We appreciate all school administrators for their hard work and dedication to students and staff each and every day. Since October is National Principals Month, we wanted to take a moment to get to know some of our community's newest principals.
Get to know Kent Hibbard, principal at Lidgerwood Elementary School.
What do students call you?
Here at Lidgerwood, students call me Mr. Hibbard. I get all sorts or derivations – “Mr. Heebart,” “Mr. Huebert,” and “Mr. Hubbard.” Some intermediate students with older siblings who went to Spokane Garry Middle School ask me if I am “Mr. Clean.”
Where were you before you became principal at your school?
I was born and raised on the northside of Spokane. I played baseball and earned my bachelor’s -degree from Whitworth University. My first teaching job was grades 7-12 at Excelsior Youth Center, where I taught all subjects.
I later taught English and history at Lewis & Clark High School, 8th grade American Studies at Shaw Middle School, and 8th grade Humanities at Chase Middle School. I have also coached everything from volleyball to basketball to American Legion Baseball for about a decade.
I earned my master's from Whitworth University, and while I was an instructional coach and a principal assistant at Chase for a few years, I earned my administrative certificate from Eastern Washington University. I had the opportunity to serve Spokane Garry as assistant principal for the last seven years.
What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 school year?
I’m most excited about the academic and social growth for our students.
What’s a fun fact about you that your school community would be surprised/excited to learn?
Last summer, I drove an RV from my daughter’s beach volleyball National Championship Tournament in Hermosa Beach near Los Angeles, California, at noon on a Thursday and arrived on time for my son’s tennis tournament in Wenatchee by 9 a.m. Friday.
Glad that you are a part of the Lidgerwood community, Mr. Hibbard!