Barrett named secondary education superintendent

COEUR d’ALENE — Libbi Barrett, principal of Coeur d'Alene High School, has been selected as the new assistant superintendent of secondary education and curriculum for the Coeur d’Alene School District.

Barrett has more than 24 years of experience working in public education. She has been the principal at CHS for the past two years.

Next week, Barrett will join Superintendent Shon Hocker and Patty Morrison, the new assistant superintendent of elementary education and instruction, to head the school district's senior leadership team.

“We are excited to have Libbi join us," Hocker said. "She brings a connection to this district that will be very beneficial. Her ambition and dedication to student success will complement the district as we move forward with our strategic plan.”

Barrett succeeds Kelly Niccolls, who has taken a position with the Cheney School District in Washington.

“Coeur d’Alene is an amazing community that supports its public schools," Barrett said. "I am grateful for this level of support and am excited to continue to serve the staff and students of Coeur d’Alene Public Schools in a different capacity."

Prior to being named CHS principal in 2019, Barrett was the assistant principal for four years. She also has been an elementary principal in the Lakeland School District, a high school principal in the West Bonner School District, a teacher as well as a Title 1 specialist in the Coeur d’Alene School District, a reading interventionist in the Moscow School District and a Discovery Art teacher in the Evergreen School District in Vancouver, Wash.

She attended the University of Idaho, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“My six years as an administrator at Coeur d’Alene High School have been an unforgettable and amazing experience,” Barrett said. “The students, staff and families at CHS have taught me so much, and I consider it a personal and professional privilege to have worked beside them at CHS. I look forward to continuing to serve CHS and all secondary schools.”

She said secondary students are in an exciting time of development, "somewhere between childhood and adulthood."

"I am dedicated to championing all students in meaningful, effective and impactful ways in order to graduate informed contributors who are citizen-ready," Barrett said. "I celebrate the work of our district and secondary administrators and know the best is yet to come for our children.”

The district will immediately begin the search process for the next CHS principal.