Brian Kessler: Leading Helena High with Bengal Pride

Brian Kessler knew he would become an educator almost as soon as he set foot in a classroom – as a kindergartener.

“It just always has stuck in me that this is what I wanted to do,” said Kessler, who is beginning his first year as principal of Helena High School in the district that shaped him both personally and professionally.

“It’s been fun … having people in this building who taught me, and being able to work side-by-side and see their continued passion and inspiration that they continue to instill in students,” said Kessler, who graduated from Helena High in 2007.

Among those former teachers turned colleagues is Kathleen Prody, now Principal of CR Anderson Middle School. Kessler credits Prody, his freshman English teacher at HHS, with teaching him the fundamentals of good writing, a skill that served him well as he pursued teaching degrees in K-12 Health Enhancement and Social Studies at Montana State University.

“I went to college very prepared to take any classes that I needed to and to be successful in those classes,” says Kessler. Following college, he taught middle school in Livingston before returning to Helena High as a health and PE teacher. He then worked as an assistant principal and activities director in Havre before returning to the area to serve as principal of East Helena High School for three years. Kessler returned to Helena High as principal this fall, taking the reins from retiring Principal Steve Thennis.

Thinking back to his high school days, Kessler remembers feeling proud to be a Bengal – a sentiment that now drives his own leadership.

“Forever, the teachers in this building and the community around this building have demonstrated the intense pride that they have in what Helena High stands for, what Helena High can do for students,” Kessler said.

Kessler hopes to pass that same sense of pride and opportunity on to his students, encouraging them to make the most of their time in public education. “Be willing to step out and try something new,” he advises, be it ceramics or choir, drafting or debate. “This is the last time you get to try things for free.”

Kessler encourages high schoolers to take advantage of the Montana University System’s “One-Two-Free” program, which allows students to take two college courses for free. Students may then enroll in additional “Dual Enrollment” college courses at 50 percent of the regular cost of two-year resident tuition.

“When you look at the fact that you have students who can basically leave here with an associate’s degree or enough credits to be a sophomore in college for very cheap, it’s incredible,” said Kessler. “I would highly encourage students to take any and every dual credit opportunity that we offer.”

With his deep roots in the community and passion for public education, Brian Kessler embodies the success that Helena Public Schools fosters in its students—preparing them to lead with pride, just as he does every day at Helena High.