WBCSD names ‘super’ finalists
PRIEST RIVER — A longtime Bonner County educator and a candidate for the Idaho Superintendent of Schools have been selected as finalists for West Bonner County School District’s superintendent post.
The board selected Susie Luckey, principal at Priest Lake and Idaho Hill and Priest Lake elementary schools, and Branden Durst, a third-generation Idahoan who works for the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a conservative think tank, as a senior policy analyst.
A community forum will be held Wednesday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Priest River Junior High School, 5709 U.S. 2.
Luckey was named interim superintendent in March after the sudden resignation of Jackie Branum at a special board meeting in mid-March. After an executive session to address a personnel issue, the district released a letter from Luckey accepting the interim post.
Executive sessions are closed to the public, but any decisions stemming from them must be made in open session.
In addition to serving as interim superintendent, the longtime educator has served as principal at Idaho Hill and Priest Lake elementary schools.
"I have a deep love for this community and am passionate about educating our young people," Luckey told the Daily Bee after being named a finalist. "If selected I would work hard to implement the district’s five-year strategic plan to ensure student academic excellence."
Luckey said she would also engage the community and work with all in the district on making WBCSD the best it could be.
"It would also be my goal to work towards promoting unity within our community as we work through some challenging and difficult times," she added.
A longtime Priest Lake resident, Luckey has named Idaho’s National Distinguished Principal in 2018. She holds a bachelor of science in elementary education with a K-8 certification as well as a master of education degree in educational leadership, both from the University of Idaho.
Durst served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2006 to 2010, representing District 18. While he was elected to the Senate in 2012, he resigned roughly a year later, citing family obligations.
Durst hold a master of public administration degree with an emphasis in policy analysis and a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He earned an education specialist degree in executive educational leadership from Boise State University.
Durst did not respond to messages seeking comment on his selection.
Whoever is picked to be the next superintendent would be the fourth leader of the western Bonner County district since June 2022, when longtime superintendent Paul Anselmo retired.
Anselmo served in the role for over eight years before announcing his plans to step down. While Dr. Michael Robey was selected in March 2022 from a field of four candidates as the board’s pick for superintendent, he declined a final contract provided by the district.
Following a special meeting, the board next offered the position to Jackie Branum, who took over from Anselmo and chartered the district through the creation of a five-year plan and a decision to switch to a four-day school week.
