School is out for Tom Albertson

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SANDPOINT – School is officially and finally out for former Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Tom Albertson.

At the beginning of his time as LPOSD superintendent, Albertson said he was “honored and humbled” to be selected and set to work immediately. However, Albertson said he is now most excited to travel with his wife and spend time with his family after 36 years of serving in various positions in the district.

Starting his career in 1987, Albertson began his journey down the education route because of his experience in the district growing up. From attending Northside Elementary through eighth grade before attending Sandpoint High School, where he would return after college, Albertson said the leading influence in his life was his father. A science teacher at Sandpoint High School, Albertson said his father instilled in him the importance of education.

“I always liked school. I had great teachers at Northside Elementary through eighth grade and then at Sandpoint High School. My father, Don Albertson, was a science teacher at Sandpoint High School and instilled the importance of education with me,” Albertson said.

Those values led Albertson to further his education after graduating in 1982 by earning multiple degrees in education. A University of Idaho graduate, Albertson returned to SHS with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, which he used to become a math teacher for 22 years. Albertson’s career led him to fill many roles beyond teaching as an administrator and saw him earn two more degrees from U of l, including an education specialist degree, and a master’s in educational leadership.

In his tenure at SHS, more than 30 years, Albertson experienced changes in his career that led to him taking on the mantle of superintendent in 2019. It was a position many thought Albertson was well-suited for due to his long-standing career as well as his generations-long history with the community. Being a third-generation Sandpoint local whose family has worked on a family-owned ranch since 1916, Albertson has truly spent his life in Sandpoint and gotten to know its community better than most.

“I think we made a good choice,” said former LPOSD board chair Cary Kelly. “We had three really good candidates. But in the final analysis, Tom has such a history here, and such a familiarity with the school district and the people here and the culture here — he is so well thought of, and I think that really gave him the edge.”

While his career has been long, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Although Albertson said his most difficult challenge didn't come until nearly the end of his career with the arrival of the pandemic. Becoming the superintendent in June 2019, Albertson was not even in his new position a full year before life completely changed when Gov. Brad Little issued the first stay-at-home order in March 2020.

“Keeping schools operating during COVID-19 was definitely a challenge that had no easy answers. I appreciate the school board for their leadership and support through these times,” Albertson said.

Overcoming the challenges of the pandemic and many more, Albertson said he accomplished much as superintendent including, with the support of the community, stabilizing LPOSD funding through the permanent supplemental levy.

“Though keeping schools open through COVID-19 was not an original goal, this was a major feat,” Albertson said.

Albertson said that although he did accomplish everything he set out to do as superintendent such as addressing the aging of facilities.

“I wish I could have addressed the district's facilities needs, this is some unfinished business,” Albertson said. “LPOSD will need to address aging facilities in the near future, my hope is the community recognizes this and helps with solutions.”

But Alberston said he is ready to step away and is excited to “have time for other ventures,” having met “some amazing people” in his career, and built lasting relationships.

Albertson said he is confident in what Dr. Becky Meyer, the new LPOSD superintendent, will bring to the table.

“I have worked with Dr. Meyer for many years at Sandpoint High School. She always brings positivity, high energy, and great vision to any position she has ever occupied,”

After 36 years Albertson’s final day in the education field was June 30.

“Tomorrow [July 1] will be the first time since the invention of email that I have not had a school district email account,” Albertson said.

This does not mean that Albertson is completely stepping away. He said that while he does not currently have plans, there is no telling what his future support for the district will look like.