New Principal Arrives at MES

From the "Plains" to the prairies, J. F. Hewitt, the new Elementary Grade School Principal for Malta, brings a new, fresh approach, probably a new idea or two, and undoubtedly has more than a handful of talents and skills he has acquired in his career and lifetime.

Hewitt was born and raised in Missoula, Montana, and started his career in Polson teaching K-4th grade, with his degree in music. After two years, he moved to Noxon to teach; then moved back to Missoula where he taught general music in a middle school. From there, he moved over to Superior where he taught music and band, from 2000-2003. His next position was in Plains from 2003-2006.

His next venture took him to Kalispell, where he was until he moved to Malta. He was not teaching directly, he did have a band position in 2010, teaching beginning band.

Hewitt said, "In 2012, I went back to school and got my Masters in Educational Leadership and my certificate as a principal; I finished that in 2014. I worked as a substitute teacher that fall until December."

It was then that Hewitt branched out somewhat and took on the role as a coordinator working with families through Youth Dynamics. His role was doing outreach, training foster parents, and conducting annual certifications. He remained there until 2017 when he took the position of Campus Principal and music teacher for a private school called One School Global. It is an international private school supported by the Pacific Brethren.

"It was a really great experience - in that role, I was about in my third year and was overseeing five campuses, four on the West Coast and Kalispell. There was a lot of travel involved in that. I had a lot of fun being able to visit the sites, in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. So, a couple times a year I would have to go visit the sites. The campus was small...when I left, we had 13 students and a total of three staff members. But it was also really, really effective."

Hewitt stated that One Global uses self-directed teaching, which places the learning back on the students rather than the teachers. Students were told of the minimal standards and that if they wanted more it was up to them to achieve it.

"What I saw coming from the students, not only in music class but every other class, was absolutely amazing."

He continued, that as he continues to work on the dissertation of his doctorate, his hope is to be able to focus and take some of what he learned and apply it to his teaching and work. He said students can "think outside the box," and they do well. If we can prepare students, it is his hope to bring all students to this level.

In his "spare" time, he teaches hunter education to students. He is pleased to have inherited his grandfather's woodwork shop. His philosophy is that of his grandfather's, that one needs to learn something every day. If we can take the students who have fallen on their faces, picked themselves up and moved forward, they are going to be prepared for life.

He has already learned that there are a lot of great traditions, there is a lot of great people working to keep this community going forward. He believes that teaching students to be self-learners will assist them in becoming who they are.

Hewitt has purchased a home in Malta and plans to retire from here when the time is right.

As is, he is blessed to have about 220 wee ones to guide, direct, and inspire this year. They should keep him young and on his toes.