For the second year in a row, Dave Wick has been honored as a top school administrator.

Wick, the principal at Columbia Falls Junior High School, was selected as the National Distinguished Principal for Montana.

He was given the award at the Montana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals winter conference.

Last year the association named Wick the Montana Distinguished Principal.

Wick said he was honored to receive the award.

“I have an incredible staff that makes every effort to create a positive and caring atmosphere in the school and also has high expectations in terms of behavior and academics,” Wick said. He also noted that support from his family — wife, Carrie, children, McKenzie, 15, and son Murphy, 13 — are central to his success.

In October, Wick will travel to Washington, D.C., for two days of activities and a recognition ceremony for the elementary and middle-level principals chosen from each state, including American schools overseas.

Wick was nominated by Superintendent Michael Nicosia.

In Nicosia’s nomination letter, Nicosia noted Wick’s dedication to students: “He is committed to an effective school environment in which all students succeed. For him, student failure is seen as a personal tragedy — a situation over which schools have control. He treats his staff as professional colleagues, giving them freedom and responsibilities in accordance with professional attainment.”

Wick has been principal at Columbia Falls Junior High School for 15 years. He also serves as the district’s director of elementary education.

He began a career in education 29 years ago as an English teacher and coach. In 1994, he launched his administrative career as assistant principal at Whitefish Middle School, working there three years before moving to the Columbia Falls School District.

The principal’s role is collaborator with staff, administration, school board and parents, he said.

“We work together for the good of the kids,” Wick said.

Creating a positive role model image and communicating with students though all situations is key to being an effective principal.

“Working with students, knowing their name, encouraging them, working with them, balancing the positive [with] sometimes giving them consequences and boundaries — at this time in their lives they really need that,” Wick said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].