Before becoming superintendent and principal of Cayuse Prairie School, Amy Piazzola’s passion for education began in the classroom. 

After 33 years in education — including 14 at Cayuse Prairie — she is retiring, closing out a career rooted in small-town schools and steady leadership. 

“I came from a small town, so I am a small-town girl and Cayuse, you know, from the time that I stepped foot here, just touring [the school], wondering whether I wanted to apply for this job. It just felt like home. I could tell that it was a special place. And it truly is a special place,” Piazzola said. 

She credits the school’s culture to its staff. 

“The people that work here really do care ... the reason we’ve been able to reach our goals is because of the involvement of my staff in making things happen and I really do appreciate their trust and also their dedication to our school,” she said. 

PIAZZOLA SPENT 19 years teaching in Nevada and in Noxon, Montana, before earning a master’s degree in educational leadership with K–12 principal and superintendent endorsements from Rocky Mountain College. She taught fifth grade for seven years, first grade for 11 and kindergarten for one — an experience that shaped her administrative approach. 

“It definitely impacts how I think about running the school. If you don’t understand how teachers teach, I don’t think that you can truly understand the process of running a school and the things that are vital to teachers and how it works, because it’s really all about the students and the teachers are a vital role in that,” Piazzola said. 

Though she moved into administration, she never left the classroom behind. When the school couldn’t fill a full-time kindergarten position last year, she stepped in one day a week.  

“I truly, truly love being in the classroom and even now that I’m not ... planning for next year as much as I typically would. I’m trying to get into the classroom more to help with those kids who just need a little extra support,” Piazzola said. 

As she prepares to leave, Piazzola is focused on paving the way for the next person to have a smooth transition, organizing files and refining a handbook she began years into the job, outlining her monthly responsibilities. 

“When I came in, I didn’t have anything,” she said. “It was super helpful to me, so I definitely hope that it’s a good thing for the next person.”

LEADERSHIP HAS long come naturally to her. Raised on a cattle farm and active in 4-H from ages 8 to 18, she gravitated toward responsibility early in life. At the University of Montana — Western, she served as a resident assistant, learned to swim and became a lifeguard, was crowned homecoming queen and earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  

In 2017, she and her son, Brandon, who followed in her footsteps by attending the university, working as a resident assistant and going into teaching — were both inducted into the university’s education hall of fame. He currently teaches health and P.E. at Bigfork Middle and High School. 

As superintendent and principal of Cayuse Prairie, Piazzola worked to remain connected to students while overseeing staff and the daily responsibilities that go into operating a school. Central to her tenure was implementing the PAX Good Behavior Game, a classroom-based program that helps students develop behavioral and social-emotional skills and build the stamina to stay on task through positive reinforcement and shared language, according to the Paxis Institute. 

The approach emphasizes prevention over punishment. Teachers set expectations before lessons and use a common cue — “spleem” — when behavior slips. When uttered, rather than singling out individuals, all students check their own behavior. 

“It’s really reframing,” she said. 

“And I know sometimes people look at that and they’re kind of scratching their heads, like why would you do that? [But] having this common language that we use from our little Mustangs [pre-K] all the way up to eighth grade has been a huge improvement in our school behavior. Just having consistency and the positive outlook that it gives my staff and the opportunities for fun and high expectations for students has been such a blessing,” she said. 

Each year, a theme helps unify the school. This year’s message — “Shine mustangs, shine” — encourages students and staff to articulate their strengths and talents.

“I really talk to my teachers about highlighting gifts that every child has and even giving the older kids, like middle school students, that opportunity to write about what they are good at and being able to recognize that we don’t all have to be the same. That it’s usually our differences is what makes us stand out when we go to get a job or go to an interview or something like that,” she said.

OVER TIME, the superintendent-principal role has expanded, demanding attention not only to academics but also to facilities and funding. Piazzola described her strength as focusing on continual improvement. 

“I think specifically with Cayuse Prairie, my strength was progression. So, I would look at what we needed, and I would try to move us to the next level,” she said. 

When it came to funding, she worked to find grant funding and led grassroots efforts to fundraise for various building projects or improvements. When the school needed an additional classroom to accommodate growth, the school used pandemic relief money combined with local fundraising to close a $100,000 gap. 

“We were short, about $100,000 and so this community has been amazing. That’s one of the reasons that I truly do love Cayuse. They are such a supportive community, and they always rise up to make a difference where they can, which, you know, is the epitome of what our mission is here at Cayuse Prairie,” Piazzola said. 

And when the school goes to the voters to approve a $300,000 general fund levy in May, she said community members have remained engaged by attending informational meetings. 

Alumni have also contributed as well, from designing the school logo to painting murals. 

IN 2022, her peers named her Superintendent of the Year for Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties the distinction awarded by the Northwest Montana Association of School Superintendents. 

Her decision to retire also reflects changes in her personal life, including her husband Brian’s work.  

“God brought me to Cayuse and is now letting me know he has something else for me to do. I am not sure what that is yet, but I have learned that he always has my best interest at heart.  His plan is always better than what I could have dreamed up,” Piazzola said. 

“I will miss Cayuse Prairie and all the amazing people that make it the special place that it is,” she reiterated. 

After retirement, she is looking forward to enjoying the summer ahead with her husband. 

“We’ve always worked in the summer, so this will be a fun new adventure for both of us to plan together,” Piazzola said, who plans to remain in the valley.

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