Episode description
In this live episode, Nick Smoot interviews Harry Amend who is a highly respected figure in education with over 41 years of experience. Throughout his career, Harry has served as a teacher, coach, counselor, principal, and superintendent, primarily in the Spokane Valley, Washington area. He played a key role in Washington’s education reform during his tenure as President of the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) in the late 1990s, collaborating with the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Teri Bergeson, and Governor Gary Locke.
Beyond Washington, Harry's leadership extended to school districts in northwest Montana and North Idaho, where he championed school reform initiatives for a combined nine years. Known for his focus on at-risk and special needs students, Harry introduced innovative programs like the "School within a School" model and the Bridge Academy dropout retrieval high schools in both states.
His commitment to education earned him recognition as a finalist for Superintendent of the Year in Washington (1998) and Idaho (2007). In addition to his educational career, Harry spent 20 years as a major league baseball scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, a role that reflects his love of sports and mentorship.
Now residing in Twin Lakes Village, North Idaho, with his wife Sandy, Harry enjoys spending time with their children and grandchildren, all of whom live nearby in the Spokane area.