After 15 years at Kila School, Principal Renee Boisseau will leave the district to become the new director of Montessori Elementary in Kalispell.

“It is hard to leave,” Boisseau said. “This is a great community out here with wonderful kids.”

Raising student achievement has been central to her accomplishments at Kila.

“It’s been 15 years of total school improvement,” Boisseau said, noting that one major accomplishment during her tenure was overseeing a special education classroom built in 2010.

Her move from public to private school was an opportunity for her to try something new in her career. Boisseau will assume her duties as director of Montessori Elementary July 1. As director, some of Boisseau’s duties will involve fundraising and public relations work. She will replace Michelle Talus.

Talus, a former business owner, said she is stepping down to pursue other interests and spend more time with her daughter.

Talus, who directed Montessori for three years and was co-director prior to that, said she still plans to stay connected with the school, particularly in fundraising endeavors.

Talus said one the accomplishments of which she was proudest was having students serve with Meals on Wheels once a week, a program she started seven years ago.

The Montessori Elementary is a school for first through sixth grade and employs a teaching model of multi-level classrooms of differentiated learning where students learn at their own rate of development and readiness.

Boisseau’s daughter was a Montessori student.

“I’ve always believed in the Montessori philosophy,” Boisseau said.

Boisseau holds a Bachelor of Science degree in consumer science and special education and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Montana. In 2009, she was awarded the National Distinguished Principal Award by the Montana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals.

Montessori Elementary board president Chris Sauve said he was impressed by Boisseau’s professionalism and knowledge of the Montessori philosophy.

“She has 15 years of very successful history as principal of Kila,” Sauve said. “We’re optimistic she’ll continue to do a great job developing and promoting Montessori Elementary.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.