The Blaine County School District announced Monday that it will move Wood River High School's vice principal into his new job as the school's principal this summer.
John Blackman has been named to replace principal Graham Hume, who announced his resignation in April, after six years at Wood River High School.
Blackman has been with the Blaine County School District since 1984. He was initially hired by Wood River High School as a secondary art teacher. He taught art at the school until 2001 when he was promoted to vice principal, a position he has held through the current school year. Blackman also coached football for 17 years, 14 as the high school's head coach.
Blackman received his bachelor's degree in arts and arts education from Montana State University in 1983. During that time, Blackman was an offensive lineman for the Montana State Bobcats' football team.
While teaching at Wood River High School, Blackman earned his master's degree of education in education administration from the University of Idaho in 1998.
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"I am really excited," Blackman said. "Graham (Hume) got me out of the classroom and into administration. He gave me a lot of responsibility in terms of the future curriculum."
Blackman said that a connection with the students is the paramount factor in education.
"I love working with the students. The most important thing with kids of any age is trust."
Blackman said he adheres to a quote he heard sometime back: "Kids don't care what you know, until they know you care. And it's true. My hope is to bring the focus back to that relationship."
The framework for that all-important student-teacher connection has, in many ways, already been laid.
Hume and Blackman set up a program where teachers refer students who are struggling in class to a mandatory study program following the school day. Every Monday and Wednesday, teachers, students and vice principal Blackman work to improve study habits and answer any questions the students may have.
"I have found that attendance is higher when I personally round the students up," Blackman said, half-joking. "But they know that I care about their success. I can't ask those kids to do something that I myself am not willing to do."
District Superintendent Jim Lewis said Blackman is well liked at Wood River.
"We knew we had made the right decision, when we announced that John would be taking over the principal position at the high school's staff meeting, and he received a standing ovation from the entire staff. We are excited to have John continue his career in administration with us and look forward to working with him in this new capacity."
Blackman said that although he is ready to take the reins, Hume will stay on through July to help with the transition.
"I am really proud of what we (the entire staff) have accomplished over the past few years," Blackman said. But don't think he's resting on past laurels. "It's our responsibility to teach—it's not the student's responsibility to arrive all fired up. I firmly believe that."
Courtesy photo
The Blaine County School District announced this week that John Blackman would take the reins and assume the role of principal of Wood River High School, following the retirement of Graham Hume at the end of the school year.
