The Great Falls Public Schools board is working through its annual process to evaluate the superintendent.

The board adopted its process in August and trustees were sent their digital and secure evaluation on Jan. 13.

They have until Jan. 30 to complete it and they’ll meet with Superintendent Heather Hoyer during the Feb. 9 board meeting to discuss.

As part of the process, the board is accepting public comment through an online survey from Jan. 13-30, or written comment to the evaluation committee chairperson by Jan. 30.

The online survey is here.

Written comments may be submitted in the form of a narrative to amie_thompson@gfps.k12.mt.us , or mailed to Amie Thompson, P.O. Box 2429, Great Falls, MT 59403.

As in years past, anonymous submissions will not be considered.

GFPS board completes Hoyer’s first evaluation as superintendent [2025]

Hoyer assumed the role of superintendent on July 1, 2024, following Tom Moore’s retirement.

Hoyer has served as an assistant superintendent at GFPS since July 2019.

The board completed its evaluation of her first year as superintendent over the summer and Amie Thompson and Gordon Johnson, board members, released their summary of the review in June.

Only one member of the public submitted an evaluation, they said, and left one comment under personal qualities: “Heather is incredibly disciplined in her execution of her role. I admire how she listens intently. She is a great representative for GFPS.”

GFPS board sets superintendent evaluation process [2025]

On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being exemplary, Hoyer received 4s and 5s across all categories, which included: personal qualities, educational leadership, and district goals and strategic initiatives.

Thompson wrote that the board “praised her for her leadership, professionalism and commitment to Great Falls Public Schools.”

Highlights include Hoyer’s “strong communication skills, visibility in the community, responsiveness, data-informed decision-making, and dedication to staff development. The board is pleased with her progress in student achievement, promotion of career readiness pathways, and how she emphasizes transparency and public engagement. The overall consensus reflects confidence in her leadership and excitement for her continued growth in the role,” Thompson wrote.

GFPS board approves Hoyer superintendent contract [2024]

Hoyer told the Electric there was no contract adjustment, salary or otherwise, to her original three-year agreement, which the board approved in March 2024 with a starting salary of $175,000.

GFPS board selects Heather Hoyer as next superintendent [2024]

She’s worked for GFPS since 1996. Her previous positions include: Great Falls High principal for four years, assistant principal at GFH for seven years, administrative intern for one year, and a science teacher for 11 years at Paris Gibson and East middle schools and GFH.

GFPS receives two superintendent applications; moving forward with interviews [2024]

In November 2023, the school board hired the Montana School Boards Association to conduct the search for a new superintendent.

The district received two applications for the position.

GFPS approves salary range for superintendent search [2023]

The other applicant was Steven Mayhue, superintendent of Froid Public Schools in northeastern Montana.

Moore retiring as GFPS superintendent [2023]

In March 2025, the school board voted to use the same evaluation tool they’d used in the past for Hoyer’s first evaluation as superintendent.

Board policy requires that the board evaluate the superintendent’s performance, at least annually, using standards and objectives developed by the superintendent and board, consistent with the district’s mission and goal statements.

The evaluation includes a discussion of professional strengths and areas needing improvement.

Thompson said in March that it’s the same evaluation tool the board used for the 2022-2023 school year with Moore.

She said they didn’t do an evaluation for the 2023-2024 school year since it was Moore’s last year.

The board decided last fall to delay the evaluation for Hoyer since she’d assumed the role in July 2024 and the board felt that wasn’t enough time for a proper evaluation.

The district took public feedback through a public survey that was available through March 28 and written comments were due by April 23. The board took public comment during their April 28 meeting, but there were no comments from the public on Hoyer’s evaluation.

The board completed their evaluation discussion with Hoyer during the May 12 meeting in executive session.