After a search lasting more than one year, Libby Middle High School has a new principal.

Bill Brist, the current associate principal and activities director at Baker High School in Fallon County, will take interim principal Scott Beagle’s spot sometime this summer before the 2026-27 school year begins.

"For me, I was ready for the next step in my career," Brist said in an interview with The Western News Thursday afternoon. "I really enjoyed my work in Baker and I learned a lot there, but the attractiveness of Libby was appealing to me."

Brist, 62, has served in his current role since the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. Most of his working life has involved a mixture of educational institutions, private business and long distance running.

“A whole bunch of people in the school district are happy,” Libby Public Schools Superintendent Ron Goodman said. “His time as an administrator is a big factor in why we chose him. Also, his ability to communicate, the ability to de-escalate tough situations were very important to us.”

Goodman also said Brist’s desire to enjoy the plentiful public lands and trails here was a motivator for him applying for the job.

“He’s still a runner and with all the trails we have, that really appealed to him,” Goodman said.

Brist, who grew up in the Flathead Valley, said he has good memories of Libby and the surrounding area.

"We spent a lot of time fishing up there and about three weeks before the job was listed, I mentioned to my son that Libby would be a great place to go, so when the job listing popped up, I was very excited," Brist said. "It's not a huge school, which I like, and I'm looking forward to helping provide the students the opportunities they need for the next step in life."

According to a June 2012 story in the Daily Inter Lake, Brist graduated in 1982 from Flathead High School. He was a two-sport standout in cross country and track at Montana State University. Brist won a National Junior Cross Country Championship (ages 19-and-under) in 1983 and also made the U.S. team that year for the World Championships in Gateshead, England. He finished in the top 50 at that race.

According to a 2023 story in the Fallon County Times, Brist graduated from MSU with a degree in secondary edu­cation. With his wife still in college, Brist moved to where she was and went to work for a job at Universal Athletic Ser­vice (UAS).

While working for UAS, Brist also coached at a local high school. He coached at different schools for about 30 years before tak­ing a job in Great Falls teach­ing. In the meantime, Brist earned a second bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in adminis­tration. He was also an assistant cross country coach at Flathead High School under the legendary Paul Jorgensen for five years. He was the head men’s cross country coach at Flathead Valley Community College for six years.

In 2004, Brist became the head cross country coach of the highly successful Whitefish High School boys and girls programs. In eight years, the girls team won four Class A state championships and placed third once. The boys team placed third at state twice and were a runner-up once. Brist coached one individual champion for each of the boys and girls squads.

Then, the University of Great Falls came calling. He became its cross country and track and field coach. He spent seven years at the University of Great Falls as the head cross country and track and field coach. There, he had 40 athletes qualify for the NAIA National Championships in both sports. 

The search for a new secondary school principal began last year after Jim Germany resigned Dec. 30, 2024, following an accusation that he struck a sleeping student on Dec. 9, 2024. Germany eventually reached a pre-trial diversion agreement with the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office.

The deal called for Germany to comply with the terms - mainly to remain law abiding and complete 20 hours of community service - for one year after which the charge would be dropped. He did and the prosecution dismissed the charge.

Scott Beagle took over as the interim principal following Germany’s resignation. Beagle served as the director of curriculum and special services before agreeing to step into the principal role.

Goodman was very appreciative of Beagle stepping up.

“Mr. Beagle has demonstrated strong leadership in his work with staff and parents,” Goodman said. “Stepping in during a challenging period, he ensured the school continued to move forward in a positive direction. I appreciate Mr. Beagle's work at LMHS.”

Libby interviewed one candidate last summer - Niall Trimble - the Director of Federal Programs for the Nampa School District in Idaho.

Trimble turned down the job, but he applied again this year and was interviewed.

Brist, Gerald Choiunard and Heidii Fettinger were the other finalists for the job, pared down from a list of eight educators who initially applied.

Choiunard ended up pulling out of the process before his interview. He is the superintendent at Hot Springs in Sanders County. According to media reports, he is resigning from his position June 30 after overseeing the district for nearly six years.  

Fettinger is also a Northwest Montana resident and currently the principal at Plains High School in Sanders County. She was hired in July 2024.