New teachers at KHS making a difference
Kellogg High School made a couple changes in staff this year, both of which have become great fits in the Wildcat family.
But, it almost didn’t happen.
Eric Wickham, KHS’s new physical education and health teacher came to Kellogg after a career at Meridian High School, but it was deal that he and his wife had made that brought them to the Panhandle.
“My wife and I made a deal that we’d move to North Idaho after our oldest graduated,” Wickham said. “Well she graduated and we put our house on the market. Two days later it sold, but we had done this whole thing backwards so we had to find jobs. She found a job first and then I did so we headed up here.”
As mentioned before, Wickham’s transition has been very smooth, something he attributes to the people he gets to work with.
“The students and staff here are great,” Wickham said. “It’s been easy to fit in with the people here because they are so friendly. I’m really happy to be here.”
Dan Lucier’s journey to KHS had a few more stops, but it definitely is no surprise that he ended up here.
Lucier, a guidance counselor and football coach, was in Superior, Montana, for three decades before moving to Pullman, Washington, and was the counselor and head football coach for five years.
During his high school days he went to school with Woody Woodford, Kellogg School District superintendent.
“Woody called me and asked if I knew of anyone looking for a head coaching job,” Lucier said. Turns out, Lucier, who owns a home in Superior, wanted to come home.
And it just so happened that KHS was looking for a guidance counselor.
“I love the staff, the kids, my football team,” Lucier said. “This is home for me. Western Montana, North Idaho, it is all the same. I’m just so happy here.”
As previously stated, these two men almost didn’t make it here.
The school board had given the job of PE teacher and football coach to another candidate, but without giving the school any notice, that candidate took a job elsewhere.
Lucky for Kellogg High School!