Glacier High School Principal Callie Langohr recently was named Class AA Principal of the Year, adding to a number of distinguished honors for the Kalispell school.

Langohr was recognized by the Association of Montana AA Principals. She was nominated by the association’s membership, which includes Montana’s 14 AA high school principals.

The honor took Langohr by surprise, even though she currently is president of the association.

“I was running the meeting,” Langohr said. “When we got to that part of the agenda I told the group we didn’t have any nominations and that we needed to watch our colleagues and nominate someone who was worthy of the award.”

During the pep talk an association member stood up and announced that there was a nomination — Langohr.

“They caught me totally off guard,” she said.

Langohr has been principal of Glacier since the high school opened in 2007. Prior to that she was principal for seven years at Flathead High School.

She takes a straightforward approach in her leadership philosophy.

“It’s a simple philosophy, and it is, you take care of people first and programs second. It helps me achieve balance and it also helps me focus on the right things,” Langohr said.

Kalispell Superintendent Darlene Schottle remarked on Langohr’s recent recognition:

“Callie has been an incredible asset to our local public schools. She is a determined, very focused educator whose collaborative abilities were crucial in the creation of a successful second high school. I think this award could not have come at a better time.”

Langohr said the award validates the work of a larger team effort.

“It’s the team of administrators, the teachers, the students, the support staff and the parents,” Langohr said. “A large team of people have done an incredible amount of work to provide an excellent education for students and I’m fortunate to have been a part of that.”

Glacier has received many honors over the past year as a result of the team effort under Langohr’s leadership.

In June the school ranked in the top 10 percent of the nation’s best-performing high schools, according to a U.S. News and World 2013 report. Glacier also was recognized as an Advanced Placement District of the Year by the College Board, earning a place among 539 U.S. public school districts that have increased access to Advanced Placement classes and improved scores on AP tests.

The high school also implemented a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy, which will expand course offerings next year.

Langohr’s goal is to increase student achievement and continue providing a quality education.

“In the future we would like to continue our progress and again be one of the top schools in the nation,” Langohr said. “When students graduate we want them to go out and be successful going to college or gaining employment.”

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