New Supe for You

A young couple, both teachers and recently graduated from college, left Montana headed for New Mexico, believing that was where they wanted to be. However, after one year of teaching fifth grade in Gallatin, Wade Sundby realized that was not where he and his wife Brenna wanted to be. "We packed up and left the day school ended."

The moves down and back were the first legs in the journey to find a home that brought them, well, home. W. Sundby began his position as superintendent of the Glasgow School District on Aug. 5, just a few short years, ok 25 years, after he graduated from Glasgow High School. "I'm very excited to be back," he told the Courier. "It's great to come back and be a Glasgow Scottie again!"

Sundby earned his degree in elementary education from MSU-Northern in Havre in 1999. He and Brenna married that same year. After New Mexico, the couple made their way back to Valley County, where he taught fifth and sixth grade in Hinsdale for two years. Their next move took them to Absarokee where he taught Montana history and geography to seventh and eighth graders. During his tenure as a Husky, he also taught some physical education and sixth grade. His years in Absarokee were interrupted when he was sent on temporary duty to Fort Richardson in Alaska as a member of the Montana National Guard during Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Sundbys were off to Plentywood next, where he taught fifth grade and math to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. After five years as a Wildcat, Sundby took over as superintendent for the Saco school district, where he had been for the past three years.

He takes over as superintendent of the Glasgow school district just in time to begin the 2019-2020 school year. While his initial focus will be on learning the minutia of day-to-day operations and the policies and procedures specific to the district, Sundby's overarching goal is to do what's best for the students. He expressed a desire to "make a smooth transition period for myself to continue to promote and provide positive happenings in the school and put that out to the community."

He expressed great confidence in the district, saying it has, " ... great principals, great teachers, great staff," though he acknowledges there will be some hurdles in the future. The mill levy that has failed to pass for the past three years will be one of those hurdles. He expressed a desire to eventually get that passed, but first, "I want to get out and see where we're at with that. You know, where is the community at with the mill levy and what the concerns are."

The new superintendent has plans to be in Glasgow for the long haul. He and Brenna will be living in Glasgow. In fact, just last year they started to build on their property 10 miles outside of town. "In Saco I was provided housing and we needed a home base. Now that home base will just be home," said Sundby. Brenna will be traveling to Hinsdale to continue teaching English in that district. Succinctly summing up how he feels, Sundby said, "I'm excited to be here."