“It’s really all about the team.”
Dave Selvig, seated at his uncluttered and brightly lit desk, has just been asked about his accomplishments during eight years as Clancy Elementary School superintendent. He has plenty he’s proud of – but his first instinct is to recognize the constellation of people around him: “The board has been great to work with, and the staff is just amazing.”
This will turn out to be a persistent theme.
Selvig announced his retirement late in 2023, submitting his official resignation letter during the school board’s meeting on Jan. 10. His last day as superintendent will be June 30. “He was great to everyone here,” said Cami Robson, the school secretary. “He will definitely be missed.”
Selvig came to Clancy from Scobey, where he taught and coached basketball for five years, then became school superintendent and served in that role for 16 years. Coming to Clancy brought him and his wife Susan – who teaches and is school librarian at Helena Capital High — a chance to be closer to their children while still being able to work in the education field.
About those accomplishments? “Getting the parking lot work done was major,” Selvig says. “And getting the Blue Ribbon Award a couple of years ago was also a great thing, especially for the teachers.”
The Blue Ribbon Award is a national honor, with each state’s education department nominating schools based on their positive accomplishments. Clancy Elementary School won the award in 2020, and it hangs at the front door for all visitors to see.
“That (award) really was because of our team,” Selvig boasts.
Selvig also speaks excitedly about a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program he’s been working on with the middle school staff. “Kids just don’t all learn the same way,” he explains, “Not all kids are going to go to college, and [they] aren’t going to do well in college placement classes. I’m really excited about the CTE program and giving the kids some exposure to the trades. I think it’s important to give those kids some different opportunities.”
Clancy’s school population has expanded dramatically during Selvig’s tenure, growing to a total of 370. We added about 50 kids my first year, and we’ve added about a hundred more since.” Its student performance scores also have gone up in that time.
How has the school managed to do both atonce? “It’s really a great bunch of teachers,” Selvig says. “Some are young and come in and can work with the teachers who have been here and just really fit right in.” It’s also about keeping the bar high. “We tend to be a little harder than other schools,” Selvig says. “Sometimes the parents don’t understand, but we work through it and, usually, things work out. The bar stays up, and we find that everyone likes that and is usually able to stay with it.”
With all that growth, and even more expected, how comfortable is Selvig leaving the superintendent post? “We have a great plan in place to handle the growth in the future. We are finalizing a plan this year that will allow us to expand if it’s needed. We hope to have that finished by summer. And I think we have a good program in place here, and a great team of teachers and staff to keep going and improving.”
“And,” he adds, “It’s been a great board to work with, and I think that I won’t be missed for very long.”
What does retirement look like? “I’ll probably keep busy doing something,” Selvig answers. “Maybe not full time, but something to keep me busy.”
He expects to get more fishing in. “My brother and I like to fish around Canyon Ferry, so I’m looking forward to spending more time doing that.” He and Susan, who will continue teaching, plan to remain in the Clancy area, which is well positioned for them to stay connected to their grown family scattered around the state.
Selvig speaks with great pride about his Clancy School team and its accomplishments. He says he is comfortable retiring now and optimistic about the school’s future. With a good organizational framework and solid planning in place, he’s optimistic about the future.
“After eight years, I think that’s enough. Time to bring in some fresh ideas.”
