Adam Shilling began serving on the Somers/Lakeside School Board in October 2024, bringing with him over two decades of experience in education, construction, and community service.

Adam currently serves as the Team Development Director at Denman Construction, a long-established high-end residential builder. In this role, he helps align Field Technicians, Superintendents, Project Managers, and Ownership to work more strategically and collaboratively. His connection to Denman stretches back more than 25 years, when he first joined the company as an aspiring carpenter in 2000. After three years in the trades, he pursued a degree in education at the University of Montana–Missoula, graduating in 2005 with endorsements in K–12 Fine Arts and 5–12 Building Trades. That same year, he began what would become a 15-year teaching career at Summit Preparatory School, a therapeutic boarding school within Kalispell’s School District #5. Along the way, he also earned a Master’s in Education from Boston University in 2012.

In 2020, following the global shifts brought on by COVID-19, Adam transitioned back into construction full-time. He rejoined Denman in 2022 to launch a state-registered Residential Carpentry Apprenticeship Program. Today, in addition to leading teams at Denman, he is developing curriculum for UM-Missoula College/Accelerate MT to be delivered statewide as part of a two-year Associate’s Degree in residential construction.

Education and youth development have always been at the center of Adam’s work. That commitment extends to his own family: he and his wife, Alisha, are raising four children in the district. Their youngest, Luke, attends Somers Middle School, while their daughters Clara and Neva are students at Flathead High. Their eldest son, Owen, graduated from FHS in 2021.

Adam’s ties to Montana run deep. Originally from Akron, Ohio, he first came to Lakeside in 1997 to serve with Youth With a Mission, a non-denominational nonprofit. In 1999, he married into a Montana family with generations of roots in the Flathead and Mission Valleys, stretching back to Demersville and Somers at the turn of the 20th century. Since officially relocating to the valley in 2000, Adam has built his life and career in the community.

For Adam, serving on the school board is a natural extension of his lifelong dedication to education and public service. “As a lifelong educator, I’ve always been drawn to school board service,” he shares. “My goal is to support administrators, teachers, students, and parents with a genuine commitment to every learner’s success. As a proud product of public education, I take great pride in both our schools and the broader Lakeside-Somers community.” His areas of focus include curriculum development, strategic planning, policy, and facilities oversight—where his background in both education and construction uniquely intersect.

His community involvement has been equally robust. Over the past 15+ years, Adam has volunteered extensively in youth sports, serving eight years on the Kalispell Babe Ruth Baseball Board (including terms as Vice President and President) and three years on the Little Guy Football Board. He has also coached baseball, football, and basketball for kids ranging from 7 to 15. In 2019, Adam and Alisha co-founded Kalico, a nonprofit community art center that lives on through the local arts scene. He also serves on the Kalispell School District #5 Woods, Architecture & Engineering Advisory Council, helping shape the future of trades education in the valley.

Outside of work and service, family time is central for Adam. The Shillings enjoy hiking, hunting, boating, playing sports, skiing, and snowboarding at Blacktail, and spending time with their two dogs, Junior (a Husky) and Georgia Sparkles (a Boston Terrier). Adam is a season ticket holder for the Glacier Range Riders, a vinyl collector, a woodworker when time allows, and an enthusiastic supporter of the arts—often alongside Alisha, who recently opened a new art exhibit in Whitefish.

Whether in the classroom, on a job site, at a ball field, or in a boardroom, Adam’s life’s work has been about building people, programs, and community.