tim, who is from Troy, in Maryland while he was stationed there as a member of the U.S. Marines. They have a son, Wyatt, who will be a junior in the next school year.

Schertel received her Master’s degree in Special Education at Montana State Billlings and she has continued her administrative instruction at the University of Montana in Missoula. She said she’ll have a few classes left to complete there this summer to be certified for the superintendent position.

“I have done all of my teaching here and I am emotionally invested in this town,” she said during her interview. “I’d love to do this job, but only if others feel I can do it.”

And now she will get an opportunity she said she wasn’t sure would happen.

“Jake leaving opens a door that I wasn’t sure I’d ever walk through,” Schertel said.

Francom’s departure is bittersweet for the board and some joked at the beginning of the meeting that they wouldn’t accept his resignation.

While filling Francom’s big shoes won’t be easy, Schertel has left some good-sized tracks, too.

She was named the Special Educator of the Year in 2018 by the Montana Council for Exceptional Children.

Then, Francom said, “She has impacted the lives of many students. She is able to motivate and inspire students. She is always trying to find a way to help each student succeed.”

Board trustee Cam Foote had nothing but good things to say about Schertel.

“Christina has started and finished with two special needs kids of my own and I have no complaints about her whatsoever,” Foote said. “She has done a great job here.”

Schertel acknowledged her grasp of the finance side of the job is not yet what she wants it to be.

“I’d have to work hard at it, but I’m smart and not afraid to reach out for help and ask questions,” she said.

Francom, again touting Schertel’s ability to do the job, said, “I’ve seen the caliber of people in administration and I see her ability, her leadership capacity so the finance aspect is not a concern. She has the intelligence and the ability to reach out and keep working to get the answers that are needed.”

Francom will serve the school until July 1 before becoming the founding principal of North Idaho Classical Academy in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Francom said he informed school trustee members of his decision by letter and phone calls on Thursday, April 27.

“I’ve been very happy in Troy and there’s nothing in particular that has led me to wanting to make a change,” Francom said in a phone interview Friday with The Western News. “It seems every year I’ve been contacted about a different job and this position is very intriguing to me.”

Schertel knows the challenge she is facing, but she’s looking forward to it.

“I’m excited to continue to help the kids and families here because I love this community so much,” she said.