Sharri Vandall
Principal, West SIde Elementary
For Sharri Vandall, education is more than a career, it’s a calling rooted in kindness, compassion, and unwavering commitment to students and families. As the principal of West Side Elementary in Sidney, Montana, Sharri has made it her mission to create a welcoming, safe environment where every child is known by name and greeted with a smile.
Sharri’s journey to Montana began in sunny Simi Valley, California, where she was raised alongside her twin sister and older sibling. Every other summer, her family made the long drive to visit her grandparents near Conrad, MT, on a Hutterite colony. Those cherished visits planted the seed of her Montana dream, a dream she would eventually pursue in 1994 when she followed her sister to Wolf Point.
Originally planning to become an accountant, Sharri quickly realized her heart belonged in the classroom. “I’ve always loved kids,” she says. From babysitting in fifth grade to being a camp counselor and Sunday School teacher, her passion for guiding young minds was lifelong. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a Minor in Reading from Montana State University Northern, later adding a master’s in education from Walden University and another in Educational Leadership from Rocky Mountain College.
Over the past 26 years of marriage to her husband, Lee, and raising four children -Daniel, Britnney, Hannah, and Ireland, Sharri has also helped shape the lives of countless students. In Wolf Point, she spent over two decades as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and even principal before moving to Sidney in 2019.
“I love my job. I get hugs, high fives, and bad jokes every day,” Sharri laughs. “The best part is building relationships with students and their families.”
True to her word, she’s outside the school every morning at 7:20 AM greeting students, and you’ll often find her in the lunchroom making conversation. Her commitment goes beyond the classroom. As Vice President of the Eagle Foundation, she helps fund innovative grants for teachers, and she also serves on both the Patient Experience Team and the Patient/Family Advisor Team at Sidney Health Center.
Her dedication stems from deep roots. Her father left a Hutterite colony with only an eighth-grade education, instilling in Sharri a belief in the power of learning and hard work. “Graduating from college was a proud moment—for me and for my family.”
Sharri’s adventurous spirit may surprise some. She’s skydived, river rafted, zip-lined, jet boated, and parasailed, always seeking the thrill of the outdoors, especially when water is involved. At home, she enjoys gardening, reading, and walking her two dogs, Boogey and Belle. She even still nurtures a plant her parents gave her on her very first day of teaching.
But what defines Sharri the most is her heart for others. She’s a listener, a leader, and a light in her community. Whether guiding a student through a rough morning, encouraging teachers, or greeting parents with a smile, Sharri Vandall embodies what it means to lead with love. As she stated, “When I stop loving this job, that’s when I’ll retire.” Thankfully for Sidney’s students, that day isn’t coming anytime soon.