Supt. Bartling rings final bell on a long career in eduction

Supt. Don Bartling’s  final day with Boundary County School District No. 101 is officially Thursday, June 16.

He will bid a farewell to the school district but not to Bonners Ferry. 

Bartling moved to Bonners Ferry with his wife Debbie in 2001. They immediately fell in love with the community. 

“We are staying in our house, and I am going to hunt, fish, and pursue my hobby in photography,” said Bartling. “I do less hunting now and take more pictures.”

Bartling was raised in Nebraska on a farm. He would milk cows at 5 a.m., sheer sheep and raise chickens. There he was thought to follow in his father’s footsteps and farm land that was to be his.

“I gained my work ethic in this type of work,” said Bartling.

Bartling, however, decided to become an educator like his mother.

“She (Bartling’s mother) became a certified teacher back in 1944 with 12 hours of college credit and only six toward education,” said Bartling. “Her teaching certificate only cost $1.”

His mother graduated from high school at age 17, and was a teacher by the time she was 18.

Since then Bartling said education was in the back of his mind.  After graduating high school he decided to put it in the forefront.

He walked the parking lot of his high school after graduation at looked up at the spire on the school, and thought to himself, “I am going to be back here in 10 years time as the superintendent.”

It didn’t quite happen that way. He did come back, but to a neighboring school as superintendent.

“I admired the superintendent in my district at the school I went to, so I pursued it.”

He was quite proud. After all, he worked very hard to put himself through school while also working 45 hours a week.  He attended college full-time while raising a family. He received a bachelor and a master’s degree in five years and three months.

“The first day out on the playground, I couldn’t help but look around and think, ‘I made it, I am here and I am so thankful,’” Bartling said.

When he arrived in Bonners Ferry in 2001 he had several goals he wanted to meet during his tenure at the district.

“I really enjoyed working with the district staff and the board members I have worked with in the last 10 years,” Bartling said. “I love to work with people who love to work with kids, the kids are genuine, honest and sincere. 

Bartling went on to say that other schools give many compliments on Boundary County students who go away to compete with various activities. 

“I have been fortunate in my career that I have been able to do what I have wanted to do.”

“I will miss the business and the central office staff,” said Bartling. “We are very proud of the students and all they accomplish. I like the attitude and the confidence our students have, in this very diverse community. They appreciate their school and their education.”