Building relationships and shifting students' outlook

SEELEY LAKE – Standing on the football field, Seeley-Swan High School's new principal Shawn Holmes watches the football team practicing Friday morning.

"Whether I'm the principal, athletic director or teacher, that is my make up," Holmes said. "Those things are fun."

A 1983 SSHS graduate and staff member since fall of 1995, Holmes brings years of experience, an appreciation and knowledge of the local community and an excitement to offer the best educational experience to students. He looks forward to providing fun learning opportunities while students are attending SSHS and hopes to encourage them to pursue opportunities outside Seeley Lake following graduation.

Prior to teaching, Holmes worked in the area logging and working construction. While he enjoyed the work, he wasn't sure he wanted to pursue it as a career.

"Construction was good but it was up and down. I wanted to be able to go anywhere I wanted to be able to go," Holmes said.

Having been inspired by favorite teachers Ron Kimmett and Dan Barretta, Holmes decided to pursue a teaching degree at University of Montana Western. Not only could he work with youth, it also gave him the opportunity to coach and the freedom to get a job wherever.

"Even though I came back here, I've been in a couple different schools teaching," Holmes said. "I think if you are a teacher today, you can go anywhere you want to go."

He graduated in 1987 with a degree in industrial education and minor in history. Holmes taught fifth grade and grades nine through 12 in Whitehall, Michigan from 1989 – 1993. He moved to Drummond and taught grades 7-12 and adult education for a year before SSHS's Principal Kim Haines asked him to apply for an open part-time history position. He was hired for the 1995-1996 school year. When the part-time counseling position opened the same year, he applied and was hired. He completed a three-year Masters of Arts degree in guidance and counseling with Montana State University - Northern in 1999.

Holmes taught two sections of history and was SSHS's guidance counselor until Tech Ed Teacher Mark Darrow retired. He then switched to part time history, part-time Technical Education and Toni Sexton became SSHS's counselor. About 10 years ago, he quit teaching history and resumed counseling and teaching Tech Ed.

"My philosophy in a small school is we kind of build our own niches," Holmes said. "When trying to hire a half-time Tech Ed and half-time counselor, there is no such thing. I kind of built that little spot for myself and now we are struggling to fill it."

Becoming an administrator has always been a goal for Holmes. Instead of just taking Office of Public Instruction credits to maintain his teaching certification, Holmes took college courses. This met his teaching re-certification requirements and worked towards becoming an administrator. He also received an administrative endorsement from University of Montana Missoula in 2006.

Holmes applied for the SSHS principal position when it opened up in 2010. He was in the applicant pool with another SSHS teacher Jennifer Courtney. Neither received an interview, "I think we put a little pressure on the District with both of us applying," Holmes said.

In 2019 following Dr. Kathleen Pecora's retirement, SSHS science teacher Tonya Smith applied.

"I didn't even apply," Holmes said. "I didn't want to do that to Tanya."

When last year's principal Kellen Palmer left "it was a no brainer to apply especially when we knew there was [six] new staff coming in and a lot of different things going on with COVID."

"I've changed [what I taught] almost every 10 years," Holmes said. "I like the change because it motivates me more doing something new. I'm learning a lot. I'm not ready to retire. I still enjoy coming to work every day and I love the kids."

While some things have definitely changed after moving into the principal's office, Holmes said many of the things are the same.

"It's comforting to know I've done a lot of this stuff," Holmes said acknowledging there are still a lot of administrative things to learn.

Holmes feels his longevity in the community is one of the big strengths he brings to the principal position.

"Having lived in the area 30 plus years, I know the students' outlook," Holmes said. "I hope to change that outlook."

He explained that many of the students don't think college is an option. However, he plans to continue to encourage the kids to look outside of Seeley Lake for opportunities including considering the Armed Forces.

"I don't think we do a very good job of getting our kids to look outside of Seeley Lake. It is not a bad thing but there is a lot more out there and I want them to experience that," Holmes said. "I knew I had to move away to see what it was like somewhere else. Then I chose to come back."

He said he has seen many students that have left Seeley Lake return and are now part of the community.

"That is exciting. I just want kids to get out and experience somewhere else, just for a while, doesn't have to be forever, to find that outlook," Holmes said. "Maybe there is something else out there."

Another part of Holmes' goal as principal is for the students and staff to have fun.

"Not every kid loves high school, I understand that. But if we can have a little fun along the way and do some things that are fun, to me it is all about relationships and getting to know every single kid here," Holmes said. "That was hard last year for every staff member."

Holmes worked very closely with Palmer the last two years. He looks forward to continuing many of the programs and goals and continuing the positive school culture. With half of SSHS's staff turning over, he expects changes to programs and the culture that will complement the strengths and interests of the new staff.

"I think we do a great job of educating kids in Seeley Lake," Holmes said. "Our staff has been phenomenal and I think it is going to be phenomenal again. Certainly it is going to be new. There are going to be some changes that come from them that I'm really excited about. I'm an old stick in the mud but I also know that just because I've done it this way for 26 years, there could be a better way and there is a better way. That excites me."

In addition to the principal position, Holmes will continue as SSHS's Athletic Director and will coach cross country again this fall. In his free time, he looks forward to spending time with his new granddaughter.

"I'm just waiting for kids," Holmes said. "We've been hammering out stuff as much as we can but school is about kids and being here and filling the halls so that is what I'm waiting for."