Ruder Elementary welcomes Allison Hawes as its new principal for the next school year. Hawes is currently the principal at Helena Flats School, a position she’s held for the past three years.

Helena Flats is K-8 and has just under 300 children. Ruder has more than 500 students.

Hawes grew up in the Flathead Valley near Lake Blaine and graduated from Flathead High School. She has a master’s degree in counseling and was previously a teacher and a counselor as well.

She received her master’s degree in education and a master’s degree in psychology and counseling from the University of West Alabama and her principal leadership credentials from the University of Montana.

She is also a licensed clinical professional counselor.

Hawes is married to Todd Hawes and she has no children.

“I’ve always heard great things about the Columbia Falls School District,” Hawes said in an interview last week.

She said she looks forward to working with the staff at the school and superintendent Cory Dziowgo.

“He believes in building relationships with the students, staff and community,” she said.

She noted that she, too, values building relationships. As a principal in a rural school district, she has to be flexible. For example, she’s the lead substitute if a teacher calls in sick or can’t make it to work.

Getting outside subs is often difficult and she finds herself in classrooms often.

“I’m very in-tune with the classrooms,” she said.

She said her first priority is the students.

“My non-negotiable is we keep the kids as our priority,” she said. “As a leader we need to keep kids in the forefront.”

Her contract at Helena Flats expires June 30 and she looks forward to working with curriculum developer Mark McCord and Glacier Gateway Elementary Principal Penni Anello to get up to speed over the summer.

“Everyone has been so kind and welcoming,” she said, “It’s nice to feel the support.”

She said she likes to see the support for the Wildcats in Columbia Falls.

“It’s a cool hometown community,” she said.