The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

It was Superintendent Brad Moore’s idea first. He told “The Mountaineer” that a Big Sandy native, Scott Chauvet was the superintendent of his high school in Manhattan, Montana. Not only that but Moore is the superintendent of Chauvet’s home school system in Big Sandy.

Now that probably does not happen very often. Not only that but neither claims to want the other’s job. Moore wants to stay in Big Sandy and Chauvet is happy in Manhattan, Montana style, as the old commercial for eating more beef used to say about Manhattan.

We thought it would be a story to ask both of them the same questions about their youths in their home towns and how they got to where they did. As you will see by their answers, their careers parallel each other in many aspects.

Mountaineer: Where and when did you graduate from High School?

Moore: I graduated from Manhattan Public Schools in 1986.

Chauvet: I graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1987.

Mountaineer: How many were in your graduating class?

Moore: 33

Chauvet: 26 to 28

Mountaineer: What was your home life during your high school years?

Moore: I came from a farm and ranch environment. We lived 17 miles from Manhattan in the Bridger Mountains.

Chauvet: I was born and raised in agriculture close to Big Sandy, Montana.

Mountaineer: What was your favorite class?

Moore: English

Chauvet: English and math.

Mountaineer: who was your favorite teacher?

Moore: Mr. Vandenbos.

Chauvet: Mr. Green and Mr. Melhoff.

Mountaineer: Did you play sports in high school?

Moore: I played basketball.

Chauvet: I played football and basketball.

Mountaineer: Where did you go to college?

Moore: I went to Bozeman.

Chauvet: I went to Bozeman.

Mountaineer: What was your first job in education?

Moore: I went to work for the Carter County high school at Ekalaka, Montana.

Chauvet: I taught the sixth grade at Hysham and taught junior high sports.

Interesting was that both had taught in Big Sandy before going to other places and each knew the other there and from school at Bozeman as well.

Mountaineer: What do you miss about your home town?

Moore: It is not the same as when I lived there but I guess I miss the multitude of outdoor recreation activities.

Chauvet: I came back and taught and coached in Big Sandy for ten years so I have lots of time invested in that town. I miss the generations of kids and parents. I replaced Mrs. Amen, who was my favorite teacher. She taught the Fifth grade. I remember I put a big pair of shoes outside of my classroom door with a note that I would never fill Gladys Amen’s shoes!

Mountaineer: What don’t you miss about your home

Moore: I really don’t miss how Manhattan has changed and how the entire Gallatin Valley has changed from when I lived there.

Chauvet: I don’t miss the shrinking town. Big Sandy High School has always been such a proud school so to go through the shrinking is sad. I have been in three districts where that happened.

Mountaineer” would you trade jobs?

Moore: No, it is a different world. My family has lived in that area since the 1870’s and in fact my son Hunter was the first male Moore to have not been born in Gallatin County. It is hard to go there now it has changed so much. I like to get there a few times a year for the cultural activities but there is so much to do in this area, I love being here.

Chauvet: I am in a great spot. I do not have any principal duties in Manhattan and no worries about class size. I didn’t want to raise my children where they have classes of only three people.

Well, there you have it. Two great superintendents. Both Montana born and bred. Not too bad for either school!