Matt Jensen will be promoted to superintendent of Bigfork schools.

Jensen, the elementary and middle school principal in Bigfork for three years, was chosen as superintendent last week by the school board.  

 He said he is excited to take on the role of superintendent. “It’s a pretty humbling, honoring position to be put in,” he said.

Russ Kinzer has served as interim superintendent since January after Cynthia Clary resigned due to a family medical situation.

Jensen will begin as superintendent July 1. Brenda Clark will replace Jensen as  principal.

Jensen graduated from Flathead High School and went on to play basketball at Williston State College in North Dakota.

He transferred to the University of Montana and graduated in 2004 with a social studies degree. He taught history, government and economics at Bigfork High School, then became the assistant principal and athletic director and eventually principal.

 Three years later the elementary and middle school principal position opened up.

Jensen said through the course of the last six years he has been able to work with everyone on campus and it has given him a good feel for the Bigfork School District.

“I’m most excited about working with all the people I’ve been able to build relationships with,” he said.

He wants to focus on student growth and progress through programs such as the Montana Behavior Initiative and Response to Intervention. One focuses on school culture and climate and the other on how staffers teach and intervene.

He would like to strengthen the relationship between the teachers union and the administration and work to have the administration serve the staff.

Jensen is working with Kinzer now on anything that will affect the next school year. Jensen said Kinzer was a mentor to him when he first started in administration.

He said Bigfork’s small community creates a good atmosphere and keeps class sizes small. He is excited to have his own children go through school in the district.

“I wouldn’t have applied for any other superintendent position, because that’s where I want to be,” Jensen said. “I would love to stay in Bigfork for a long time.”

Kinzer, meanwhile, will go back to being retired.

Having a replacement hired “will be a relief to me,” Kinzer said. “I’m looking forward to fishing and gardening this summer.”