KELLOGG — The Kellogg School District has named Nathan Whatcott as the next principal of Kellogg High School. 

Whatcott was selected from a pool of three candidates following an intensive interview process that included a nine-member panel made up of district staff. 

KSD Board Chair Alexa Griffin said she was thrilled with the selection and believes the committee made the right choice. 

“It’s especially meaningful for the board to see one of our own take on this role within the district,” she said. “We were fortunate to have a strong group of candidates, but the interview committee unanimously chose Nate — a true testament to his commitment, leadership and the confidence we all have in his ability to guide KHS into the future.” 

Whatcott has served as the district’s director of curriculum, instruction and assessment (CIA) for the past seven years. Before that, he spent the first eight years of his education career teaching in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Georgia and Florida. In 2005, following the birth of his son, he and his family returned to North Idaho, where he spent 13 years teaching at Pinehurst Elementary, Kellogg Middle School and Silver Hills Elementary. 

“I'm extremely excited for this opportunity,” Whatcott said. “I've been approached for years to take this step, but I've always found reasons to avoid making the leap because I felt that I was needed more in the classroom or, more recently, behind the scenes supporting the teachers and administration in our district.” 

This time, he said, the decision felt different. With both of his children now graduated and after nearly a decade working behind the scenes, Whatcott said conversations with colleagues helped him feel ready to step into a more public-facing role — and one that allows him to work more closely with students again. 

“Through those conversations, I was able to really come to the conclusion that my connections with the kids in our district, relationships with the faculty and staff at KHS, and my deep ties to this community make me the best person for the job,” he said. 

When Whatcott was hired in 2019 as the district’s CIA director, the Kellogg School District was in a period of transition. At the time, he was the district’s third person to hold that position in less than a year. He has remained in the role since. 

During that time, Whatcott also served a brief stint as head baseball coach at Kellogg High School, leading the program to its first state tournament appearance. 

He said those experiences have prepared him for what could be his most meaningful chapter in education. 

“The past seven years have really helped me develop my administrative knowledge and helped me feel confident in taking on this next challenge in my career,” Whatcott said. “I'm most looking forward to working with and supporting students. I've been out of the classroom for seven years. While I have still had valuable interactions through coaching and building support roles through my current position, it isn't quite the same as working with the students daily in the classroom. I am honored and excited to have this opportunity to lead the students, teachers and staff at Kellogg High School.”