District names Barrett interim CHS principal

COEUR d’ALENE — Libbi Barrett, assistant principal of Coeur d’Alene High School, will serve as interim principal for the 2019-20 school year, the district announced Monday afternoon.

Barrett has been assistant principal for the past four years. She previously served as an elementary school principal and a high school principal. According to district officials, Barrett will provide continuity and leadership for the Viking community through next school year during the search for a permanent principal.

On May 14, CHS Principal Bret Heller, an alumnus of the school, announced his resignation less than a year after accepting the job. Heller had filled the vacancy left by the death of Principal Troy Schueller.

Barrett grew up in Moscow and has invested 25 years in the field of education. After earning degrees from the University of Idaho, she served as a classroom teacher, reading specialist and building principal at Twin Lakes Elementary and at Priest River Lamanna High School.

Barrett said she felt privileged to serve as interim principal.

“It is a special school steeped in tradition and has amazing potential,” she said. “I have come to realize that by strengthening student, teacher, parent and community relationships, we send the message that together we can make a difference.”

District officials said the search for a permanent principal will begin in the winter.

The district will begin searching for an interim assistant principal position this week.

— Devin Weeks