Montana's Public Schools in the News!

Great things are happening in Montana's public schools every day of the school year. The following are a few of the items profiling the great work of Montana's public schools that have appeared in Montana news media.  By clicking on a link, the reader is taken away from the MTSBA website.  Any payment required to access a particular website is the sole responsibility of the individual reader.  Articles and opinions appearing on this page do not necessarily reflect the policies, positions, opinions or views of the MTSBA Directors or staff

October 2025 Great News

Montana farmers use hundreds of pumpkins to educate students on where food comes from

Torgerson's Equipment delivered a pumpkin to every first-grader in Helena Public Schools, giving them the opportunity to learn about agriculture. "I love pumpkins," Donna Bolware, a first-grade student, said. What started as a donation of 7 pumpkins to first graders in Great Falls by Torgerson's over twenty years ago has grown into 43,000 pumpkins for first graders, and for the first time, pumpkins are finding their homes with Helena first graders.

Belgrade Educator is Teacher of the Year

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) and Superintendent Susie Hedalen are proud to announce Kortney Douma,( Doo-Muh) a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Belgrade High School, as the 2026 Montana Teacher of the Year! Selected from an outstanding group of educators from across the state, Ms. Douma earned this prestigious honor for her unwavering dedication to student success, innovation in the classroom, and commitment to advancing the teaching profession. The Montana Teacher of the Year Program recognizes excellence in teaching and celebrates educators who inspire students to learn, grow, and thrive.

Gourd times roll: Helena elementary students receive pumpkins ahead of Halloween

Pumpkins, a Halloween staple, were delivered to Helena Public Schools first grade students Tuesday, with more to come Wednesday.

Evergreen administrator named Montana Superintendent of the Year for her leadership, dedication and advocacy – Polson school board also honored

Laurie Barron has been named Montana's Superintendent of the Year for a second time since joining Evergreen School District in 2013. Barron was selected for the distinction by the Montana Association of School Superintendents based on four areas: leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement.  "Dr. Barron exemplifies the Superintendent of the Year Award, demonstrating visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment to students," said Rob Watson, executive director of School Administrators of Montana. "Her advocacy for inclusion, early learning, and community engagement reflects the best of what Montana's public education offers.

'That's magic to me': Montana Shakespeare in the Schools hits the road this fall

Watching William Shakespeare's plays come to life is a bit like walking into a dark room. The longer someone is immersed, the more everything comes into focus.

Montana Shakespeare in the Schools, a branch of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and an outreach program of Montana State University's College of Arts and Architecture, shares this analogy with middle and high school students before each performance of "Richard III."

From October to December, the 33-year-old program will bring the production and workshops to 50 schools across Montana and Wyoming, including many that are rural and without theater programs. It is one of the oldest Shakespeare companies in the U.S.

"It feels like a gift as opposed to seeing this fancy Shakespeare production at a fancy theater and sitting quietly, not understanding it," said Dustin Valenta, a Chicago-based actor who plays Richard. "You see it feet away from you and can interact with it, ask questions afterward, have those actors in your classroom speaking to you and apply it directly to your life. If I had that as a kid, I think the way I thought about Shakespeare would be much different.

On Oct. 29-30, Shakespeare in the Schools will visit Belgrade and Gallatin high schools.

Whittier Elementary School In Bozeman Earns National Recognition

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Whittier Elementary School is receiving national attention for its innovative educational strategies.

The school has been recognized as a Promising Practices Learning Environment, a national designation for schools implementing effective learning strategies to boost student success.

Kalispell Middle Schoolers sweat it out together through fitness program

Whether hiking to the summit of Mount Aeneas, biking the Going-to-the-Sun Road, skiing Blacktail Mountain, ice skating in Woodland Park, going to a rock-climbing gym or lifting weights at Kalispell Middle School - Students Who Exercise Together aren't afraid to sweat it out with their classmates. 

Huge turnout at Havre Has Class! all-school reunion

Several weeks have passed, and the HAVRE HAS CLASS all-school reunion committee held its final meeting to autopsy the event, and deal with final concerns. It was reported that there were over 1,000 registered attendees at the event, from classes going back to 1946, and from as far away as New Zealand, Alaska, and Maine. Because of the large attendance and the greatly appreciated sponsors, the reunion showed a very large profit. It was decided that some seed monies would be put aside for start-up of the next reunion, five years from now. the rest of the money was divided among various community organizations, including the Havre High School Boosters, and the new rodeo arena project at the fairgrounds.

One Class at a Time highlights outstanding McKinley Elementary teacher

Q2, Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools, Western Security Bank, and City Brew Coffee have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." It's a program that recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. Meet Tiah Davenport, a special education teacher who loves to see the growth in her students. "In the 12 years that I've been teaching, I've been in life skills," said Miss Davenport. "I don't just have these students for one year most of the time. Since I teach functional life skills, it's a self-contained setting - so I have them for three years, and sometimes even longer. Just seeing the growth from when they come in to when they leave me, and watching their journey along the way, is rewarding in itself."

Browning School Board receives 2025 Honor Award

The Browning Public School Board has been awarded the 2025 School Board Honor Award. This recognition is a significant achievement for the community. A spokesperson for the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council expressed pride in this accomplishment. "This is a proud moment for all of Blackfeet Nation," the spokesperson said. The award highlights the dedication and efforts of the school board in serving the educational needs of the community. This acknowledgment is expected to inspire further educational initiatives and strengthen community ties.

Reflective tape helps keep Great Falls students safe on the way to school

More than 5,200 Great Falls elementary students will soon have a new tool to help them stay safe on their way to and from school, a six-inch strip of reflective tape. Great Falls Public Schools is handing out the tape to every Pre-K through sixth grade student in the district in recognition of National School Safety Month. Teachers are distributing the tape between now and Monday afternoon so students can wear it starting Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Billings schools plan integrate AI to enhance learning experience

School District 2 in Billings is taking a significant step by implementing AI technology in classrooms through their school-AI pilot program. By January 1, AI will be fully integrated into the district's educational framework, marking a major shift in teaching methods. O'Shean Moran, Director of Professional Learning at SD2, highlighted the importance of AI accessibility for students. "It's only going to get bigger, better, better depending on what your experience with it is," said Moran. "Our goal is to build that capacity in our workforce with our teachers, but also ensuring that our kids are employable because they have a literacy and know how to use it ethically and responsibly." Moran emphasized the need for students to become competent in AI literacy, citing a survey by the World Economic Forum that identifies AI literacy as a rapidly growing skill sought by employers. "What are we doing to prepare our kids with regards to A.I. literacy and building their capacity to be future employees in this world that is dependent on AI and transforming into A.I.?" said Moran.

GFPS LAUNCHING SUMMER EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM WITH STATE EDUCATION TAX CREDIT FUNDS

Summer experiential learning is coming to Great Falls Public Schools students in 2026 through the state's innovative tax credit program. "I'm really excited about the possibility of this program," GFPS Superintendent Heather Hoyer told the school board during their Oct. 13 meeting. The state created a tax credit program for education during the 2021 Legislature and the window to claim those dollar-for-dollar tax credits was Jan. 15. GFPS board approves $1.2 million contract to turn former GFH shop into learning center. The program allows residents to make a cash donation to their local public schools and individuals or companies can contribute up to $200,000 per year for educational programs. Married taxpayers filing jointly may take a tax credit of up to $400,000 for each tax credit, according to the Montana Department of Revenue.

Over 70% of Student Population Involved in Activities at HPS

K-12 students in Havre Public Schools stay busy. Superintendent of Schools Brian Gum tells us more. "A point I wanted to note out to our community is we have over seventy percent of our student population participating in activities here at Havre. I think it's a driving effect for how students, it directly relates to the impact they have in the classroom. So, students that are more involved are more likely to succeed in school in term of academics." You can find a list of activities in schools in the Havre district, on the calendar page of their website at blue pony k12 dot com.

The Round Up

From calculators to computers to smart phones, the education field often lies on the front lines of technological innovations, charged with teaching students how to use these new tools responsibly. The age of artificial intelligence - think Chat GPT, Claude and Microsoft CoPilot, for instance - has posed a new set of questions for teachers, school boards and administrators to consider. Enter: a new set of guidelines, developed by the state's Office of Public Instruction, the Montana Digital Academy and "education stakeholders statewide" that aims to "support Montana's schools and districts as they explore and implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 education." OPI shared the guidelines yesterday in a press release, and the document stated the Montana School Boards Association shared model policies with school districts across the state in concert with the guidelines' release.

Tailored Learning School: Progress continues on creating Livingston charter school

Livingston school officials continued calling for a local public charter school during the district's monthly school board meeting at the Park High School last week. The progress report and second informational presentation to the Livingston Public Schools board of trustees at the Oct. 8 meeting was informed by discussions and information gathered in August and September. The tentative application represents the collective testimony of Livingston school officials and stakeholders and their united financial, curriculum, and public relations goals. The board of trustees members are slated to vote whether to bring a finalized application for the concept, dubbed the Park Pathways Charter School, before the Montana Board of Public Education by Oct. 31. If approved by the state, the charter could become active as soon as the 2026/2027 school year, according to district Superintendent Chad Johnson.

 

Montana schools to receive free student safety resources

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has partnered with the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center Foundation to distribute educational materials to schools statewide.  These resources aim to support children's mental health, teach safe touch and raise awareness about human trafficking and personal safety, the Office of Public Instruction said in a release.

Havre Middle School lists September students of the Month

Havre Middle School's Sixth-Grade Student of the Month for September is Samantha Bradbury. Sammi is the daughter of Clint and Tabitha Bradbury and has two siblings, Stetson and Sawyer Bradbury. At school, Sammi sings in the middle school choir. Outside of school, she participates in basketball, softball, and 4-H. In her free time, she enjoys helping her father with their cattle. In the classroom, Sammi is helpful and supportive of her classmates whenever they need assistance. Her bright personality lights up the middle school, making it a better place for everyone. In the future, Sammi dreams of becoming a rancher like her father. HMS's Seventh-Grade Student of the Month for September is Victoria Carter. Tori is the daughter of Evan and Jamie Carter and has one sibling, Kylie Carter.

Two Kids Fund grants awarded to support programs for Kalispell and Evergreen students

Whitefish Community Foundation recently awarded two Kids Fund grants totaling $40,000 to support the health and safety of students in the Evergreen and Kalispell school districts. A $30,000 grant to Kalispell School District's HEART Program will help provide families in crisis with safe, stable housing, and a $10,000 grant to Kalispell Education Foundation will support mental health resources for students at Glacier and Flathead high schools. The HEART Program (Homelessness, Enrollment, Access, Residency, and Transportation) serves students experiencing housing instability in the Kalispell and Evergreen school districts. In line with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the HEART Program ensures access to education and vital support services for children and unaccompanied youth facing homelessness, using school as a stabilizing force 

Applications open for chance at a D.C. trip for local students

Flathead Electric Cooperative partners with the Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association each year to send two to three local students to Washington, D.C. for "Youth Tour." Applications for 2026 Youth Tour are open through Oct. 31. Using unclaimed capital credits, the co-op funds these "all-expenses-paid" trips for high school sophomores or juniors from schools in it's service territory. This past summer, Stimson Dolesh from Columbia Falls High School, Cameron Seals from Flathead High School and Lance Peterson from Bigfork High School represented Flathead Electric Co-op at Youth Tour. Electric cooperatives nationwide send about 1,500 high school students to Youth Tour. Typically, about 25 of those students are Montanans. They learn about American history and the role of electric cooperatives in that history. The students visit national treasures in D.C. and have the chance to meet with Montana's congressional delegation.

MSU Billings partner with Billings Public Schools on new admissions program

Montana State University Billings and Billings Public Schools have partnered to create a new direct admission program. The Direct Admit program is available to all high school seniors, first-time college freshmen, students with diplomas and students with at least a 2.0 GPA. The program eliminates the traditional application stress by providing immediate acceptance to MSU Billings for qualifying students. While the university maintains open enrollment with a 99% acceptance rate for students, this new program streamlines the process even further. "We're open enrollment. So, it's 99%. Typically, it's everyone with a 2.0 diploma, high-set, GED, home school, or a traditional high school diploma," Director of Admissions Julie Pettitt said Tuesday.

Sentinel High School students to plant trees on campus

Starting today, Sentinel High School students will plant more than 30 trees on the school's campus. It's an MCPS initiative where students learn beyond the classroom and engage in hands-on projects. The planting project will start this morning at 8:40 a.m. and continue on Thursday. More than 380 students are expected to participate in this community project. Students and staff have already unloaded the tree saplings, which were delivered from Glacier Nursery in Kalispell last week. The holes have already been dug and prepared. MCPS has contributed $12,000 toward the initial purchase of 35 trees, and students have donated over $4,000 from previous fundraisers. Outside donations have also been received. During last year's storm, the Sentinel campus lost around 25 percent of its mature trees.

Elementary students learn fire safety for Fire Prevention Week

This week marks Fire Prevention Week, and local elementary students are getting hands-on learning with our firefighters to keep themselves and their families safe. "The hands-on is the greatest thing they can probably do," Wayne Noem with East Valley Fire says. Students at Warren Elementary were visited by the East Valley Volunteer Fire Department and got to tour the truck. This visit is something that hit close to home for teacher Alinon Arpin. "Volunteer fire departments are, I think, the greatest American heroes," Arpin says. "They saved my house from burning down when I was five years old, and they have been there for me my whole life and continue to be here when we need them, and are here today." Here, giving students a memorable experience, like putting on full fire gear. Fifth grader Norah Allen says, "I liked putting on the clothing because it is kind of nice to see if you would want to be a firefighter."

Central Elementary working to support military families

Imagine being nine and having your parent be deployed; that's the reality for Brooklyn Walsh. "It's kinda really hard because you miss them for a while, especially my dad has been deployed a lot of times for a year, and it's kinda hard being away from him for a while," Walsh said. Central Elementary is working to support students just like Brooklyn by pursuing a Purple Star designation. A Purple Star school offers mentorship and resources for students of military families. "I'm a veteran myself, and when my son started school, we just did not have the resources that we needed for him," said teacher Libby Kenney. "My husband at the time was deployed; he didn't meet our son until he was 18 months old, and I really wanted to do something more for these kids."

HHS Marching Band at Showcase of Bands

Montana State University's Spirit of the West marching band is hosting nine high schools from across Montana, including the Havre High School and Fergus High School Marching Bands today for the annual Showcase of Bands. The event, now in its eighth year, is a celebration of marching bands and their fans. Following the showcase, bands will receive awards and non-scored evaluations from a panel comprised of Spirit of the West members. The showcase is the first opportunity for many bands to receive professional feedback as they begin their performance season.

Central Elementary School moves toward Purple Star Designation

Central Elementary School aims to recognize military-connected students and their families through support efforts and a pursuit for a Purple Star School Designation from the Montana Office of Public Instruction. The not-yet designated Helena elementary school could become the sixth Purple Star Designated campus in Montana. "The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school and keep them on track to be college, workforce, and life-ready," said MCEC, the national advocate for Purple Star Schools. Before an application could be submitted, Helena Public Schools officials said, a prospective school needed to host an event connecting and celebrating military students and their families.

Montana Tech athletes join elementary students for annual walk to school event

Montana Tech athletes and coaches walked hundreds of local area students to their respective schools early Wednesday morning while partaking in the annual Walk to School with the Orediggers event. Butte Central, Emerson, Hillcrest, Kennedy, Margaret Leary, Ramsay, West Elementary and Whittier Elementary all were a part of the occasion. After the walk to school was completed, Oredigger student-athletes and coaches then went classroom-to-classroom distributing free T-shirts to students which was made possible by support for the event from Intermountain Health, the Montana Tech Foundation and the Montana Tech Mining Engineering Department, according to Montana Tech's website.

NonStop Local and Black Hills Credit Union support Billings schools with books

NonStop Local has partnered with Black Hills Federal Credit Union to bring books to schools in Billings, aiming to enhance education across the community. This morning, the team visited Castle Rock School, where John Martin presented a $2,000 check. These events are taking place at schools throughout the Magic City, supporting educational growth. Educators believe that providing free books will not only improve literacy but also benefit other areas of learning. Gordon Klasna, Executive Director of Secondary Education, emphasized the broader impact. "It helps students understand complex math problems ... or scientific equations, also helps them comprehend different texts that they're reading throughout the day, in their classes, so it's not just about reading but it helps them develop their brain," said Klasna.

High school students 'dig' into future trade careers

Helena area high school students are digging into their future careers in the trades at Digger Days. "Just to learn some trades you have never done before and maybe have an idea of what you want to do after high school," Levi Coon, a junior, said. Students got their hands dirty with everything from heavy machinery operation and concrete work to framing and plumbing. The event is led by Tactics Montana and a handful of sponsors. "Being able to pull on the community to come together and bring these pieces of equipment out here, we probably have over 3 million dollars in equipment sitting here being run by the kids," Lucas Canney, a shop instructor from Capital High, says. "They would never have access to something like that inside of the school building." Over one hundred students got to learn through hands-on experience. Calvin Schriver is one of those students and says, "What inspired me is to just like have the hard work and dedication that I want to use big machinery."

HPS & MSUN working Together

(Havre) – Montana State University – Northern and Havre Public Schools have always had a working relationship. Over the last three years, HPS Superintendent Brian Gum, and MSU-Northern Provost Jennifer Brown have been regularly meeting to discuss increased education opportunities for students. Brown tells us some of the things she and Superintendent Gum have discussed.

"We've had a lot of opportunities to talk about how we might work together to increase educational opportunities for students in Havre and the surrounding area, and we've talked about collaborations with things like dual enrollment, collaborations with things like the news STARS Act that has been passed. Even collaborations with things like a potential agriculture program."

September 2025 Great News

High school students in Helena experience trades up close at Digger Days

Around 150 Helena high school students had an opportunity Monday to get hands-on experience including concrete work, crane operations and more.

Students from the Project for Alternative Learning, Helena, Capital, East Helena and Jefferson high schools, as well as home-schooled students, gathered for Digger Days, sponsored by multiple companies. They included Freedom Fabrication, Opportunity Bank, 2M Company, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Dick Anderson Construction, MaCon Supply Inc., NorthSide Welding and Fabrication Inc. and EquipmentShare.

HPS Partnering with Producer Partnership

At it's last board meeting, Havre Public Schools decided to join Livingston based Producer Partnership, a program that will bring local beef to the district's lunchrooms. President and founder of Producer Partnership Matt Pierson explains. "The Producer Partnership is the only federally inspected, nonprofit processing facility in the United States and what that means is, we take in donated animals from all across Montana. We are able to process them here at our facility under inspection and put them back into schools and food banks all over Montana." Local producers are able to donate animals and in turn can help feed the kids of the community an all Montana product. A relationship that Pierson says is huge. "We encourage the schools to help locate animals for their communities, from their communities and we bring them here and get them processed and obviously, put it back into their school. The ability for these schools to reach out to their own community members and make that connection is huge."

Saturday Live returns to MetraPark to raise critical funds for Billings Public Schools

Hundreds of families will gather on Saturday for the largest fundraiser of the year for Billings Public Schools at the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Now in its 33rd year, Saturday Live has helped fill the funding gaps faced by teachers and students across the district. Hosted by the Billings Education Foundation, the fundraiser brings together more than 70 booths offering games, food, and hands-on activities. Tickets cost 50 cents each, but the impact stretches far beyond a fun day for families.

Poly Drive Elementary teacher recognized by One Class at a Time

Q2, Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools, Western Security Bank, and City Brew Coffee have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." It's a program that recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. Meet Kalli Murphy, whose music class is not only where she teaches the love of music but also where she helps her students' learning skills grow. "I think, anytime you put instruments in the hands of children, it's a great way to engage them," said Mrs. Murphy. "Making music together is a wonderful way to practice reading rhythms. All sorts of skills can be incorporated into their learning while they're playing instruments."

Students experience native culture at Last Chance Community Pow Wow

Drums are echoing through the Queen City this weekend for the 26th annual Last Chance Community Pow Wow. "It is so much more than just an experience; it is a complete immersion," said PAL teacher Ryan Cooney. Hundreds of Helena-area students gathered for the powwow demonstration day to engage with indigenous culture. Amanda Walking Child, with Indian Education for All, says, "It helps the students recognize and have respect for the traditions that have always been for many years." Tribes from across the state, and surrounding areas as far as Canada, performed grass, fancy, and jingle dress dancing that filled the fairgrounds and students' excitement.

Free program helps Montana students apply for colleges

With the school year now underway, many seniors are looking ahead and beginning the process of applying to college. "It's very overwhelming, I think," said Jaycee Coy, a senior at Capital High School. Like many others in her grade, she is considering her next steps after graduation. "It's hard to know where you want to go and if you're sure about it, and finances and stuff like that," said Coy. "It is very stressful."

Students explore career options at 'Worlds Of Work' in Great Falls

More than 2,300 middle school and high school students from across Montana spent Tuesday exploring possible career paths at the fourth annual Worlds of Work event in Great Falls.  The hands-on career fair took place on the campuses of the University of Providence and Great Falls College-MSU. Students from 35 schools across Central Montana rotated through four career "zones" featuring demonstrations from 66 regional employers. Organizers describe the event as "a career fair on steroids," designed to help students connect what they're learning in school with real-world job skills. The goal isn't for students to pick a career on the spot, but to start thinking about what possibilities exist in Montana's workforce.

Fairfield CTE program explained to Gianforte

The Fairfield High School Career and Technical Education program that is working two building projects this school year was on display when Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and House District 18 Rep. Llew Jones visited the school district on Sept. 17. Fairfield Superintendent Dustin Gordon explained to the governor the Fairfield School District is moving forward with an innovative project that combines affordable housing development with hands-on student learning. The initiative was made possible through a generous donation from the United Church of Christ, which gifted its unused parsonage to the district. Initially, the district envisioned renovating the existing home as part of a work-based learning program. Fairfield industrial arts teacher Robert Rogers, Jr., a licensed contractor, began designing a for-credit course that would allow students to gain valuable career skills while completing the renovation. After evaluating the property and conducting a cost analysis, the district determined that a greater long-term benefit could be achieved by removing the existing structure and building a new duplex. Demolition, led by a local contractor, will begin this fall. While working through ownership, insurance and demolition challenges, the district partnered with the town of Fairfield to provide students with a hands-on project at the Town Park. This collaboration has created an excellent training opportunity in preparation for the larger housing project, which is expected to launch in the second semester.

Kalispell Public Schools highlighted by Gianforte, U.S. Education Secretary

A local school district received recognition following a roundtable discussion with Governor Greg Gianforte and United States Education Secretary Linda McMahon at Montana State University. During Friday's roundtable, Governor Gianforte talked about his 56-county tour, where business owners told him their biggest challenge is the workforce. Gianforte says career and technical education are prioritized in schools. The governor also highlighted Kalispell Public Schools and the community partnerships involved for helping out students. "One local educator in Kalispell told me, and I quote "Students don't know what field to pursue if they don't know it exists."," said Gianforte. "Kalispell has been particularly proactive in getting the Chamber of Commerce to establish internships for high school students and I think that's a great innovation."

Montana Ag Network: Joliet students learn meat processing skills with weekly class

Five students from Joliet are learning more about meat processing this fall with the help of a Montana nonprofit called The Producer Partnership. Every Wednesday, the students are bused from Joliet to the meat processing plant, which is located about 16 miles east of Livingston, and given an opportunity to test their hand at the trade. Joliet Senior Gavin Thompson said it's been interesting to learn more about meat processing.

Gianforte Highlights Kalispell Public Schools' Internship Program During Roundtable with Trump's Education Secretary

Gov. Greg Gianforte lauded Kalispell Public Schools' approach to implementing work-based learning opportunities into its curriculum during his opening remarks at a roundtable discussion with Linda McMahon, the U.S. Education Secretary, on Friday morning. "One local educator in Kalispell told me, and I quote, 'students don't know what field to pursue if they don't know it exists,'" Gianforte said. "And Kalispell has been particularly proactive in getting the Chamber of Commerce to establish internships for high school students, and I think that's a really great innovation." Gianforte has celebrated Kalispell Public Schools' approach to educating students before. He visited Flathead High School in 2023 and praised the district's work-based learning programs and experiential education opportunities. Kalispell Public Schools first spearheaded its internship program during the 2022-2023 school year. The program includes several businesses and organizations across the Flathead Valley, which give students part-time internships. The district's experiential learning opportunities served as a key part of its successful levy campaign this spring too. 

'Your words have power': Speaker talks mental health, youth resilience at Target Range

Target Range middle schoolers swarmed around speaker Luc Swensson following his talk on Thursday, with dozens taking off one of their shoes to have the 20-year-old nonprofit founder sign them. Luc was at the school to spread awareness around mental health as part of his "I Love This Life" foundation, which he started when he was in fifth grade living in Great Falls. Luc's talk was part of a 19-day tour at schools across Montana, from rural towns like Hobson to Missoula. His next talk is in Bozeman where he'll meet with a Montana State University football player who believes in Luc's message of reducing stigma around mental health. Both Luc and his father, Thor Swensson, were sporting bright pink sneakers walking around the gym at Target Range School. Luc told the students the shoes were similar to pink sneakers he was bullied for wearing in the fifth grade when he first started the foundation to raise money for cancer patients. 

Browning School District incorporates mental health pods into schools

Montana's healthcare shortages make it hard for many to access mental health services and preventative care. Browning School District is taking steps to change that, bringing care closer to students. "Kind of what I hope for our community is to look at our younger generation and ask them, 'Are you okay?" stated Cinnamon Salway, Browning Public Schools prevention and wellness director. Students across the district now have access to six "mental health hush pods". These private, slim pods are being used by students of all ages to connect with Telehealth services without having to miss class or leave campus. "The idea actually came from a councilor named Jason Andres," said Salway. "We were actually having conflict with scheduling with students that needed Telehealth services".

New Billings school helping English-learning students remove barriers

When Leissmar Bracho talks about her first year as a refugee in the United States, she sounds happy. She made friends, graduated from high school and earned a scholarship to Montana State University Billings. After fleeing Venezuela and living for years in limbo in Peru, she finally has a clear path.  Bracho, 19, said her senior year at the Billings Multilingual Academy helped her bridge the gap between her education back home and her future in the U.S.  "You can do anything you want, or you can study anything you want," was the message Bracho took from her year at the new school. "The English wasn't a barrier for you to … fulfill those dreams or goals that you had in mind," she said.  Billings Public Schools opened the charter school in the fall of 2024 for English learners.

Seeing STARS: Nearly every district in state boosted by program to increase starting teacher pay

Leading up to the COVID pandemic, Montana public schools were falling farther behind when it came to starting teacher pay. After the pandemic, inflation and cost of housing made starting to teach in Montana very difficult. But a new program, passed by the 2025 Legislature, has already boosted starting teacher pay and kept districts from struggling with open positions, according to school leaders. In fact, the program has become so successful that nearly every district has been able to leverage it to help retain early-career teachers. But it was House Bill 252, Student and Teacher Advancement for Results and Success Act, or "STARS," passed by the 2025 Legislature, that helped boost the starting pay. For districts, it meant a stretch of the budget: The new law says that for districts to qualify for the funding, the starting teacher salary must be 62% of the district-wide average. This helps teachers get to the average level more quickly. During the Legislature, teachers told of not being able to teach school without a second job, or struggling to find housing even somewhat affordable. A look at most national metrics showed Montana hovered somewhere near the bottom of the nation when it came to starting-teacher salaries - below most nearby states.

Helena school district receives $30,000 grant to promote news literacy

he News Literacy Project announced  Sept. 10 that 14 school districts that were accepted to its fellowship program and awarded a $30,000 grant, including Helena Public Schools. The three-year fellowship provided a $30,000 grant and customized support to implement news literacy education within Helena district campuses. "Even though Gen Z and Gen Alpha are digital natives, they're often overwhelmed by the nonstop flood of information online," Charles Salter, president and CEO of the News Literacy Project, said in a news release. "This year's record participation in the fellowship program shows that district leaders get it: Students are hungry for news literacy and educators are stepping up to meet that demand." The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan education nonprofit that works with schools and districts across the country to ensure they received aid to fund news literacy education.

Carnival Classic returns to Helena to celebrate public education

The Helena Education Foundation will be holding its 22nd annual Carnival Classic highlighting public education on Sunday. The event will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Park and is free to the public. There will be food, snow cones, a bounce house and over 50 booths offering games and activities hosted by student clubs, school groups, parent-teacher organizations and community members. Some of the activities include a dunk tank, robot races, 3D printing, tattoos and brush art, traditional Indigenous games and stuffed animal adoptions. The day will begin with a Zumba dance lesson, followed by entertainment from local youth dance and music groups.

HRDC to Host Free Back-To-School Event

As the school year kicks off, HRDC is teaming up with the Vituity Cares Foundation to host a free Back-to-School Shopping and Wellness Event on Friday, August 29th at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds.   

Fourth annual 'Dreamin' for Darby' school fundraiser this Friday

he fourth annual 'Dreamin' for Darby' school fundraiser is this Friday and will feature line dancing, music and a full bar with proceeds going to support the school district. The event starts at 5 p.m. at the Richard Cromwell Memorial Rodeo Grounds, with a suggested donation of $25. Over the last three years the event has raised $100,000 for facility enhancements, teacher support, classroom updates and student scholarships, Superintendent Tony Biesiot said in a press release. "The most remarkable part of Dreamin' for Darby is that it brings people together for a shared purpose.... investing in the future of Darby students," said Biesiot. The silent auction and line dancing to country music starts at 5 p.m. The featured keynote speaker is a former Darby Schools alumnus Doug House, who is now the Senior Manager of Technical Support for Porsche Cars North America, Inc., according to the release.

Browning school now offers 'hush pods'

Browning Public Schools recently introduced Mental Health "Hush Pods." Students are able to have telehealth sessions with a mental health provider; the pods are sound-proof with lights and a cooling fan, and frosted tint on the windows for privacy.

Helena High School launches podcast to keep student voices heard, community informed

Welcome back to another episode of the 'Bengal Briefs.' Today, I am joined by Mrs. Missy Sampson, a science teacher, Ms. Jessica Vallincourt, an English teacher, and two of our amazing students, Finn Hollow and Madi Higginbotham," Helena High School Principal Brian Kessler said. Four guests and the host, Kessler, sat at a table inside the high school's library with a singular chrome-coated microphone in front of them, where they spoke about "bigger topics" and "goals of the school" on Wednesday. "What does family engagement look like in terms of trying to build that connection with the home?" "What are your thoughts on how we do this well?" "What are you looking forward to this year?" and "What, to you, does it mean to be a Bengal" were all questions asked by Kessler during the roughly 30-minute episode. In a principal-, educator- and student-led podcast, HHS embarked on a new informational journey with the goal of keeping the community up to date on the latest ongoings within the high school.

Online learning program gains popularity with rural Montana school districts

A Utah-based online learning program could help boost enrollment numbers for rural Montana public school districts by bridging the gap between homeschool families and public education. Founded in 2008 by former Republican Utah state Sen. Rob Muhlestein, Harmony Educational Services offers a path for homeschool students to enroll in their local school district while maintaining control of their own learning experience. The online learning program has entered contracts with 12 Montana school districts since 2023. Seven of those school districts, including Plains, Noxon and Ronan, entered contracts this year. Families who sign up for the program can opt for online asynchronous or off-line courses, and a mentor from Harmony Educational Services oversees each student's learning progress, said program representative Colby Sharpe. Three tracks offer different experiences with the program.  

Teacher Leaders in History includes Harlem Educator

The Montana Historical Society announced recently the addition of seven new educators to its Teacher Leaders in History Program. The new teacher leaders include Kasidy Robbins of Harlem. These seven new "history missionaries" will join the ranks of 13 other leaders who are dedicated to promoting best practices in history education and connecting their colleagues across the state with resources for teaching Montana history and Indian Education for All. In addition to mentoring their peers, the leaders will also help write lesson plans and present at regional and statewide conferences.

Shelby Public Schools welcomes two new teachers to staff

Shelby Schools is excited to welcome two new teachers this year, Ms. Hayley Fretheim and Ms. Carla Francos. Ms. Fretheim is happy to return to her hometown to teach, she is a 2013 SHS graduate. Ms. Francos is excited about meeting new people and comes to Shelby from Asturias, which is north of Spain.

Back to school 2025

Valley schools are gearing up for another year, and several school superintendents spoke to the Bitterroot Star about the upcoming year. They talked about their excitement and some things the public and students should be aware of and look forward to in the coming year.

Superior High School seniors mark their spot

Remember senior year? Maybe it was marked by spirited pranks, painted hillsides or the anticipation of senior photos. For the Class of 2026 at Superior High School, the year begins with a new and colorful tradition: custom painted parking spots. The idea was sparked earlier this summer by a group of parents reflecting on how quickly time had passed and how their children were now entering their final year of high school. Wanting to make it memorable, the group tossed around several ideas, from personalized banners and signs to Fathead cutouts to cheer on students at events.  Kate DiGiando, the administrative secretary for junior high/high school and mom of senior, Lane, created a group in the REMIND app for all senior parents to join. That way, they could all throw ideas out there and move forward together. One idea stood out: senior parking spots. Inspired by similar traditions seen online, the group brought the concept to the school administration, who enthusiastically gave it the green light.

Inclusivity Community Playground nears completion in Great Falls

Lewis & Clark Elementary School and the Montana School for the Deaf & Blind are collaborating to build a new inclusive community playground that will provide a safe and welcome space for all children to play. The project is sponsored by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development. "It just seemed like a really great place to service as many kids as we can," said Sylvia Tarman, CDBG Administrator for Great Falls. "And it was just a good application that would serve this community."

Sunnyside Elementary kicks off first week of school with excitement and energy

The first week back to school can feel like a whirlwind, but at Sunnyside Elementary, the atmosphere has been filled with excitement as students and staff settle into new routines. Principal Durbin Thomsen said the energy in the building is transformed once students return.

STARS Act will Help HPS

The 2025 School year is in full gear at Havre Public Schools. Superintendent Brian Gum told New Media Broadcasters how the Stars and Inflation Acts passed by the 2025 Legislature have helped Havre Public Schools. "You know, I think that definitely will help in terms of our general budget. So, from the elementary and high school side, both of those budgets, the STARS act as well as the Inflation Act really helps us in terms of being able to provide a wage that's competitive." The Montana STARS Act-short for Student and Teacher Advancement for Results and Success-is a comprehensive education funding reform initiative passed as House Bill 252 during the 2025 legislative session. Its primary goal is to improve educational outcomes by incentivizing better teacher pay, student achievement, and resource sharing among school districts.

Preserving the written word: Flathead High School relaunches 'The Quiver' literary magazine

Like its namesake, "Quiver" Flathead High School's literary magazine, is a repository for the written word.  After 34 years, Flathead High School's Poetry Club relaunched "The Quiver," retaining its physical form.  "I was on the literary magazine when I was in high school, and it was just a really rewarding experience and I thought that we should bring it back," Poetry Club advisor and English teacher Alison Kreiss said. "For students to see their work published is a very meaningful experience for them. It's a good outlet we didn't really have elsewhere in the school.

August 2025 Great News

LPHS earns top Montana ranking by U.S. News and World Report

Lone Peak High School was ranked Montana's No. 2 overall high school for the 2025-26 school year in a new list published by U.S. News and World Report, based on methodology with six factors: proficiency in math and science, and reading; performance in math and science, and reading; college readiness; performance of underserved students; college curriculum breadth; and graduation rates.  Bozeman High School earned the top overall Montana rank among 171 schools, followed by LPHS, Whitefish High School, and Gallatin High School in Bozeman. LPHS also earned Montana's No. 1 rank for college curriculum breadth, and No. 2 rank for college readiness. Nationally, LPHS is No. 943 overall among nearly 18,000 U.S. high schools ranked, placing it just outside the top 5% based on factors considered by U.S. News and World Report.  

Writing Coaches of Montana seeks volunteers to support students

Writing Coaches of Montana seeks community members in Flathead County to participate in its coaching program with the mission of helping local public school students improve their writing skills. Specifically, the program seeks to help students think critically about their writing assignments so they can become confident and competent writers across disciplines.  "My students love having the coaches come help them, and the benefits go beyond improving their writing skills," said Kalispell Middle School teacher Kristi Sanders. "The one-on-one attention is something the students need, and this is the best program with the most direct positive impact on students that I've ever seen in my 27 years of teaching." 

Billings family reflects back on school aging-out policy, two years later

Two years ago, Emily Pennington crossed the stage at her Billings West High School graduation, a moment her mother Jana Pennington described as incredibly exciting despite the challenges her daughter faced. "She's accomplished something with difficulties that other kids have not had to deal with, you know, physical and academic," Pennington said in an interview this week. Emily, now 22, continues to stay active in the Billings community, volunteering at a preschool. 

Missoula public schools launches in-house bus program

When students head back to class this fall, some Missoula County Public Schools families will notice a new kind of ride pulling up to the curb. Instead of the traditional yellow bus, certain routes will now be served by white school vans as the district begins running some of its own transportation for the first time. According to Burley McWilliams, the district's director of facilities and operations, the shift is part of a broader effort to manage a sizable transportation budget while maintaining dependable service for families. The district currently transports around 4,000 students daily, nearly half its enrollment, creating one of the district's largest ongoing expenses. 

For Eric Peterson, Helena AD job came along at right time: 'There's been a void since I stopped coaching'

When Eric Peterson decided to step down as the head coach of the Helena High girls basketball team in 2020, he said the timing was just right. And approximately five years later, the timing was right for Peterson to throw his hat in the ring to be the athletic director of the Helena Public Schools, a job he was eventually hired for to replace the retired Tim McMahon. The three-time state championship-winning head coach for the Helena girls basketball program, bringing home titles in 20216-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, officially took over the position on July 1.

Helena-area school districts kick off the new school year

Both East Helena and Helena Public Schools districts started their new academic year with smiles, hugs and pictures Wednesday, with some set to start Thursday. Thousands of students across the Helena area entered their buildings, some for the first time. Hawthorne students were among a new group of peers after their school was closed by the HPS board at the end of last year. All East Helena Public Schools students started their new year, except for kindergartners, who start Thursday. Helena Public Schools grades one through six, high school freshmen and Project for Alternative Learning students began Wednesday, while grades seven, eight and the rest of its high school students start Thursday. Kindergartners will start Sept. 2 in Helena. For a full view of district calendars visit the school districts' websites.

After their daughter died by suicide, an East Helena family is working to erase the stigma

"It's chickensh--." Quin Agee didn't flinch, but staring at the bartender, something in him ached all the same. He doesn't remember how they got to the topic of suicide. His fists clenched. A blue-collar bar isn't the usual place for this kind of talk, he thought, yet here they were. While Quin hunched over his drink, his friend puffed up beside him. "No, shut it," Quin said before his friend could yell. "I was stupid like that, too." Cowardice. Weakness. "Chickensh--." Quin heard it before. He was raised in Helena's cowboy culture, spending years working manual labor in the valley. If you had problems, you did chores. Hard work and sweat was the remedy to any ailment. When someone killed themselves, you had a drink in their honor. For a long time, Quin was no better. If he could go back, he'd beat the teeth out of his old self. "He doesn't get it," Quin told his friend. He almost hoped the bartender never would. Alivia Paige Agee died by suicide May 7 in her bedroom. She was 15 years old, an East Helena High School freshman, Quin's only daughter. She was a goofball, her parents said. In between nail art and elaborate selfies, she was planning for a choir trip and getting her driver's license. Alongside her parents, she's remembered by two brothers.

May, Keeley receive P.E.O. Chapter AZ scholarships

Havre High School 2025 graduates, Macee May and Camille Keeley, each received a $500 scholarship given by Havre P.E.O. Chapter AZ.  Havre P.E.O. Chapter AZ member Paulette Cronk presented the award to the winners at the Havre High School awards ceremony this past spring.  P.E.O. Chapter AZ is active in helping young women pursue higher education. The chapter provides local scholarships to a student from Havre High School and a student attending Montana State University - Northern.  The scholarships are supported by local fundraisers put on by P.E.O. Chapter AZ to support their philanthropic efforts.

Six New States Selected for Youth Apprenticeship Policy Academy

The Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), an initiative of New America, congratulates Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington on joining the National Governors Association Center (NGA Center) for Best Practices Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship. These states will be awarded a $50,000 grant to expand opportunities that combine paid, on-the-job learning, related instruction, and industry credentials that count toward college. As a part of the Center on Education & Labor at New America, PAYA is pleased to announce this second academy cohort that will build on PAYA’s vision of making youth apprenticeship a mainstream pathway to economic mobility and stronger regional economies. Young people are looking for new opportunities to learn skills that will open doors to the workforce while avoiding significant debt. Youth apprenticeship offers these opportunities and provides them pathways to the middle class, helping to mitigate long-standing inequities in our education system. State leadership, particularly at the governor level, will be critical to unlocking policy that builds on the growing momentum around this postsecondary strategy and to connecting high-need sectors with next-generation talent.

United Way donates thousands of school supplies to Billings students for upcoming school year

On Tuesday and Wednesday, United Way of Yellowstone County held its second annual backpack distribution, donating school supplies to hundreds of students in the greater Billings area. In all, the nonprofit collected 30,000 school supplies, including 1,000 backpacks. Family Service in Billings donated $7,000 for the school supply drive, and Walmart donated $500. Over 500 students took home school supplies over the course of the two days, including three of Shawna Youngbear's children. 

DBPS launches new pre-kindergarten

Dutton/Brady Public Schools has expanded its district into a realm no other school in Teton County has before through a $1 million state Montana Reads grant provided by the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Using grant funding, DBPS is implementing the first full-time pre-kindergarten program in Teton County this coming school year. Superintendent Jeremy Locke and Lisette Hofer, district grant manager, applied for the grant in February, requested $1 million and had to perform a cost breakdown telling what the district will use the money for all four years. The grant can be used for reading, literacy inside or outside the classroom, at home or with families. Over the course of four years, Hofer said the district had to plan how it was going to break down the cost. Locke uses the eGrants website to purchase something and take it from the $1 million grant. The website requests the funds and Rachel Gott, the instructional coordinator for the Montana Literacy Project at the Office of Public Instruction, either accepts to declines the purchase. Gott then redrafts the request and makes suggestions on where else to use the funds. The district will receive $400,000 on Oct. 1, and the funds will be used to pay an instructional coach, purchase the curriculum, books and library updates and professional development.

New Somers Lakeside Superintendent to Prioritize Building Community Trust

Alexander Ator thinks of education as a "human capital industry," helping students develop and grow over the course of their school careers. But that industry has struggled in recent years, especially following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic worsened several challenges school districts already faced. Ator, the new superintendent at Somers Lakeside School District, said one challenge the pandemic shed light on was the lack of trust between public education and communities. In his new role, Ator hopes to rebuild and restore that trust. "You can see that there are a lot of people here that love the school, but (I want to) engage with stakeholders, get to know the community, get to know the staff, get to know the kids and build those trust bridges - whether they need to be rebuilt or just firmed up a little bit - and make this the school that it has been and will continue to be," Ator said.

How and why GFPS is changing math curriculum

Great Falls Public Schools is implementing a new math curriculum called Amplify Desmos Math at the beginning of the school year, with teachers at Longfellow Elementary already training on the new program. The curriculum update was necessary as the previous materials no longer aligned with required standards, according to district officials. "Our old curriculum was no longer matching the standards that we needed to be teaching. And so with the new curriculum, we adopted, it was based on the curriculum committee coming together, which was made up of teachers and community members and administration," said Miranda Murray, Curriculum and Assessment TSA for Great Falls Public Schools. The district aligned their selection with state requirements to ensure comprehensive coverage of educational needs.

Kila School Starts New Year with Familiar Face Returning to Lead District

Liz English isn't a new face at the rural Kila School - though she is new to her role as the district's top administrator. She previously served as the school's principal before taking a job with Kalispell Public Schools' human resources department. When the top job at Kila School opened in February, English knew she wanted to return, for reasons both personal and professional. The personal: She has two children. One enters kindergarten this year, while the other will go into middle school. In the smaller district, both her children will have a chance to be in the same building. And the professional: While she enjoyed working at Kalispell Public Schools, she missed being around the students. In her human resources role, she felt two steps away from them. She wanted a chance to be more plugged into what was happening with students. 

Montana to provide education for students with disabilities up to age 22 under settlement

Montana students with disabilities will be able to continue their education up to age 22 under individualized education programs after the state of Montana settled a federal lawsuit from two students and a Montana disability rights organization last week. The settlement agreement, ordered by a judge on Aug. 13, means that Montana is no longer the only state in the country that cuts off education services for most students with disabilities at age 18, according to the organization that sued the state, Disability Rights Montana. Under the agreement, Montana will no longer use the exception that allowed the state to stop providing those services and will let students with disabilities continue going to school either until they earn a "regular" high school diploma or turn 22 years old. Disability Rights Montana and two Montana students with disabilities who were forced out of school when they turned 18 and 19 last year sued Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen and Gov. Greg Gianforte in February contending the state was violating federal law by not providing the students education for longer. David Carlson, executive director of Disability Rights Montana, called the settlement agreement a "huge win for Montana students." "Students with disabilities were being exited from school before earning a high school diploma and before they were ready to transition to post-secondary employment, education, and independent living," Carlson said in a statement. "Now students who need it will have the additional time that federal law allows to prepare for successes as adults." 

Billings Public Schools welcomes artificial intelligence into the classroom

Billings Public Schools is instructing teachers on how to use artificial intelligence to plan lessons and receive feedback on students' progress. Teachers are learning how to use tools such as School AI, Magic School AI, Brisk Teaching and Diffit. Sarah Rainey, an instructional technology coach at the schools, is teaching educators how to incorporate these programs into their lessons. She hopes the services decrease teacher burnout and assist student learning. "The load that's on teachers to meet the needs of every student in their classroom is a lot," said Rainey. According to a 2025 survey from RAND, 53% of teachers nationwide reported burnout. 

Billings nonprofit helps homeless students go back to school

A Billings nonprofit is helping homeless students go back to school. Tumbleweed, which helps at-risk youth, is distributing school supplies, including over 300 backpacks, to students across Montana. "Back to school is really hard. You're 400 times more likely to be an adult homeless person if you don't graduate high school," said Executive Director Georgia Cady. Tumbleweed supplies youth and young adults in need with free haircuts, shoes, clothes and meals.

Montana launches feedback portal for American Indian studies in public schools

A new feedback portal has been launched by the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) to collect and address feedback on American Indian studies in public schools. "The OPI Indian Education for All (IEFA) Unit works with districts, tribes, and other entities to ensure all schools have the knowledge, tools and resources necessary to honor the IEFA requirement and integrate it into their teaching materials and methods," according to the OPI website.

Montana governor announced EO for AI, trades workforce development

Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Monday a new statewide initiative to bolster workforce development in skilled trades and AI usage.  Gianforte signed Executive Order 5-2025 creating the 406 JOBS Initiative, which directs the Department of Labor and Industry's State Workforce Innovation Board to put Montana in line with national education and workforce development goals set by President Donald Trump.  "406 JOBS stands for four pathways to employment, zero barriers to work, and six high-demand sectors," Gianforte said during a press conference held at Helena's Boeing manufacturing center on Monday. "Those sectors include health care, construction, hospitality and recreation, advanced manufacturing and computing education and child care and financial and professional services.

Florence seeking volunteers to help build new playground

The Florence-Carlton School District is looking for volunteers to help build a new playground this Saturday and Sunday. Former Florence-Carlton Parent Organization leader Sarah Brucker is still leading the charge on the playground effort and said volunteers would be needed from 10 a.m. until dinnertime on Saturday and Sunday, with the workload on Sunday contingent on what gets done Saturday. Volunteers don't need to be available all day, but no kids are permitted in the work area, she said. "Sorry for any inconveniences this may cause but there will be large holes and we need to keep everyone safe," she said. Brucker requests people interested in volunteering to email their availability to her at [email protected]. "We have some other volunteers who would like to provide food for those working so having a head count really helps," she said.

From the dugout to the superintendent's desk: Dave Thennis starts leadership in Hamilton

Dave Thennis got into education by accident. He took a baseball coaching job in Helena one summer and now years later he's set to welcome Hamilton students back to school as their new superintendent this fall. "It's about relationships and the people you meet along the way," he said. "That's what keeps you going." Thennis was most recently the superintendent in Stevensville, but he's driving a bit further south this year to take over the superintendent's office in Hamilton. He's replacing previous Superintendent Tom Korst, who served in the position for more than 12 years and left at the end of October to pursue a career in mental health. Legal and Human Resources Director Christine Lewanski served as interim superintendent until Thennis started July 1. Thennis originally wanted to be a scientist - earning a bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology from Whitman College. But during his tenure as a coach, a player's father who was also the Helena High School principal at the time, encouraged him to take a substitute teaching position, and he hasn't looked back since. "I just realized that working with kids and that whole interaction with players and with students in a classroom was really something that was very fun," he said. 

GFPS Summer Food Truck serves thousands of meals to kids

For many kids in Great Falls, the school year isn't the only time they can count on a healthy meal. This summer, the Great Falls Public Schools (GFPS) Summer Food Service Truck rolled into neighborhoods across the city, bringing free, nutritious meals directly to children and families. The program, which ran for several weeks during the summer break, served more than 300 meals a day at a total of 9 sites across the Electric City. By parking in easily accessible locations in front of schools and parks, the bright lime green food truck allowed kids to grab a meal without having to travel far – a boost for families who may not have transportation or access to a traditional meal site. "Every morning, we serve kids breakfast and we load all of our milk and all of our sandwiches and whatever we're going to have for lunch, hot and cold lunches and head out to serve them," explained GFPS Summer Truck supervisor Jerry Smith. "I like to see the smiles on their faces because they, you know, are going to have a nice lunch." 

City Club Missoula highlights challenges, bright spots for education in Montana

Education is an ever-shifting landscape. This month's City Club Missoula brought together state and local leaders to see where Montana and, specifically, Missoula County is going forward. "School finance is complicated and not very transparent," Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) superintendent Micah Hill said. With the future of the Department of Education in limbo and continued questions around federal funding, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen wants Montana to be in charge of getting funding into classrooms. "One thing that I have been advocating for is that they return the federal funding and the Office of Education at the federal level to the states," Hedalen said.

Legos and a trash-eating shark bring Missoula robotics students top honors

A little contraption made of yellow and blue Lego beams whirs across a demonstration table at the Missoula fairgrounds. One of the robot's programmers, middle schooler Oliver Nowles, explains the design. "So, basically, we have a back crane, which lifts up. And we also have the front arm, which can move things left to right," Nowles says. Washington Middle School's "Robosapiens" robotics team is one of Montana's best performers in the FIRST LEGO League challenge. It's an annual competition where teams from across the country build and program a robot to complete a series of tasks on a table. The team also came up with an invention to aid future explorers of the ocean, which is the competition's theme this year. Their idea? "It was about an electric shark that swam around in the ocean collecting trash," seventh grader Maizie Ward says. "Elektra," as they named their robot shark, would use sensors and filters to suck garbage and plastics out of the ocean, while leaving critters unharmed. They modeled their invention using paper-mâché and presented it to judges at a world competition in Massachusetts this June. They earned a finalist award - one of only four honors handed out among the more than 100 teams. 

Mental health coalition to deliver 600 backpacks with supplies to Bitterroot students

A Bitterroot youth behavioral health organization collected and filled 600 backpacks with school supplies and mental health resources to be sent out to students throughout Ravalli County.

Bitterroot Cares has provided welcome bags to incoming students for the last three years. Last year the organization sent backpacks to kindergarten students from Darby to Florence, according to Tracy Golder with the organization.

Ben Steele Middle School hosting safe school summit

Ben Steele Middle School is hosting the Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit through Wednesday. The summit provides different workshops for educators and school staff to learn more about school safety. Topics included mental health, suicide prevention and security architecture. "The climate has changed across the board nationwide," Billings Public Schools Safety and Emergency Management Coordinator Joe Halligan said Tuesday. The summit provided critical conversations about how to create safer learning environment. Atticus Pate-Terry, an incoming freshman at Helena High School, offered insights based on his experiences.

'The Empathetic Classroom': A Bozeman educator's mission to support teachers' mental health

Maria Munro-Schuster has long believed the way physical and mental health are addressed in school classrooms needs to change. Maria Munro-Schuster of Bozeman poses with her book "The Empathetic Classroom: How a Mental Health Mindset Supports Your Students - and You".  But she's never been one to wait around for that change to happen. From dressing up as Moe the Moose in middle school in rural Wolf Point, teaching her classmates about the dangers of tobacco or presenting a two-year research project at age 16 at the International Science and Engineering Fair on how motivational psychology could improve outcomes for students with Type II diabetes, if something needs doing, Munro-Schuster finds a way. Her latest effort is no exception.

Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit returns to Billings

School safety leaders from across Montana and the nation are gathering in Billings today for the 6th annual Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit. The two-day event runs August 5–6 at Ben Steele Middle School and continues to draw educators, mental health professionals, law enforcement, and community members committed to building safer school environments. The summit features expert-led workshops, keynote speakers, and collaborative learning opportunities-all designed to support more secure, trusting, and prepared school communities. For more information visit jeremybullocksafeschools.com. Hosted in partnership with Billings Public Schools, the summit brings together a wide range of participants, including superintendents, principals, counselors, teachers, school safety teams, and youth. Organizers say the goal is to spark meaningful change through practical, systemic solutions.

Rising Glacier High School sophomore appointed to Roundup for Safety board

Flathead Electric Cooperative's Roundup for Safety board of directors named Axel Rauscher, rising sophomore at Glacier High School and the son of Conrad and Dawn Rauscher of Kila, as this year's youth director. The board reviewed multiple applications for youth director, which is a non-voting position held by a student who joins the directors in evaluating nonprofit grant applications and presentations. Board President Paul Austin noted, "We look for a high school student who is involved in the Flathead Valley's communities and is interested in safety. They should also want to learn more about the nonprofit organizations, like volunteer fire departments, search and rescue units, and school districts, that work so hard to make our area an incredible place to live."

 

July 2025 Great News 

Chinook and Cut Bank Graduates Earn Scholarships

Montana Livestock Auction Company gives out two one thousand dollar scholarships each year to graduating seniors that are part of the agriculture community and are planning on continuing their education at a university or trade school. This year's recipients are both from Northern Montana. They are: Madilyn Gruszie whose family ranches North of Chinook. Madilyn plans on pursuing a degree in Business and Ranch Management. The other recipient is Mylee Berry of Cut Bank who plans to pursue a degree as an ag teacher. Both recipients submitted a resume along with others seeking the scholarships.

 

Boulder after-school program receives funding

After anxiously holding their breath for weeks, Kassie Nordlinder and Boulder Elementary's afterschool program can now exhale after Montana received more than $6 million in federal funds to finance the initiative enjoyed by nearly four out of every five local students. "I believe we will receive our full grant award for this year," said Nordlinder, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program Director. "We should be able to host both the after-school program and the 2026 Summer Program." The Boulder Elementary Consortium had anticipated getting just under $250,000 to cover the program's next five years. In early July, the Trump administration announced the withholding of $6.8 billion in national education funds, including $1.4 billion for the Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC program. The U.S. Department of Education memo said the programs were under review, with no mention of objective or expected completion date.

 

New business manager for Great Falls Public Schools

School officials say Luke Diekhans will now take on the role of the Business Manager for Great Falls Public Schools. He takes over for Brian Patrick, who recently retired. "He knows the ropes. He knows the layout of a very difficult and challenging position. So he'll be a great fit for this job," said school board chair Gordon Johnson. "I want to be able to move through this first year, gain that understanding, build relationships with not just other individuals across our district, but individuals across the state with organizations like Masco and the School Boards Association and so forth, so I develop a deeper understanding of the role of the business manager," said Diekhans. "Now we're also looking at possible cuts coming from the federal government, so we're going to be doing a real balancing act over the next year of what that funding will look like and how we can best use it to suit our students and our staff," said Diekhans.

 

Montana State to help rural Montanans access school counseling program

Montana State University will soon offer a version of its graduate-level school counseling program online, while a grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help individuals in rural parts of Montana access that program. The efforts are part of the MSU Department of Counseling's ongoing work to train professionals to serve people in communities across Montana, said Rebecca Koltz, professor and head of the counseling department. "There is a real need for what we call 'place-committed' individuals who would like to do good work in those rural areas but can't leave for a two-year training," Koltz said. "We heard from people who said they would love to go back to school, but they can't leave their jobs. That led us to start thinking about this online component a few years ago, and we ended up creating this online training to meet the needs of those individuals."

 

Nonprofit aims to bring art instruction to Helena schools

Helena Public Schools board chair Jennifer McKee says the district has had a tough few years. She says they've gutted more than $6 million from the budget to climb out of a deficit. That pain fueled an idea. "We got to thinking, 'What can we do that's not just cutting? This is kids' real lives, and what do we have around us that's not money that could grow what happens inside our schools?'" McKee told MTPR. District officials say they don't even know the last time they offered art classes to all elementary students. But from that idea, Helena Art Forms was born. It's a collaboration between the district and a local nonprofit, the Omerta Arts Syndicate. Organizers say the nonprofit will pay Helena artists to teach art classes to fifth graders in schools this fall. That's provided the organization meets their fundraising goal of just more than $100,000. Omerta Arts youth director Patrick Lindecker says a test run of the program in a handful of classrooms was a big hit.

 

State Gets Grants to Start Teacher Apprentice Program

Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of labor and Industry Commissioner Sarah Swanson recently announced the State has received four million dollars in Federal grants to start the first Teacher apprentice program. Governor Gianforte explains. "This four-million-dollar grant creates a teacher apprentice program to get more qualified people into the classroom. They'll be paid for a full four-year duration of their classroom experience and upon completion, the apprentices, these teaching apprentices will become licensed k-12 educators." Apprentices will also complete higher education coursework during their time in the classroom. The State is working to complete the programs design. There are currently more that 800 open positions in school districts across the state.

 

Corvallis School District receives grant to enhance farm-to-table learning

Corvallis School District will soon have a new hydroponic garden in its cafeteria area thanks to a $2,000 grant from the Montana Farmers Union Foundation. The foundation distributed more than $43,000 this month as part of its Community Grant program across 22 projects aimed at advancing agriculture learning opportunities in rural communities. Corvallis School District Food Service Director and project coordinator Kathy Martin said they'll use the grant to purchase two small pre-made hydroponic garden units that will each hold 30 plants. Martin plans to grow herbs to be used in school lunches. "Our food system needs to get back to the roots, literally, the roots," Martin said. "Things are so processed, and they lose so much flavor and vitamins in the way that our food delivery system is. And so the more local, the more fresh the food is, the better it's going to taste." Students will be able to help grow oregano, thyme and basil and monitor the plant growth and health, Martin said, adding the experience can be implemented into science, math, food safety and critical-thinking curriculum.

 

Walking the plank into writing: Whitefish student pens swashbuckling adventure in first book

Last July, 11-year-old Linnea Cameron set sail in her imagination and began writing about the swashbuckling adventures of a ship crewed by a family of pirates. A year and a few drafts later, "The Pirates of the Mediterranean" has hit bookshelves. Set in Greece, the book follows the treasure-hunting adventures of Diana, a spirited 11-year-old. In the search for Zeus's treasure, the family sets course on the Mediterranean Sea, "only to discover danger, deception, and a destiny far greater than gold," as ancient secrets are revealed along the way, a book description states. "From talking monkeys to cursed islands and storm-battered shipwrecks, Diana must rely on her wit, courage, and the love of her family to stay one step ahead of the gods themselves."  Cameron said she loosely based Diana on herself - both have big dreams - but magnified the character's adventuresomeness.

 

Montana to launch first teacher apprenticeship program with $4 million federal grant

Forty school districts across Montana will have teacher apprentices in their classrooms starting in 2026 thanks to $4 million in federal grants, Gov. Greg Gianforte's office announced Monday. Montana is launching the state's first registered teacher apprenticeship program. The first cohort will include 160 registered teacher apprentices and 40 youth pre-apprentices, who will start in the summer of 2026. The aspiring K-12 educators will be paid during their time in the classroom, complete higher education coursework through partner schools, and become licensed K-12 teachers in Montana after completing the program. The state is working to complete the program's design and launch the framework for the apprenticeships through a partnership between Montana's Department of Labor & Industry, the Coalition of Advocates for Montana's Public Schools (CAMPS), the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE).

 

Billings students learn to 'hack for good' at cybersecurity camp

When most people think of hackers, they picture glowing screens and lines of code. But for one group of Montana students, hacking looks more like teamwork and problem-solving for a good cause. Code Girls United, a nonprofit after-school program for girls based in Kalispell, hosted its first cybersecurity camp, called the "Cybercat Hacking Academy," at MSU Billings this week. The camp introduced over a dozen students in grades 7 through 12 to coding, cybersecurity, and the concept of ethical hacking. "I've always kind of had an interest in computers. I've always really liked them," said Olivia Bishop, a seventh grader from Will James Middle School, at the camp. Bishop has been with Code Girls United since fourth grade and got to help develop an app this past school year, called Perfect Product that scans food labels for allergens.

 

Frenchtown grad commends financial savings, academics in Missoula College dual enrollment

Seeing cadavers up close and personal in the University of Montana lab was the "coolest thing in the world" for Frenchtown High School graduate Katie Lewis. "Seeing all the muscles and everything up close, that's just crazy to see," Lewis told the Missoulian. She got to explore the lab as part of her anatomy class through the Bronc Fast Track Program, which offers dual enrollment for Frenchtown students through a collaboration with Missoula College. The junior college just off UM's campus awards the graduating seniors who complete the curriculum a UM general studies certificate, which is accepted at all of the schools in the Montana University System. This equates to about 30 college credits and allows high school graduates to earn a bachelor's degree in three years. The program helps students advance their studies, but also offers students financial savings for required general education courses toward an undergraduate degree. And with tuition rising at Montana schools and access to federal financial help through Pell grants diminishing, penny pinching can be essential.

 

Making magic - Nine-year-old publishes first book about a girl with dyslexia, donates proceeds to Edgerton Elementary

Zoe Frank, 9, is the co-author of an inspiring children's book about a young girl with dyslexia titled "Zoe's Magical Mind."  The book captures her personal experience discovering she has dyslexia and, "Through imagination, creativity, and a little bit of magic, Zoe learns to embrace her strengths and find new ways to learn," the book description reads.  When writing the book with her mother, Jennifer Frank, Zoe Frank, during an interview at Edgerton Elementary School in Kalispell, said she wanted to help people better understand dyslexia.  In the book, the character Zoe notices she's different from her classmates and learns from her mother that she has dyslexia, which is why reading and writing are more challenging. Whenever she feels down, family, friends and teachers remind her of the abilities she excels in and encourage her to share her talents of drawing and storytelling with the class. "That is Zoe's story all the way down to Miss Baker, who works at Edgerton [Elementary]. She works in special education, and she's been with Zoe since second grade and she has made a world of difference in our school life for Zoe, along with a community of other people," Jennifer Frank said.

 

Montana expands training for educational interpreters

In Montana's public schools, students who are deaf or hard of hearing depend on sign language interpreters to fully engage in their education. But across the state, there are not enough trained interpreters, and no in-state program to prepare them. Paul Furthmyre, Superintendent of the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB) says, "In Montana, there isn't a university or training program for educational interpreters to receive proper training." Now, with funding from the Montana Legislature, MSDB is partnering with the Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf to launch a free professional development series. The focus is to prepare educational interpreters to better serve students in STEM - science, technology, engineering, and math - where the vocabulary and visual setup require specialized skills. Furthmyre explains, "This has been a three-year process. We've worked with lawmakers to look at how we can increase the capacity of educational interpreters across Montana."

 

Darby wins event at SkillsUSA National Competition

Six Montana schools took home prizes at the SkillsUSA National Competition last month in Atlanta where students compete in skilled trades events, including robotics, engineering and firefighting. Darby Schools SkillsUSA Advisor Courtney Bennett said this year was the best Montana has performed in the competition. Darby Middle School took home the gold in the Promotional Bulletin Board category where students Paityn Pelkey, Stella Smith, Macey Strayer created a display promoting the career technical education program in Darby. Bennett said the students worked since January on designing their board and had to present it at the competition explaining the skills they learned and what their message was with the board. "We're really proud of them," Bennett said. Charles Maus from Sentinel High School won the silver medal for technical computer applications. This event is where students had to demonstrate they could install, configure and use an operating system like Windows and applications like email, word processing, and web page developments.

 

Familiar Face: Superintendent Megan Murrell returns to Terry Schools

As the new school year approaches, a familiar face has returned to lead Terry Public Schools. Megan Murrell, who briefly served as superintendent in the spring of 2022, resumed the role on July 1 following the departure of Paige Denny. Murrell brings with her not only previous experience in Terry but also a deep background in education already proving valuable as preparations for the 2025–2026 school year ramp up. With less than six weeks until students return on August 20, Murrell has her plate full. "It's been busy, busy," she said. "We need to be ready."

 

'You have to love everybody': Over 39 years in education, Gallatin High's Randy VanDyk modeled compassion

Standing alongside his fellow administrators, Gallatin High School assistant principal Randy VanDyk greeted students flowing into the building for their last day of final exams in June. In a speech to graduates at the annual senior sendoff assembly, VanDyk observed that for almost 60 years, "Once August rolls around, I get up and go to school and then I do that every day until sometime in June." But this send-off was different because it wasn't just the final day for the high schoolers. It was also the end of school for VanDyk, who has retired after a 39-year career in education. In a later interview with the Chronicle, VanDyk reflected on those years and, as a former student and teacher at private Christian schools, considered his evolution as an educator. "I never imagined myself being in a public school, especially as an administrator," VanDyk told the Chronicle in a later interview. "God opened doors and in some ways almost forced me into the public school." The abrupt change in settings began when he was hired at Bozeman's Chief Joseph Middle School, first as a math teacher and then as an assistant principal. He mused that in his first year he "heard the F-word more than the rest of my life combined." Nevertheless, the move taught the educator important life lessons.

 

Kalispell Public Schools partners with Jed Foundation to improve mental health

In another step toward strengthening youth mental health in the Flathead Valley, Kalispell Public Schools entered a three-year contract with the Jed Foundation to implement a comprehensive, evidence-based mental health and suicide prevention initiative at Glacier and Flathead high schools. The New York-based foundation offers multiple academic, consulting and training programs to help assess and strengthen mental health, substance misuse and suicide prevention systems while giving schools the tools needed to create a culture of mental health and well-being and prevent suicide. A mental health specialist from the foundation will be assigned to each high school. The specialists will work with administrators, counselors, staff and students. The initiative will launch in the fall.

 

Missoula Rotary Club donates $8,500 toward local public music education

Bill Schwanke wanted to play in the band at Paxson Elementary when he attended in the 1950s, and luckily the school leant him a "beat up mellophone." "My family couldn't afford an instrument, and the school system had instruments to loan out back then," he said. As a member of the Missoula Rotary Club, Schwanke is now part of an effort to provide funding to make sure middle school students in the next generation have the same chance to experience music education he had. Schwanke presented a check for $8,520 to the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees during their June 24 meeting to be used toward scholarships for middle school students to attend summer camps for band, choir and orchestra. "I'm so excited about the Rotary Club taking this project on, because we think it's so important that kids have the opportunity," Schwanke said during the meeting.

 

Multi-school debate team cuts to the chase, capturing fifth at nationals

A World Schools Debate team composed of Flathead, Glacier, Columbia Falls and Whitefish high school students talked their way to the top five on the national stage.

 

June 2025 Great News

Billings middle schoolers learn leadership and service at Camp BLUE

BILLINGS - While school is out for summer, one group of middle school students in Billings was back in the classroom. This time, they traded their books for badges in the Billings Police Department SRO Unit's inaugural summer camp for incoming seventh graders, Camp BLUE.

Kalispell Public Schools hosts annual education summit

KALISPELL, Mont. – The annual Doris Mountain Personalized Competency Based Education Summit at Flathead High School brought together students, teachers, and administrators to discuss Montana's education system and explore new learning strategies. Hundreds gathered in Kalispell to share experiences and ideas on preparing students for real-world challenges. Dr. Theresa Ewald, a speaker at the summit, emphasized the importance of teaching skills such as resilience, collaboration, analytical thinking, and adaptability from a young age. "The top four skills that show up on LinkedIn in job searches are resilience, collaboration, analytical thinking, and adaptability," Ewald said. "We need to be teaching these in kindergarten."

Rural leaders meet in Great Falls to discuss economic development

GREAT FALLS - Rural economic development professionals from across the country and the world have gathered in Great Falls for the International Economic Development Council's (IEDC) Rural Retreat. The three-day event spotlights rural innovation, infrastructure, and agriculture in Montana.

Education summit underway in Kalispell, focuses on student success

KALISPELL, Mont. - Education organizations and 27 school districts gathered in Kalispell this week for a two-day event focused on strengthening student success. Day one of the Doris Mountain Summit, hosted by Kalispell Public Schools, took place Wednesday at Flathead High School. 

Montana students place at National Speech and Debate tournament

This year's National Speech and Debate Association tournament saw recognition for multiple Montana schools, as 193 schools from eight different countries gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, to compete last week. Flathead High School ranked No. 1 in Montana for its speech and debate program, tying with Bozeman High School. Glacier High placed third statewide. Montana also took home awards during the World Schools Debate competition, with one team placing fifth and another placing 34th. Glacier High junior Josh Lee fought his way to ninth place nationally as an overall speaker. Meanwhile, Flathead High School junior Jake Milone also earned ninth place in impromptu speaking. The 2026 National Tournament will be held next June in Richmond, Virginia.

Montana Reads Literacy Grant awarded to Valier school

The Valier School is receiving part of a $1.25 million grant in order to improve reading and test scores among its students. The state considered several factors when determining which schools are eligible for the Montana Reads Literacy Grant. Superintendent and Principal of the Valier School Joshua Reed said, "What are your free reduced lunch numbers, what are your scores like, and that just gets you on that list to go ahead and be eligible." Reed says that the Valier School has been on the list for a few grant cycles due to their reading and writing scores, but this is the first time they formally applied. Reed said, "It is a lot of work, right? And not everybody thinks, not everybody's comfortable with grant writing."

Nineteenth annual 'Stuff the Bus' campaign supports local students in need

The Angel Fund, a Helena non-profit that supports local students in need, has begun its 19th annual Stuff the Bus fundraiser. This year, instead of asking the community for physical school supplies, they are asking for monetary donations. The funds will go towards monetary grant assistance for Helena schools to purchase their school supplies based on individual needs. The average annual cost of school supplies for elementary school children is $80-90, and between $100-150 for middle and high school students. To alleviate the financial burden on local families, the Angel Fund aims to support 1,400 students throughout the city by raising over $60,000.

'Happiness Initiative by Peers' comes to Dodson school

The community of Dodson along the Montana Hi-Line is a town of just over 100 people, and an unexpected partnership is bringing new perspectives to students. Two teenagers from New York City are leading a summer camp in Dodson, teaching mindfulness and emotional awareness to rural students. The small school has become the only location outside the tri-state area to host the "Happiness Initiative by Peers" program. "It was a coincidence in New York City," said Wendy Hopkins, lead summer school teacher at Dodson Public Schools. A chance encounter in a hotel lobby in New York brought two families together. Soon after, the boys' parents flew to Montana to see the community for themselves. "They realized it was a big family coming together to help these kids succeed, and they jumped right on board, 'would you be interested in this happiness curriculum, it's what our sons do,'" Hopkins said.

Helena students surpass state averages in recent report card

Helena students performed higher than the state's average in core subjects, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction's 2023-2024 report cards. OPI recently released its report cards for Montana public schools that show student achievement scores for mathematics, reading and science. The report cards separate districts by high schools and K-8 schools. The results of Helena and Capital high schools showed that, combined, the schools scored above the state average in proficient and advanced levels in all three subjects. For math, 39% of the district's high school students tested at proficient or advanced, while the state's high school average is 37%. Sixty-one percent of Helena high school students are proficient and above in reading, compared to the state's average of 46%. In science, 38% of students are proficient and above, versus the state's 37%. " So reading, we're doing remarkably well, and we're really pleased to see those kinds of results," school district data and assessment administrator Kaitlyn Hess told Montana Free Press. " Now math, yeah, we're still above the state average, … but we've got some work that we can be doing in math to raise those scores."

Billings Skyview graduate planning to attend Harvard University in the fall

In the fall, Billings Skyview High School graduate Jennifer Walks will begin her undergraduate career at Harvard University. Walks's decision comes amid national headlines and threats over foreign student status from the Trump Administration. MTN caught up with Walks in early June prior to her graduation ceremony to hear her reactions to getting into a university with a 3.5% acceptance rate, and her reactions to the conflict between the Trump administration and the school.

Gregarious Glacier High grad earns leadership award

Recent Glacier High School graduate Sam Engellant, a Winslow Nichols Leadership Award recipient, was recognized for his "warm personality, exceptional skill set and unparalleled work ethic," by nominator Mark Dennehy. Dennehy, who recently retired as Glacier's activities director and student council advisor, called Engellant a natural leader.  "In my tenure as an administrator, Sam stands out as one of the most exceptional student leaders I have had the privilege of working with. No project is too big or too small for Sam -his dedication, initiative, and leadership truly embody the best of our schools. He is mild-mannered, selfless, and bright, consistently demonstrating a commitment to excellence in all that he does," Dennehy said in his nomination letter.

Over 42 years, Gerard Byrd drove 1.2 million miles on one of the worst stretches of highway in Montana

Gerard Byrd has had quite the ride over the past 42 years. The Columbia Falls Public Schools and West Glacier contract bus driver has driven some 1.2 million miles on one of the worst roads in Montana, delivering students from their homes to school and back from Pinnacle, Nyack, West Glacier and the Canyon through sleet, rain, hail, snow and rockfall. Sometimes all of those in the same day. Byrd retired last week and students, staff and the greater West Glacier community came out to bid him farewell on June 17, his last day picking up students at the school. "Words aren't enough," Byrd said as he got off the bus to greet the throng of supporters. "I couldn't have done it without my beautiful wife (Loretta)." Loretta Byrd said there were plenty of days early on when the weather was simply awful but he still did the route. "There were times he'd pick them up and find out school was closed and have to take them back home," she recalled.

How educators on the Blackfeet Reservation are using (very) heavy metal to prevent suicide and process grief

Inside a Browning High School classroom on an afternoon in May, about two dozen students watched a music video by Carcass, a deathgrind band formed in 1985. Deathgrind, as instructor Charlie Speicher had explained to the class, blends elements of two heavy metal subgenres: death metal, known for its sonic and lyrical brutality, and grindcore, characterized by speed and aggression.

'Science isn't just a set of facts': Bozeman High teacher honored for fresh approach to biology

Jean Placko - known as Ms. Placko to her high school students - has been a scientist her entire life. Before working in a traditional school setting, Placko held educational positions in nonprofit organizations state and government agencies. "My interest has kind of always been in bridging the gap between informal and formal education," Placko said. "I just really enjoyed being in the classroom after that. "So I wanted to find a way to make biology - and science teaching in general - relevant, dynamic, accessible and really involve students with projects in the community." Before moving to Bozeman High School this past school year, she taught at Helena Capital High School, where she was nominated for 2025 Montana recipient of the Outstanding Biology Teacher award by her colleagues. 

Billings students explore robotic surgery at St. Vincent's clinic event

St. Vincent's West-End Clinic recently hosted an educational event showcasing robotic surgery technology. Students from the Billings Career Center attended to learn about this advanced technology with guidance from St. Vincent surgeons. General Surgeon Dr. Barry McKenzie explained the role of robotics in surgery. He emphasized that robotic surgeries are not performed by robots alone but are tools that surgeons use.

"One Class at a Time" honors staff at Rimrock Learning Center

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. Say hello to the amazing team of Rimrock Learning Center, each of them with a caring heart and a love for every student. "I'm so proud of these girls," said Jeana McClusky, a program specialist. "I've stepped into a new position this year, and it makes me so proud of all of them because it takes all of us to make Rimrock special." And it is a very special place. So much so that teachers keep coming back, like Mrs. McClusky.

Free summer meals available for teens and children

Free meals are available to youths 18 and under in Flathead County over the summer months when school is not in session.  Meals will be served at sites in Columbia Falls, Evergreen, Hungry Horse, Kalispell, Martin City, Somers-Lakeside and Whitefish.   No registration, proof of income or identification is required to participate and all children and teens are welcome at any site. The Summer Food Service Program works to ensure that youth from low-income families and neighborhoods get nutritious meals when school is out for summer break. School districts receive federal and state reimbursement based on the number of meals served. 

Two Whitefish High School students accepted to Montana Youth Symphony

Whitefish High School sophomores Cassidy Krack, a viola player, and Marlis Nargi, who plays bass, were selected to participate in the Montana Youth Symphony from July 28 to Aug. 3.  The Montana Youth Symphony was formed three years ago by Dr. Ilse-Mari Lee Hastings and Sir Donald Runnicles to give talented musicians from across the state an opportunity to perform at a high-caliber level. Board member and longtime local teacher Jenanne Solberg said Montana students and graduates up to 25 years of age are invited to submit a rigorous audition and short biography, which are screened by a panel of nationally recognized professionals.

Sidney High School students receive scholarships

The Montana Masons awarded scholarships to five Sidney High School students recently. Lower Yellowstone Lodge #90 of Masons has awarded four- $500 scholarships in memory of Earl & Clona Hawley. The 2025 scholars recognized are Mercedes Lamb, Avery Averett, Blake Johnson and Audree Deming, all from Sidney High School.

Mentorship and minerals turn Bigfork students into underground explorers

Scrambling up the side of a mountain, over waist-high deadfall and slippery rock isn't exactly where you find most teenagers on a Saturday morning at 7 a.m. But it's a pretty average day for the Bigfork High School Cave Club. The group calls "Hoot-y hoo!" back and forth to make sure everyone's generally going in the same direction. A steep bushwhacking trek is just the start of their day. The final destination is an old mining shaft that leads into a cave. The teenagers are led by Hans Bodenhamer, or 'Mr. B' to his students. He's explored and mapped caves for most of his life, and started bringing students along more than 25 years ago. He's run the Cave Club for decades, and has taken more than 400 students into caves across Montana. This trip has 10 students. Most of them joined the club as freshmen, like Maddie Pomeroy.

Glacier High grads receive Montana Seal of Biliteracy for third year

Eighteen Glacier High School graduates received the Montana Seals of Biliteracy on their diplomas. This is the third year Glacier has recognized students through the state seal program, which was adopted by the Montana Board of Education in 2021 to recognize students who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages during their high school years. This year's recipients received seals in Spanish, French and Vietnamese. One grad, Daniel Onyshchuk, received two seals, the gold seal in Ukrainian and a platinum seal in Russian. The platinum seal is awarded to those students who have achieved the highest possible level of proficiency that the state recognizes.

'Grown so much': Bitterroot High Schools celebrate the Class of 2025

Renee Ratkin and Audrey Meyer both had tears in their eyes as Victor High School graduate Christopher Betts handed them each a rose as part of the commencement ceremony Sunday afternoon. Graduates give roses to people who have made an impact on them as part of the "Recognition of Roses" tradition. Ratkin and Meyer were two of Betts' first bosses at The Hopps taphouse, Betts told the Ravalli Republic. "I've grown so much and they've watched it all," Betts said. 

Victor, Darby receive federal grant funds for literacy instruction

Victor and Darby both received a massive infusion of federal dollars - about $800,000 and $1 million respectively - after qualifying for a grant to improve literacy for Montana learners. The federal grant, disseminated in the Treasure State as the Montana Literacy Grant, is sent to districts with students living in poverty, who are English learners, or have children with disabilities. Both Bitterroot schools will be using the funds toward expanding literacy curriculum as two of more than 80 school districts in Montana to qualify for the funding, as determined by the Office of Public Instruction. Victor will be building off what it's achieved with its previous infusion of funding from a similar program called the Montana Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program. Victor has an outsized number of children needing special education resources, with 21% of their student population having special needs as compared to the 15% national average.

Missoula County Public Schools sends this year’s graduates into the future

Over a series of sunny days, Missoula County Public Schools’ senior class of 2025, over 820 strong with 72 graduating Summa Cum Laude, walked across their respective stages to step into the next stage of life. For some, that will mean university; for some, military or law enforcement; for some, work — and for some, they’re still figuring it out. Willard kicked off the graduations last Thursday at the Wilma. Then Sentinel, Big Sky and Hellgate all held their ceremonies back to back in the Adams Center at the University of Montana, complete with color-coded robes for each school to avoid confusion. Then the 20 Seely-Swan seniors graduated Sunday at a ceremony held at their school.

'Go be great': Helena High celebrates its 146th senior class urging graduates to be brave, bold

Helena High School officials recognized the 146th graduating class Saturday at Nelson Stadium at Carroll College with a keynote speech from a familiar face. The class of 2025 comprised of 223 graduates heard from former principal Steve Thennis, who retired in 2024. Thennis touched on gratitude, time, community and excellence. "There's a lot of pollen in the air today, so bear with me," he said laughing. "... It may be a bit of an overused cliche, but it is so important today to be present physically, mentally and above all else, emotionally.” He told graduates time sometimes felt like it was moving slow, until it didn't. Every single ending for the seniors was a new beginning for the seniors, he added.

Capital High sends off 290 graduates with pride, reflection, advice for future

Cheers filled Nelson Stadium Saturday as Capital High School celebrated the class of 2025, honoring 290 graduates who crossed the stage with tassels turned and futures wide open. Brett Zanto, principal said, there were 30 valedictorians, nine salutatorians, two national merit scholars and four presidential scholar candidates. The principal posed a question to the graduates, "What are you going to do with the rest of your life?" The question was met with silence from the crowd before he acknowledged the academic and extracurricular achievements of the graduating class.

PAL graduates step into the unknown with smiles, strength, hope

With cheers echoing and tassels turned, 30 Project for Alternative Learning graduates crossed the stage Friday, celebrating, resilience, growth and the promise of new beginnings beyond the edge of the map. PAL's graduating class endured, triumphed and overcame challenges throughout their young lives and looked forward to brighter futures within the great unknown. John Cech, retiring President of Carroll College, was the keynote speaker. He addressed the graduating class and explained how they were their own maps and their futures were the uncharted and hopeful waters. 

Hamilton High Science Olympiad team wins event at national competition

Hamilton High School Science Olympiad students Sierra Berry and Haven Oshell earned first place in the bungee drop event at the National Science Olympiad competition in Nebraska in May. The team is led by science teacher Vanessa Haflich, who has led the Hamilton High School Science Olympiad team to four of their last seven statewide victories in a row. This recent top placement is the first time in recent memory a Montana school has taken first place at a national competition event - a feat noted by the statewide Science Olympiad Director Suzi Taylor.

Senior spotlight: Columbia Falls senior builds motivation and retools grades to pursue college and a career in the trades

After years of academic struggles, Columbia Falls High School senior Taven Fleming found the motivation and confidence to shift gears in pursuit of a better future. On Saturday, he will walk across the stage at graduation - his future mapped out. While he won't be the first in his family to graduate from high school, he is one of few, and hopes to see the educators, family and friends who helped him get here, in the audience. Fleming's transformation began his junior year, when he entered the high school's intervention program. With additional support, like tutoring and mentoring, he gained confidence and motivation in his ability to change course.  "I've always struggled with my grades and paying attention in class. It's pretty difficult for me just sitting down and shutting up. It was frustrating. I kind of gave up on trying," Fleming said. "Until pretty much this year, I didn't see college as an option. I wasn't convinced I would graduate."

Billings school resource officers to receive national recognition

For the first time, Billings police student resource officers (SROs) will be recognized on a national stage for their unique and impactful work in Billings Public Schools. Mornings at Lewis and Clark Middle School usually begin with a friendly face and a furry friend. Officer Tim Doll has been a fixture in the district for eight years, now with his comfort dog, Targhee. The dog is one of three others that became an official part of the program this year, and the impact was immediate.

Retiring Corvallis principal honored

With the school year coming to an end, so too, is the time of Corvallis Primary School Principal Lisa Nagel. After 38 years in education, Nagel will be retiring at the end of this school year. However, to celebrate her career in Corvallis, the teachers, staff and students of the school decided to go above and beyond, in a very retro way.  Given that Nagel's career started in the 1980s, "we wanted to celebrate the start of her career while we were celebrating the end of it," said Krista Poppema, a first grade teacher who helped plan the day. Poppema has been with Corvallis schools for 22 years, and for much of that time has worked with Nagel. She, and others, say they have thoroughly enjoyed working with Nagel, and they hoped such a celebration, one that highlighted a time that was so important in Nagel's life, would "bring back some nostalgic memories for her," said Poppema.

Capital High grad uses music to lead (and heal) by example

Capital High School student Charlie Snellman remembers the first time he heard the Helena Symphony. He can't fully describe what he felt, just that it was profound. Euphoria flooded his elementary-aged mind. Strings carried a sense of wonder. He left the performance knowing he needed to experience it again. Years of cello and schooling later, he's ready to graduate high school, committed to using music as a means to heal. In the fall, he'll learn pre-med molecular biology at Johns Hopkins University and practice cello with the Peabody Conservatory, aiming to become a music therapist. He's founded a nonprofit and teaches at his own music studio. He performs for the Helena Symphony, the same ensemble that gave him that first musical moment of epiphany.

'Made for so much more': Grad's love for people takes her through Helena High

What's your deepest, darkest secret? It's one of Helena High School senior Adella Harris' favorite questions, a habit she developed sometime between 10th and 11th grade. Often, she's met with funny answers, the kind of mistakes or flaws that ripple in everyone. It's a good conversation starter, and she's gotten plenty of startled laughs. Sometimes, the answers are somber. Divorce. Abuse. A personal failure. Those talks don't have to last long, but some of her fondest memories are sitting on the floor late at night, listening to a friend. There are a lot of lessons she's learned at Helena High School, but as Harris prepares to walk across her graduation stage, she keeps coming back to the same mantra: people are everything.

From dropout risk to diploma: Helena senior finds his way through PAL

After nearly dropping out following the COVID-19 pandemic, Mason Robbins found support, purpose and a love for learning at Helena's Project for Alternative Learning -- now he's set to become his family's first graduate. Robbins, an 18-year-old senior, is set to graduate June 6 through Helena's Project for Alternative Learning after he lost his willingness to stay focused, complete assignments and continue school. Without PAL, "there was no doubt in my mind, I would have been a high school dropout," he said. His trek through school started in Carson City, Nevada, but moved to Helena at the end of fifth grade.

Senior spotlight: Whitefish senior finds ways to serve others

Thriving by helping others, Whitefish High School senior Maggie Mercer looks to make a difference in both small and big ways. From coaching youngsters in volleyball and tennis, to mentoring a fellow student, to forming a club that raises funds for those battling cancer -- it's all part of how Mercer looks to assist others in her school and community.  "It makes me feel really good," she said. "It makes me feel like I have a purpose. Seeing others happy is what really drives me."  The Whitefish High School Class of 2025 graduates on June 7 at the high school gym. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. Since she was young, Mercer, who is the daughter of Jon and Paula Mercer, has played volleyball and throughout high school played tennis. She's used her skills to instruct young athletes learning those sports. She's taken opportunities to work with students at Muldown Elementary and as a mentor to freshman students. She has also served as a one-to-one mentor with another senior student with special needs.  

Healthy Classroom grants awarded to 14 teachers

Logan Health recently announced the recipients of its spring 2025 Healthy Classrooms Grants, awarding 14 grants to educators across northwestern and central Montana. The grant program supports classroom initiatives that promote health and wellness, safety, and community health needs in schools located within Logan Health's service areas. The Healthy Classrooms Grant program was created to empower educators in creating healthier learning environments for students. Grants are awarded twice annually - in the spring and fall - to support innovative projects that enhance physical, mental, and social well-being. These grants have supported a wide range of initiatives, from flexible seating arrangements that improve posture and concentration, to mindfulness corners that help students manage stress, to hands-on gardening projects that teach nutrition and encourage healthy eating habits.

Triangle Communications awards Turner student scholarship.

Triangle Communications awarded Turner Public Schools Senior Jack Maloughney (ma-low-knee) their $2,000 dollar Trade School Scholarship recently. To be eligible, an applicant must be a subscriber or a dependent of a subscriber who receives landline telephone or broadband service from Triangle Communications and who plans to pursue a first degree or certificate in one of the trades. Awarders said Maloney caught the scholarship committee's notice because of his skills, abilities, and achievements in both the classroom and on the playing field.

Billings elementary students name new city street sweepers

Billings Public Works has been engaging elementary students in the community through a unique initiative involving street sweepers. For several months, the city's Public Works department has partnered with local elementary schools to spark interest in community cleanliness. Derick Miller, Street Traffic Division Manager, emphasized the importance of involving young community members. "One of the best ways to get it out is to just get people involved somehow have them have ownership of it. And one of the ways we did this was just by naming the sweepers. These kids are going to go home and tell their friends, tell their parents. and the best way to change a community is through information," said Miller.

Photos: East Helena High School graduates its class of 2025

Scenes from the class of 2025 graduation ceremony at East Helena High School on Friday night. The school graduated 135 seniors.

Helena AD Tim McMahon to retire after 36-year career: 'Activities opened doors for me'

Few people understand the importance of activities quite like Tim McMahon. The outgoing activities director for the Helena Public Schools, who is retiring on June 30, has spent the past 37 years in education, 36 in the Helena district, and nobody is more surprised than he is.  "There were a lot of people who were surprised I think given the fact that I was an interesting kid in school," he said of choosing to pursue a degree in elementary education.  "I'm so old, they didn't have kindergarten in public school. So I went to first grade at six years old and for 53 straight years, I was in a school, in the Helena valley, and nobody is more shocked about that than me."

Helena High's Layla Riggs becomes 1st Montana pupil named national finalist for student of the year award

Helena High School senior Layla Riggs was named one of six national finalists for the 2025 National Student of the Year award by the National Speech & Debate Association. The award recognizes one graduating senior nationwide who exemplifies the NSDA's core values: excellence in speech and debate, academic achievement, leadership and service, Helena Public Schools officials said. Riggs advanced to the final round after being named the Montana West District Student of the Year and progressing through a highly competitive national selection process judged by veteran speech and debate coaches. Riggs was the first Montana student to be a finalist for the award, according to officials.

PHOTOS: Flathead and Glacier high schools hold graduation ceremonies

Scenes from Flathead and Glacier high schools' graduation ceremonies held on Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31.

Exploring history: Fourth graders learn about Montana through hands-on experiences

Sam Cox walked into Karissa Prewitt's fourth-grade class at Peterson Elementary one morning with numerous historical articles from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Cox, who has attended the reenactment of the battle in Southern Montana twice, talked through what life was like in 1876, like what shoes soldiers would wear and what bullets they would use. The day prior, in the middle of their Montana history unit, Prewitt taught the students about the battle. The students later told Cox they remembered that the battle was between the United States and the Native Americans, that it was General Custer's last stand and that it took place on a river. "If you ever get the chance to, you should go down there," Cox said. "It's history, it's important to know."

 

May 2025 Great News

Jubilation and quiet celebration: Butte 2025 Commencement

Butte High released 278 graduating seniors into the world on Thursday, May 29, 2025 with their annual commencement ceremony at the Butte Civic Center.

"Don't be afraid to be different," graduating senior Peyton Trabert said. "If you figure out how to be yourself and not conform to what everyone else is doing, it makes life a lot less stressful and more fun." 

 

Senior Spotlight: Flathead High School senior finds purpose through adversity

Joangerli Katherine Gonzalez trekked thousands of miles immigrating from South America to the United States when she was 16. Just three years later, she is set to graduate from Flathead High School. 

 

Graduating students in Helena visit the schools that got them to where they are today

HELENA - Wednesday is an important day for students from kindergarten to their senior year as soon-to-be graduates visit their old stomping grounds.

"It's extremely inspiring because it's what I can grow up to do and what I can grow up to be," said Annie Snellman, a fifth grader at Rossiter.

 

Butte High School graduates heading in opposite directions

Butte High School seniors Dylan Bache and Laurina Barbosa are headed in opposite directions. This coming fall, Bache will study environmental engineering at Montana Technological University, while Barbosa will major in fashion at Washington State University. Yet, the students share some common ground. Both are feeling excited and admittedly, a bit nervous about the next chapter in their lives. "I am absolutely excited," said Barbosa. For Bache, the stress of going to college has somewhat dissipated since he has already registered for fall classes.

 

High school graduations upcoming for Helena, East Helena

Cue "Pomp and Circumstance," high school graduation season is upon us. To celebrate the occasion, graduates from Helena High School and Capital High School did grad walks through their elementary schools on Wednesday morning. East Helena High School will hold its graduation ceremony at 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday at the high school. A live stream of the ceremony can be viewed on YouTube. Project for Alternative Learning will hold its graduation ceremony on Friday, June 6, at 1 p.m. in the Helena Middle School auditorium. Capital High School and Helena High School will hold their ceremonies on Saturday, June 7, at Nelson Stadium at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.

 

Frenchtown High School program gives students a head start on college

As Frenchtown's Class of 2025 proceeded into a packed gymnasium Sunday, among the graduates were 23 members of the Bronc Fast Track. It's a special partnership between the school and the University of Montana that lets high schoolers knock down college classes while they work toward a diploma. Seniors Laurel Krause and Khloe Rausch joined the program as sophomores during its first year. "We're the guinea pigs," Krause told MTPR before the ceremony.

 

Carter County High School celebrates Class of 2025 at commencement ceremony

Twelve graduates from Carter County High School were honored at the 2025 commencement ceremony held May 17 in the CCHS gymnasium. Family, friends and community members gathered to celebrate the achievements of the graduating seniors in a heartfelt ceremony that featured both local and state leaders. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte delivered a special address to the graduates, offering words of encouragement and pride for the next generation of Montana's leaders. Following the ceremony, the Governor shared on social media, "Had the honor of speaking to the graduating class of 2025 in Ekalaka today. The future of Montana is bright!"

 

'Our club, our Earth': Helena Middle School students complete quest for campus compost bin 

Editor's note: The Helena Independent Record received this story last week from members of the Environmental Awareness Club at Helena Middle School. We want to share it with readers. It was a beautiful day at Willard Creek. The students of HMS were on a field trip and were stopping by a stream to eat lunch.

 

High school students host dinner to benefit families battling cancer

It was a beautiful April evening when 30 attendees gathered at Whitefish High School for a dinner fundraiser that collected about $7,000 for two local families affected by cancer. The event was organized by the Whitefish High School Cancer Support Network, a student-run club. The two families benefiting were staff members.

 

Senior spotlight: Glacier senior recasts cancer journey into career caring for others

For Glacier High School senior Abby Dose, the upcoming weekend of graduation celebrations doesn't just signify the end of her high school career. It also marks the one-year anniversary of the day her life changed.

 

'Our club, our Earth': Helena Middle School students complete quest for campus compost bin

Editor's note: The Helena Independent Record received this story last week from members of the Environmental Awareness Club at Helena Middle School. We want to share it with readers. It was a beautiful day at Willard Creek. The students of HMS were on a field trip and were stopping by a stream to eat lunch. Alder Chanania, Elsie Burkholder and Vireo Zackheim were eating at a picnic bench. "You know what?" Alder said, "the kids here are being REALLY destructive." They watched in horror as a stampede of sixth grade kids ripped apart innocent sticks that were lying on the ground. "They are destroying nature!!! We must do something!" Vireo announced. "I know!" Elsie said, she always had a good plan, "we should start a club! And we can do cool stuff like get a compost bin for HMS!"

 

Campaign for new instruments aims to make music resonate

The Whitefish Education Foundation has a momentous goal to equip over 13,500 music students with adequate instruments over the next few decades.  The nonprofit's first ever capital campaign, titled "Make Music Resonate," hopes to raise $400,000 to replace antiquated instruments at Whitefish middle and high schools, many of which are 30 to 70 years old, and to establish an instrument replacement endowment. "We believe every student should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument," said Mark McCrady, Whitefish Middle School band director. "Quality instruments are vital to a quality educational experience" McCrady said many of the instruments come from an era of wooden skis and leather football helmets, and several alumni recall playing the same instruments being used today.

 

Three Great Falls students aced the ACT

Three juniors in the Great Falls Public Schools system have achieved what very few students nationwide accomplish - perfect scores on the ACT. The ACT is a standardized test used for admissions to some colleges in the United States.

 

Science teacher hangs up his lab coat after 42 years of teaching at the same school

A beloved science teacher is hanging up his lab coat after more than 40 years of teaching. For the last 42 years, Jim Bauer has walked the halls of St. Patrick's High School in the North Platte Catholic School District. He taught students a variety of subjects in the field of science. Bauer's teaching career began at St. Patrick's High School in the early 1980s. This spring marks his last semester teaching at the school. "I always enjoyed science, I enjoyed studying science," he said. "I did not necessarily want to make a living doing science, and I also enjoyed people, so I started looking at opportunities in education."

 

Lone Rock School board, staff and state leadership honor late superintendent

Sniffles could be heard around the room Tuesday evening in the Lone Rock Middle School as board members and staff shared stories in remembrance of Superintendent Robert DoBell, who died that morning. Principal Shelby Murphy said DoBell, whom she considered a mentor and a friend, left some big shoes to fill. "But how lucky we are to have had him for the time that he was here," she said. DoBell died a little more than a year after being diagnosed with leukemia. He took a leave of absence for about six months while going through chemotherapy last year and returned to his role as superintendent for a few months only to have the cancer return last month. He made the decision not to move forward with chemotherapy again and went into hospice care in April. Last week the school board voted unanimously to select Charlo Superintendent Teresa Weems as DoBell's successor. At a school board meeting Tuesday night, Lone Rock School Board members and staff shared memories of DoBell. Statewide education leadership also shared condolences in statements shared with the Ravalli Republic.

 

Filipino teachers fill void in Jordan, Hardin and Crow Agency

School districts in eastern Montana have been hiring teachers from the Philippines to deal with shortages. Salary is one reason they come to the United States. The teachers say another reason is that they can get bogged down with clerical work in the Phillipines. About 20 percent of the teachers in Hardin are Filipino. But that's just one district where they're being hired. Alexander Vivar teaches science in the Jordan Public Schools. "Everyone is very cooperative and everyone is very helpful, and the environment is really very welcoming," Vivar said. Vivar enjoys the rural life in Jordan and has taught in the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. "Every single day after classes, since I usually just walk from here going back home and the church is right in between," Vivar said. "I always go there so I think that's also one of the reasons why I don't feel the home sickness."

 

Park High honors $2.5M in student scholarships, bestows awards

More than 100 students and parents attended a ceremony celebrating student awards and collegiate scholarships at Park High School on Tuesday, May 13. "The 2025 Ranger graduating class garnered $2,481,681 in scholarships, up from nearly $1.7 million in 2024, according to district officials. Park High School, the American Association of University Women, and 45 other local business partners cosponsored the awards ceremony celebrating graduating seniors.

 

Several Bitterroot schools offering kids under 18 free summer lunch

Several schools in the Bitterroot will be offering free lunch programs to children during the summer months when students are out of school. Corvallis, Hamilton, Darby and Stevensville schools will all be offering free lunch programs, while Florence and Lone Rock will not. Victor Schools is still waiting to hear if they qualify this year for the program. Funding for the summer food programs comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Service Program and is administered in Montana by the Office of Public Instruction.  The program is available to all kids under 18 years old.

 

Shodair Children's Hospital announces scholarships for 2 Butte High students

Shodair Children's Hospital recently announced two scholarships, named in honor of Brooke Glennon and Tommy Mellott, for two Butte High School students.

Karsen McEwen and Ella Collins were awarded the Bright Futures and Guiding Light scholarships, providing each student with $5,000.

 

Montana students showcase heavy machinery skills

The Kalispell School District partners with the Montana Contractors Association to participate in the Build Montana Initiative. KALISPELL - A group of Flathead High School students had a chance to showcase their heavy equipment construction skills on Wednesday. "Actually driving the heavy equipment, learning how to operate it, and be productive with it," said Kalispell Schools Work-Based Learning Director Mike Kelly.

 

Applications open for $4,000 Bitterroot Health high school grad scholarship

Applications are open for Bitterroot Health's annual $4,000 scholarship for a Ravalli County high school graduate pursuing medicine. To be eligible for the one-time award, students must have completed at least one year of specialized health or medical education, according to a press release. The award is intended to support the next generation of healthcare professionals. The deadline to apply is June 30. Previous recipients include John Edwards, a Stevensville High School graduate and current student at the University of Montana's Skaggs School of Pharmacy. "For me, getting the Bitterroot Health Med Staff scholarship meant that I could worry a little less about my loans and focus more on learning everything I can to become a great pharmacist," Edwards said in the release. Dr. Weinberger, former Chief Medical Officer and current physician at Bitterroot Health, said building a healthier community is more than just healthcare.

 

Lone Rock Superintendent in hospice named western Montana Superintendent of the Year

The Western Montana Association of School Superintendents has named Lone Rock Superintendent Robert DoBell, who is in at-home hospice with leukemia, their 2024-25 Superintendent of the Year. DoBell started as superintendent in Lone Rock in 2020 and took a leave of absence last year for chemotherapy treatment when he was first diagnosed with leukemia. Earlier this year, he returned to work after being told the disease had run its course, but it came back in April. He decided not to pursue chemotherapy moving forward. DoBell said being recognized as Superintendent of the Year lifted his spirit, telling the Ravalli Republic in an interview on Friday it was "humbling" to receive. "It does validate hard work by our team," he said. Good leaders know when to lead and know when to follow as well, he said. "The leader is the one that gets the award, but it's all the followers that make it possible," he said. In 2016, Dobell was named the 4 Rivers Regional Superintendent of the Year, and said being recognized in this capacity twice doesn't happen very often to one person in their career. DoBell also received a 20-year service pin from the School Administrators of Montana for working from 2004-2025 and a 10-year service pin for his work as a superintendent from 2013-2025.

 

Billings Skyview High rolls out the red carpet for first-ever special needs prom

Lights, camera, and a lot of heart took center stage Saturday afternoon as Skyview High School hosted the first-ever district-wide prom for students with special needs in Billings. With a theme of "Roll Out the Red Carpet," the event welcomed high school students from across the Billings School District for an unforgettable afternoon of music, dancing, and joy.

 

Gov. Gianforte signs off on more than $100 million to boost starting pay for MT teachers

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law on Thursday a bipartisan plan to boost starting teacher pay in Montana, where new educators earn some of the lowest salaries in the country. A cornerstone of the Republican governor's budget, the STARS Act sets aside more than $100 million over the next two years to incentivize school districts to increase wages for early career teachers above a certain threshold. Districts that do so will get extra cash in their coffers as a reward. "I am proud to continue our historic progress to raise starting teacher pay," Gianforte said in a press release. "Our top priority must remain recruiting the highest quality teachers for our students, this $100 million investment is the next step in the right direction to support our educators."

 

Photo: Bike, Walk and Roll to School Day

Burlington Elementary students gather to sign a poster for the annual United Way Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day on Wednesday. Nine Billings schools were participating in the event and the school with the highest student engagement wins a traveling trophy.

 

Kalispell Education Foundation honors elementary school educator of the year

The Kalispell Education Foundation and school district honored their 2025 Elementary School Educator of the Year. Beth Lincoln teaches pre-kindergarten at Russell Elementary School in Kalispell and was surprised with the award on Monday, along with a special appearance from her son. The presentation included comments from parents about why she deserves the honor. "Parents say things like, 'She makes every child feel like they are her favorite.' 'She helped our child love school and being themselves,' and one parent said, 'Even when we're doing something fun at home, our daughter wants to share it with Ms. Beth,'" said Naomi Miller, a junior at Flathead High School.

 

Laurel superintendent Matt Torix is named South Central Superintendent of the Year

Matt Torix, superintendent of Laurel Public Schools, has been honored as the South Central Superintendent of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year. This is a prestigious recognition of excellence in educational leadership and student achievement, according to Shepherd superintendent Dre O'Donnell, who was on the selection committee. The South Central MASS Superintendent of the Year award celebrates district leaders who demonstrate commitment and success in their own districts. Each year, the group chooses a superintendent that has gone above and beyond for the community in which they work. Under Torix's leadership, there have been many educational successes for Laurel Public Schools. His job has been both rewarding and challenging at times.

 

Great Falls woman is Montana's 'Special Education Teacher of the Year'

While all educators are shaping the future one student at a time, Randi Rains at North Middle School is being recognized for going above and beyond in her classroom. Rains received the 'Special Education Teacher of the Year' award on Wednesday after being nominated by her peers and the principal of North Middle School (NMS). "To find out I have won this is incredible and it's so amazing because I truly care about the work that I do with my kids, and I care about each and every one of them as my own," said Rains. Brian Miller, principal of NMS, said he nominated Rains after seeing how she works to make sure every student feels included and important, regardless of any learning disabilities they may have.

 

How Kalispell Public School's work-based learning program benefits local economy

In the upcoming special elections, Kalispell residents will vote on a high school levy crucial for funding work-based learning opportunities. These programs offer students internships with local businesses, preparing them for various career paths. Flathead High School senior Jackson Heino is one of the students benefiting from such programs. "I've always liked to work outdoors and be a very hands-on worker, and the electrical trade kind of sparked my interest," Jackson said. Jackson has been interning with Heaton Electric since the beginning of 2025. He shared his enthusiasm for learning the trade, saying, "I feel like every single day I come out here I can learn something new about what it takes to put power into a house."

 

HHS Friends of Music have successful Taste of Jazz fundraiser

Havre High School band and choir students again shared some jazz - and refreshments - with the community during the Taste of Jazz fundraiser put on by the Havre High Friends of Music. Friends of Music President Samantha Nimmick said the fundraiser brought in $9,372, $500 more than last year's event. She said they decided to hold it in Havre Assembly of God Church to give the musicians - Havre High's Jazz band, Hi-Liters and Belles Voix, better accoustics than what they usually have in the high school gymnasium, and she added that the move gave a much better sound. The group also announced the students awarded its $500 music scholarships, Jackson Siemens, Aymie Clark, Tylie Hemmer and Katie Messinger, and presented a plaque to band teacher Cullen Hinkle for his work at the high school and with the students.

 

Automotive students medal at state SkillsUSA conference

Two Flathead High School automotive students brought home gold and bronze at the Montana SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference in Great Falls. Cameron Seals placed first, winning a gold medal, and Cameron Moffit placed third, earning a bronze medal, in the Automotive Service Technology event. Seals' first-place win makes him eligible to compete at the national level. Many winners also received prizes, including tools and scholarships. The pair were among 367 career and technical education students competing in 56 different trade, technical and leadership events. During the state SkillsUSA competition, students worked against the clock and each other to demonstrate their abilities in the various hands-on events such as architectural and technical drafting, criminal justice, graphic design, diesel equipment technology, gastronomic engineering, medical math, photography, welding and woods, for example. Students also had the opportunity to demonstrate leadership skills through prepared speeches.

 

Career and Technical Education Expands to Montana Middle Schools

Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen is celebrating the signing of House Bill 357 today as a significant step toward strengthening career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for middle school students across the state. HB 357, sponsored by Representative Eric Tilleman, ensures dedicated funding for CTE programs in middle schools, empowering students with early exposure to career pathways in agriculture, business, health occupations, industrial technology, and family and consumer sciences. This investment helps Montana students build technical knowledge and hands on experience, laying the foundation for future success in high demand fields. "I want to thank Representative Tilleman for his leadership in bringing this bill forward and the Montana Legislature for recognizing the importance of career and technical education at the middle school level," said Superintendent Hedalen."Montana faces a growing demand for skilled workers, and employers across the state are looking for professionals with both technical expertise and practical experience. HB 357 responds to this challenge by providing the resources necessary for schools to foster career exploration, reduce dropout rates, and connect classroom learning to real-world applications."

 

DECA to honor youngest Montana state director

The state director of Montana Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) will receive an outstanding service award on Tuesday night. This award is presented each year at DECA's annual International Career Development Conference recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication to DECA's of preparing others to become leaders and entrepreneurs in hospitality, finance, marketing, and management. John Stiles, a 2015 graduate of the Jake Jabs College of business and entrepreneurship, became the state director later that same year. He has served DECA for the last seven years, and is the youngest director and the first representative from Montana to do so.

April 2025 Great News 

Lewistown schools starting local meat partnership

Lewistown Schools food service is starting a partnership with a non-profit with the goal of serving local beef for students. In cooperation with The Producer Partnership, the district is hoping donations of local cattle can help provide more affordable and healthier beef options for school lunches. LPS Food Service Director Amie Friesen said the district is excited about the new initiative, through which ranchers can donate cull cattle that will make its way to students' lunch trays.

Central Montana students earn Youth Serve Montana Scholarships

The Governor's Office of Community Service (ServeMontana), Reach Higher Montana, and Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement (MCNCE) are delighted to announce 84 Montana high school seniors have been awarded the Youth Serve Montana Scholarship. This $1,250 scholarship is awarded to seniors who completed 100 hours or more of volunteer service over the past year and who plan to attend a Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement institution this fall. "Every year, we honor high school seniors who significantly contribute to their communities, providing a great opportunity to acknowledge their hard work. The Youth Serve Montana Scholarships offer more than just financial assistance; they aim to inspire service and recognize those students who will continue to positively impact their communities" said Kelly Cresswell, Executive Director of Reach Higher Montana. 

Students send support as Lone Rock superintendent enters hospice

"A truly amazing school superintendent is hard to find and impossible to forget." That's what one of the signs made by Lone Rock Middle School students said as students held them outside Superintendent Robert DoBell's house last week. DoBell entered end-of-life care this month after doctors said his leukemia had returned. Doctors gave him weeks to months to live, he told the Ravalli Republic in an interview on Wednesday. "My spirit and my mind are OK, my body is not doing real well," he said. "We're at the end here, and we're making preparations to go see my family and in heaven and transition to the next life." Seeing the middle school students in his yard was an "unbelievable show of community support," he said. "My heart was just so full," he said. 

Helena Education Foundation executive director to retire; successor prepares to carry the torch

Lisa Cordingley, the Helena Education Foundation's executive director, is set to retire at the end of June after 24 years, while her successor plans to carry the vision forward. The foundation has served the Helena Public Schools district since 2001 when Cordingley served as a board member. She became executive director in 2008. After serving the foundation for 17 years she decided it was time to call it quits. Becca Leaphart, who now serves the foundation as deputy director, will succeed Cordingley in her new role July 1. "It was fair to Becca. My husband has been retired for 12 years, it's fair to him. And it's time," Cordingley said when asked why now. "Everything that grows and changes can use fresh approaches and fresh ideas, so Becca's got that." 

Photo: Students gather for Keep Senior Beautiful event

Over 300 Senior High School students gather for the annual Keep Senior Beautiful cleanup event on Wednesday. The students are given assigned areas around the school to clean. 

Valleydictorian Senior Profile: Tayvin Boeckel

Tayvin Boeckel, High School: Skyview High School, What are your plans after high school? After graduation I plan to attend Laramie Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There I will fulfill my dream of playing college soccer while studying Criminal Justice. What is your favorite classes in school and why? Human Anatomy without a question. I now have a better understanding of how intricate and complex our own human body is. I have learned over the years that I am a hands on learner and really have enjoyed the dissection element with Human Anatomy. It also helps that Mrs. Newell is an amazing teacher. 

Students strike a chord at the 2025 District Music Festival

Northwest Montana's students showcased their musical talent at the two-day District Music Festival hosted by Flathead and Glacier high schools.  Bands, orchestras and choirs from high schools in Flathead, Lincoln and Lake counties participated in the festival held April 11 and 12th. Entries were judged as either superior, excellent, good, fair, or poor on a 1 to 5 scale. 

FFA Chapter wins first state championship

Attending the 95th Montana FFA State Convention is a remarkable milestone, and one that reflects the unwavering dedication, hard work, and passion of our Havre FFA members. Earning the opportunity to compete at this level is no small feat-it means that you and your teams have excelled in competitive events that test a wide range of skills, from public speaking and agricultural mechanics to marketing strategies, veterinary science, and leadership development. Participation at State Convention is about more than just competition - it represents a commitment to growth, excellence, and service within the agriculture industry. It showcases each member's ability to apply knowledge, collaborate with teammates, and lead with confidence. Whether on stage accepting awards, competing in high-pressure events, or cheering on fellow members, every student plays a vital role in our chapter's success. The Havre FFA Chapter made history this year as the Agricultural Mechanics team claimed the State Championship - a first for Havre FFA! Team members Royce Reum (6th place individual), Ethan Stortz (14th place), Trent Naber, and Linikin Cloninger earned top honors in one of the most competitive Career Development Events, known as one of the "Big 5" contests. In a fiercely close finish, the second-place team was only five points behind. These four outstanding members will go on to represent Montana FFA at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this November.

High school esports athletes clash at University of Montana spring tournament

In the University of Montana's University Center Commons, Griz Esports assistant director Cale Patenaude surveys a buzzing array of student athletes on a Saturday morning. Some wore team uniforms. Others "warmed up" for the day's events on tabletop game consoles. "I'm looking across the room, and when we started this two years ago, I remember it was, like, literally just this half," Patenaude said as he welcomed the students. "And now we're literally spanning the entirety of the commons." The high-school gamers were there to clash in rocket-powered soccer matches and cartoon beat-em-ups at the University's third annual high school spring esports championship. Interest in organized, competitive video gaming in Treasure State high schools has boomed in recent years after the University of Montana began coordinating a season. After several weeks playing against each other over the internet, teams trekked to Missoula to face off in a spring tournament. Patenaude told MTPR the first in 2023 featured eight schools. This year, that number climbed to 18.

Innovation is the name of Garcia's game: Billings Public Schools brings in community

Billings Public Schools Superintendent Erwin Garcia is bringing students, staff, parents and community members to the table to help craft innovative goals for the school district's next five years. The district has hired Kaleidoscope Group, a local brand management and experiential marketing firm, to host a series of workshops to get creative discussions going. "I had participated in other facilitative sessions and thought this would be a good way to capture the opinions and beliefs of our community," Garcia said. "We have to innovate at all levels to be able to perform better in every strand," he continued. "We're trying to get Billings schools ready for the future." With feedback from these inclusive and collaborative discussions, the district will create a strategic, actionable roadmap for educational innovation and improvement moving forward, Garcia said. Data collected from the discussions will help to draft priority areas for the district, which will be presented to the school board. 

Valleydictorian Senior Profile: Aidon Songstad

Aidon Songstad, High School: Joliet High School, What are your plans after high school? My future plans after high school are to attend Montana tech/highlands, for there pre-apprentice lineman program and then join the work force as a lineman. What is your favorite classes in school and why? My favorite class in school is welding. I really enjoy welding class because I get to use skills that I have learned and put them to use and make something that I can take pride in because I'm the one doing it and I find a lot of peace in welding.

Havre students win VFW Youth Scholarships

Havre's Sunnyside Intemediate School students Aurora Terry and Katherine Terry and teacher Jenna McNew all received awards this year from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generations. We offer two scholarships, one for middle and high school students. These programs provide the opportunity for students to compete with other entries across the nation for a chance to win scholarship money for Post secondary education. The Patriot's Pen scholarship is for students in sixth through eighth grade. The student is required to write an essay on a topic selected by the VFW. The essay encourages young minds to express their views on an annual patriotic theme. The essays are submitted to the Post here in Havre where only one essay is selected to be forwarded to the district level, then on to State level. The winner of the State level will then go on to the National level of judging. Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at each level. Those winners at National level will receive at least $500. First place national award is $5000.

Havre students win VFW Youth Scholarships

Havre's Sunnyside Intermediate School students Aurora Terry and Katherine Terry and teacher Jenna McNew all received awards this year from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generations. We offer two scholarships, one for middle and high school students. These programs provide the opportunity for students to compete with other entries across the nation for a chance to win scholarship money for Post secondary education. The Patriot's Pen scholarship is for students in sixth through eighth grade. The student is required to write an essay on a topic selected by the VFW. The essay encourages young minds to express their views on an annual patriotic theme. The essays are submitted to the Post here in Havre where only one essay is selected to be forwarded to the district level, then on to State level. The winner of the State level will then go on to the National level of judging. Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at each level. Those winners at National level will receive at least $500. First place national award is $5000. 

West High senior seeks purpose over paycheck at Billings Public Schools job fair

More than 1,300 students from Billings Public Schools passed through the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark on Tuesday morning, exploring potential career paths during a district-wide job fair. Colby Sukl-Clark, a West High senior who aspires to become a journalist, used the event to learn what other fields are open to him in communicating with a purpose.

Troy Andersen promotes seat belt safety at Gallatin Co. high schools

Professional linebacker and former Bobcat Troy Andersen visited Gallatin County high schools to promote seat belt use and safe driving among Montana teens. Andersen's message is simple -- buckle up. He encouraged teens to make the right choice before hitting the road -- things like turning their phone on "do not disturb" mode and looking out for themselves and others. "Big things happen from doing the small things right," said Andersen. "Wearing your seat belt, going the speed limit, using your turn signals -- all the stuff that we know but sometimes take for granted or forget or just become mindless to." 

Billings Quest program students learn bones, brains, & bike safety; secure 700 helmets for peers

Second and third graders in the Quest program spent the year diving into the theme of bones and brains. They donned lab coats and handmade caps to present their findings through poster boards detailing their discoveries. The students eagerly shared their newfound knowledge. "When you are born you have 300 bones in your body, and when you are an adult you have 206. That's a lot of bones," said Bergen, a Quest student. Harvey, another student, found the inside of the bone fascinating. "The coolest thing I've learned is probably like the inside of the bone and like all about the bones because before all I knew was they were just bones and now I know so much about the bones," Harvey said.

From Montana to the Ivys: 13 Gallatin and Bozeman seniors accepted to top schools

Some of Bozeman's best and brightest high school students could soon be heading east, as several have received acceptance letters from some of the country's top universities. With support from teachers and staff, 13 students at Gallatin High School and Bozeman High School have been accepted to Ivy League schools. "They're getting some amazing kids this year between here and Gallatin," Marion Wheeler, the coordinator for Bozeman High School's college and career center, said.

Music teacher at Will James Middle School receives "One Class at a Time" award

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. Meet Erin Grummett, a band director who loves introducing kids to the wonderful world of music. "Oh, it's the best thing ever,' said Mrs. Grummett. "They come in as 6th graders and many of them have never played anything or never really read music before. They're very unsure of themselves. The confidence and the independence and freedom that comes along with music is the best thing ever." 

Youth win in Keep Montana Green art contest

Eighteen K-12 students have earned top prizes in the Keep Montana Green art contest and will advance to the statewide competition. This year's regional contest received entries from six schools in northwestern Montana, showcasing students' creativity in promoting wildfire prevention, according to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Northwestern Land Office.

Middle school students working on solutions to food insecurity in Billings Public Schools

Billings Public Schools is gearing up for its annual fundraiser on Friday, 406 Jersey Day, aimed at bringing in money for food insecurity programs, such as backpack meals and the food pantry. In 2022, 406 Jersey Day raised $33,000, and now, one Billings classroom is hoping for another successful year. 

Havre High School Class of 1970 - Cousins by the Dozens Part 3

Never in a thousand guesses! At least, never in 268 guesses (the number of graduates in the Class of 1970). Never would I have guessed that Sharon Molitor and Kris Fuglevand were first cousins. But as I sat and listened to them the other night, it became very clear that they not only share a rich heritage but a bond that continues to last for a life time. They laughed and teased like they were living the fifth grade all over again. Truly, I walked away knowing how blessed I am to know them both. 

Billings educators celebrated with Golden Apple awards

The Golden Apple Educator Awards, an annual recognition of exceptional teaching, celebrated its 40th anniversary this year by honoring seven exemplary educators in Billings. Chosen by the local community, the recipients of the Golden Apple Awards stand as examples of inspiration and dedication, shaping the future of students across the community. This year's Golden Apple honorees were selected through a community-driven process, where readers and residents of Billings read the nomination letters about educators who have gone above and beyond in fostering academic excellence, nurturing students' growth and making a lasting impact on the classroom. The Golden Apple Awards were established with the goal of celebrating the immense influence teachers have on shaping young minds and acknowledging the tireless efforts of educators who inspire, challenge, and support their students.

Governor signs public school funding boost into law

Gov. Greg Gianforte Tuesday signed a bill intended to help the state's public schools recover money lost to inflation. Gianforte framed the $52 million funding boost to public schools as "historic." He signed the policy in a classroom at Prickly Pear Elementary in East Helena. "This is the money that pays for your teacher, and the principal, and the lights and everything else. So, we're really pleased that this bill got through," Gianforte said. The Legislature every two years adjusts the amount of money the state sends to schools based on inflation. This year's boost is more than usual, but still falls short of what schools lost to inflation in recent years. Democratic Rep. Willis Curdy of Missoula says the Legislature should have put far more money in the bill. He voted for it but said he was frustrated with the result. 

Gianforte signs $52M public school funding inflationary increase at East Helena school

"Mr. G" and Montana's superintendent of public instruction were grilled by second graders in East Helena on Tuesday on matters including whether they could solve every single math problem and how difficult their jobs are as they signed an education funding bill. Mr. G, better known as Gov. Greg Gianforte, signed Republican Hamilton Rep. David Bedey's House Bill 15, which allocates $52 million to the state's base budget for K-12 public schools to account for inflation over the past two years. He was joined by first-term Superintendent Susie Hedalen at Prickly Pear Elementary School. The inflationary adjustment is signed into law in most sessions, but Gianforte touted the 3% increase - the maximum allowed under current law - as "historic funding" for public schools. 

Student-run microgreen business sprouts at Whitefish High School

For years, agriculture classes at Whitefish High School have been lauded by students who are on the verge of dropping out as well as students who are college-bound. The hands-on nature of the classes appeals to students and provides them with opportunities they don't get in other, more traditional course work. A visitor to the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship is quickly handed scissors and a flat of radish microgreens, along with harvesting instructions. "We try to get as little dirt in the bin as possible. Cut them off there," senior Charlotte Wallace said as she pointed to the bottom of the stems. "And then check them."   

Inclusive sports day: Missoula special education students run drills with Griz athletes

Student athletes at the University of Montana donated their time and expertise on Friday to give a group of about 30 local special education kids a morning they won't forget for a long time. The Special Olympics team at the Hellgate Elementary School District in Missoula got to run drills with Griz football players and track and field athletes inside the giant new Grizzly Indoor Practice Facility, or "The Bubble" as it has come to be known, as part of a first-ever partnership. It was a frenzied hour-and-a-half of long-jumping, soccer penalty kicks, high-fives, laughing, running, smiling and picture-taking.

Valleydictorian Senior Profile: Marissa Coulter

Marissa Coulter, High School: Billings West High School, What are your plans after high school? I plan on doing cosmetology school and getting my esthetics license. What is your favorite class in school and why? My favorite class in school is ceramics. I love making art and being able to use it, or just making art with a function. It's a great way to make gifts for others and help supply my future home with décor and dishes.

 

March 2025 Great News

Missoula educator among finalists for prestigious teaching award

Six Montana educators have been selected as the 2025 state finalists for the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation's highest honor for teachers in grades kindergarten through 12. A Missoula teacher is among the nominees. Alison Easter, a math teacher at Target Range Middle School, was selected along with five other teachers from Helena, Baker, and Hobson schools. State finalists completed a rigorous application process, including videos of classroom lessons and documentation of their teaching impacts on student achievement.

Lacee Lewis chosen as next West Elementary School principal

As the current principal of West Elementary School moves on to a new position, Lacee Lewis has been selected to take on the position next school year, at the very school where she began her Great Falls Public Schools career. Lewis was selected by a panel composed of faculty, staff, parents, and district leaders with Great Falls Public schools. A Great Falls native, she is currently a student advocate at Meadowlark Elementary and an administrative intern at North middle, but also previously taught at West Elementary for fourteen years. Lewis says, "I'm just excited to be back here, I call it my home. This is where I started, and it taught me how to be a teacher. I had my step kids go here, so I'm just very excited to be Principal."

Missoula bio teacher heads to Costa Rica to help turtles

Sentinel High School teacher and science department co-lead Lindsay Manzo will be going to Costa Rica this weekend with an Ecology Project International (EPI) teacher fellowship. She'll return on April 5, hopefully with knowledge of how to apply EPI's fieldwork lessons to her own classes in biology, wildlife biology and AP environmental science. The eight-day EPI fellowship will take educators from across the country to Costa Rica to learn about sea turtle biology and tropical wildlife. They'll visit the Caribbean beaches at night searching for leatherback sea turtle eggs, both to collect data and to move the eggs to hatcheries to keep them safe from poachers. "I think I'm most excited about the fieldwork," Manzo said this week ahead of her flight on Saturday.

Dutton-Brady FCCLA heading to national competition

In the video below, Paul Sanchez reports on the Dutton-Brady FCCLA team that is heading to a national competition. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a national Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) education in public and private schools (website). The school said in a Facebook post: "This year Mrs. McDonald took 8 students to State FCCLA and 4 of them took first place and will be heading to Orlando this summer for Nationals, a truly remarkable achievement. Cheyanne Castaneda achieved 1st place in Baking and Pastry, Kitah Lowes took 1st place in Job Interview, and Isaiah Schuler and Kayley Chapman-Roberts took 1st place in Promote and Publicize FCCLA. Congratulations to you all on this impressive accomplishment!"

Carroll College hosts middle schoolers to spark interest in higher education

Carroll College played host this week to 270 eighth grade students from C.R. Anderson, hoping to spark interest in higher education. The visiting middle school students rotated through a series of stations, including three academic sessions - civil engineering, chemistry and nursing - followed by activities at the PE Center and football field, which featured a Carroll College trivia game.

Belgrade High School wins cooking competition, advances to national competition

Belgrade High School won the Montana ProStart Invitational cooking competition on March 20 at Montana State University, advancing to a national competition in May. The high school competed against nine teams from Montana to prepare a three-course meal in under 60 minutes, using only a single butane burner. Belgrade's winning dinner used Indigenous-inspired ingredients to make pan-seared bison tenderloin, applewood-smoked trout salad and a chocolate pumpkin seed torte. The food was chosen as the winner by a panel of local chefs and Gallatin College MSU students and faculty.

Great Falls students build shed for Home & Garden Show

n the video below, Paul Sanchez reports on high school students in Great Falls who built a shed that will be raffled during the upcoming Home & Garden Show: Great Falls Public Schools provided the following information in a news release: Great Falls Public School Construction students will be delivering their shed to the Four Seasons Arena on Wednesday, March 26th to showcase their talent and work for the Home & Garden Show.

Students participate in 'Business for a Day'

The partnership has existed between Great Falls Public Schools and various business organizations around town for the last four years. On Friday, the students attended a series of lectures at D.A. Davidson, learning everything from wealth management to information technology, while also connecting with staff. "It's a great opportunity for students to come in and get to learn more about a local business and get to hear about different aspects of the business," says Mary Such, HR Compliance Analyst at D.A. Davidson.

Washington Elementary students raise new flags; enrollment open across the Bitterroot

early 50 children stood around the flagpole outside Washington Elementary in Hamilton on Friday to watch as new American and Montana flags were raised for the first time. Standing in a semi-circle all bundled up in coats in the brisk early morning, four 4- and 5-year-old students helped hold the flags as custodian Danny Tomlinson raised them on the flagpole before they said the Pledge of Allegiance. "That's what we do to respect the flag, we don't let it hit the ground," Tomlinson told the kids. The students gathered Friday were part of the Early Literacy Program available for preschool-aged kids available through legislation that passed in 2023. Enrollment is open for the program in Hamilton and for other early literacy programs throughout the Bitterroot.

 

West Valley School robotics team dives into preparations for world championship

The West Valley School Gummy Sharks robotics team is diving into preparations to compete on the international stage at the FIRST World Championship. Team members Owen Banek, Marcus Bedtelyon, Brandon Hemmelman, Caleb Kreuger, Kody Mangis, Hap Pemble, Henry Weber and Andrew Willis are currently fundraising to cover travel, lodging and meal expenses for the April 16–19 event in Houston. West Valley science teacher Matt Honcoop said the team still needs to raise about $5,000. In addition to competing and attending conference sessions, the team looks forward to touring the NASA Johnson Space Center. For some, it will also be their first time flying.

 

Poetry Out Loud champ from Whitefish heads to national competition

Sixteen high school students from schools across Montana met at Grandstreet Theatre in Helena earlier this month to compete in the Montana Poetry Out Loud State Finals. Although Whitefish High School senior Jake Dunker is neither an avid fan of poetry nor a poet, he earned the title of Montana's 2025 state champion. "When the results were announced, I didn't actually think I had made the top three, so it was very much a surprise when I found out that I had," Dunker said. The competition consisted of three rounds, wherein participants recited poems from memory and were judged on accuracy, interpretation and style. This is where Dunker shines; he likes public speaking and reciting works with passion.

 

Billings school board approves girls flag football to start next fall

BILLINGS - Girls flag football will be coming to Billings Public Schools this fall. The motion passed 8 to 1 at the school board's meeting Monday night. Billings' girls flag football team will be joining existing Lockwood, Shepherd and Huntley teams in Yellowstone County.

Choteau places first in division at Science Olympiad

Corvallis Middle School and Hamilton High School will head to nationals after winning the state Science Olympiad March 4 at Montana State University in Bozeman. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will host the national Olympiad May 23-24, where students can win awards and cash scholarships, according to news releases.

 

Valleydictorian Senior Profile: Russell Lang

Russell Lang, High School: Roundup High School. What are your plans after high school? My plans after high school are simple but strong. I plan on attending MSU Billings City College in the Fall of 2025. I will be pursuing an associate degree in diesel technologies. This will help me achieve my dreams of becoming a heavy-duty diesel mechanic. I am also going to further my certifications by working towards a CDL (commercial driver's license) to help make myself more marketable in an ever-changing work environment. Once I get my feet on the ground during college I would like to start interning with a diesel repair shop in the Billings area to receive more hands-on learning experience, all while establishing myself in the industry.

 

Game room opens at Hamilton Middle School with foundation grant

Robert Leonardi would have been in eighth grade this year. He loved games and competition, and so it only made sense to his mother and Play Like Robert Foundation co-founder Alyce Leonardi to donate to the new Hamilton Middle School game room, which had its grand opening last week. "It made sense for us to be able to positively impact his classmates," Alyce said in an email to the Ravalli Republic. "His friends were important to him." Robert was killed in a hit-and-run incident in 2019. The community rallied behind his parents Alyce and Philip Leonardi - who founded the nonprofit Play Like Robert Foundation in 2022.

 

Glacier High student's appointment to West Point celebrated

Glacier High School senior Wyatt Jensen is set to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after graduating this spring, a feat celebrated last week with a visit from U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke. Jensen's father, Wylie, served in the U.S. Army for over 30 years in the Green Berets. It was an influence that Jensen had growing up, one that he looked up to. Jensen specifically remembers opening the mail with his parents in the third grade when he saw an academy brochure. He was in awe, and immediately knew he wanted to go there one day.  "I told myself that is where I wanted to go to school," Jensen said in the lobby of Glacier High School on March 13. "Everything I've done [at Glacier] was to cultivate that."

 

Registration open for KinderREADy, following a successful first year

Registration is open for KinderREADy, following a successful first year of increasing the literacy rates among students before they enroll in Kindergarten. The program - which is completely state-funded through an initiative with the Office of Public Instruction - is only in it's first year of operation here in Billings, although Superintendent Erwin Garcia said it's already making a big impact.

 

Passages teacher recognized by "One Class at a Time"

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. Meet Dawn Sauter, an adult education teacher at Passages who is passionate about helping give women a second chance. "I absolutely love what I do here," said Mrs. Sauter. "There's three different levels. We have a treatment level on the first floor, so alcohol and drugs. Second floor is kind of a holding where we're trying to figure out where's the best place for them to go. Some of them have been released from prison, from jail. First floor is what we call 'pre-release' where the ladies are going back out into the community. They're working full-time jobs, they're doing their self-help, they're doing everything that they can so that when they leave here they can be productive."

 

Take a tour of Billings Public Schools' Family Resource Center

For almost a year, Billings Public Schools' Family Resource Center has been meeting the needs of students experiencing hardships and homelessness so they can confidently continue their education. The resource center, in the basement of the Lincoln Center downtown, has transformed support for students-in-need by providing a comprehensive hub of resources for families in what district leaders describe as a compassionate environment.

 

Big Sandy Pioneer Producers supply 3600 pounds of beef to local school and senior center

Pioneer Producers and volunteers gathered Monday afternoon to assist in transporting 3600 pounds of beef to Big Sandy to be distributed to the towns school and senior center. Volunteers ranged from Big Sandy high school students and administration to bankers, as well as locals and Pioneer Producers themselves. Approximately 20 individuals were present for the unloading of the beef. Shane Chauvet, local Big Sandy rancher and Founding member of the Pioneer Producers helped spearhead this project. "In November, we sent 12 beef down to Producer Partnership to get produced, and today they're bringing the beef back to put into our new cooler... and we're going to start feeding the school and the senior center. It's going to be approximately 14,000 meals," Chauvet said.

 

Making change - Edgerton third graders get inspired to help their community and adoptable animals

After reading articles about how children were helping their neighbors, Edgerton Elementary third graders in Alexis Gilbert's class were inspired to make a change in their own community.  "We can do this," third-grader Theron Paugh said when asked what he thought about starting a fundraiser. First, a class meeting was held where different ideas were proposed such as collecting school supplies or books, third-grader Odin Ogden said. Taking a vote, the class decided to hold a schoolwide coin drive to benefit a local nonprofit. 

 

After an emotional meeting, Alberton school board cuts music and technology classes

Alberton school board chair Ray Fredette welcomes in the crowd of three dozen community members right at 6 p.m. They're seated at tables in the century-old elementary school cafeteria. It's warm, and long stretches of silence are punctuated by coughs.

 

'It's cool': C.R. Anderson students' research contributes to NASA, ISS, Artemis through plant growth

A seventh grade class at C.R. Anderson Middle School is conducting research using growth chambers to contribute data to NASA, the International Space Station and the Artemis flight to Mars. The class, using an $850 growth chamber paid for by a grant, has been collecting data for weeks. As wild strawberries grew in an illuminated clear chamber, the middle schoolers documented humidity levels, length and width of shoots, amount of water added and seeds germinated.

 

Kalispell Education Foundation honors Essential School Personnel of the Year

Three school office managers were recognized as Essential School Personnel of the Year by the Kalispell Education Foundation for their outstanding behind-the-scenes work to ensure schools run smoothly.  

 

Reach Higher Montana offers creative competition for scholarships

Every year Reach Higher Montana holds a competition to allow students to use their creative side to win scholarship dollars.

The competition asks students to design a sticker that helps pass along the message to fellow students to find their path after high school. The top two designers will each receive a $1,500 scholarship. The third and fourth place designers will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. The fifth and sixth place designers will each receive a $500 scholarship. This year we have added Judges Choice Awards, the three winners will receive a $500 scholarship. The high school art programs of the respective winning students will also receive $250 to purchase art supplies or equipment.

 

Billings kids making literacy gains with KinderREADy program

Billings Public Schools Superintendent Erwin Garcia launched a dropout prevention initiative ahead of the 2024 school year to help more students reach graduation.

KinderREADy - an early literacy program - is one of those proactive initiatives now in full swing in the 2025 spring semester. "The intent of KinderREADy is to provide early literacy for kids within the most vulnerable populations," Garcia said.

 

State of the School Part II: Families urge BSSD to address bullying

Bullying is a nationwide challenge that evolves with technology and culture. Some families believe it's a serious problem in Big Sky, and that the Big Sky School District needs to take action. "Students can be not so nice to a few kids in our class," said a student from Ophir Middle School, reflecting on a fellow classmate who has been targeted relentlessly, reportedly struck by slurs and harassment, and only occasionally supported by peers. When that classmate speaks up to answer a question in class, they are sometimes told to "shut up" or called annoying by other classmates.

 

State of the School Part I: Cultivate, engage, empower

BSSD leaders discuss strengths in new facilities, programs; challenges in enrollment, funding and staffing. This is a three-part series about the challenges and opportunities facing the Big Sky School District in 2025. Part II examines bullying. Part III will explore the ongoing importance of community support.  

Dr. Dustin Shipman's tenure with the Big Sky School District began 10 years ago as superintendent and elementary school principal. Since arriving in the summer of 2015, the East Helena native has since seen Lone Peak High School's enrollment roughly double-with graduating classes increasing from seven students in 2016 to 32 in 2024-and the district's creation of a pre-K program. He's proud of the schools' expanded offerings in academics and athletics, like career tech courses for hands-on learning, and new varsity soccer and baseball programs among the district's higher-than-ever extracurricular involvement. 

 

Helena's future chefs 'cook up' a storm at Capital High School

The 2025 Future Chefs National Challenge in Helena brought creativity in the culinary arts to Capital High School after one winner was chosen out of 100 applicants. Ava Kraft was named the winner of the March 8 competition in Helena. She will move on to the regional competition and possibly the national competition.

 

Kalispell Public Schools offers new scholarship program for employees

Kalispell Public Schools has launched Empowering Educators, a competitive scholarship program to help employees transition into teaching or obtain needed endorsements for hard-to-fill positions, particularly in special education. 

Corvallis, Hamilton victorious at statewide Science Olympiad

Corvallis Middle School and Hamilton High School brought top prizes from the Science Olympiad home to the Bitterroot, winning their respective divisions at the Montana State University campus in Bozeman on Tuesday.

 

'Gratitude': Lone Rock School superintendent on fighting cancer, getting back to school

In April of last year, an emergency room doctor gave Lone Rock Superintendent Robert DoBell 11 days to live. After a nearly year-long fight with leukemia, DoBell is officially in remission and back in school. "Every day is a gift from God being able to pass that eleventh day mark," DoBell told the Ravalli Republic. DoBell returned to Lone Rock after a six-month hiatus on Jan. 6 with gratitude for the community support he received during his battle with cancer - and staff grateful that DoBell was able to return to his post in leadership.

 

Helena Education Foundation grant scores loads of Legos for local schools

Lessons in STEAM just got a lot more fun for Helena's kindergarten through sixth grade students thanks to a Helena Education Foundation grant funded by Boeing Co. The grant equips Helena's K-6 educators with Lego education kits for students to explore a variety of STEAM-focused (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) lessons. This is the first school district partnership with Lego of its kind in Montana. On Thursday, librarians from throughout the district gathered at the Lincoln Center to sort and label over 1,000 pounds of Lego education kits.

 

Kalispell Public Schools offers new scholarship program for employees

Kalispell Public Schools has launched Empowering Educators, a competitive scholarship program to help employees transition into teaching or obtain needed endorsements for hard-to-fill positions, particularly in special education.  The new competitive scholarship program will prioritize employees affected by job cuts.  "With all of the shifting there are going to continue to be some open positions that are going to be challenging [to fill] ... . We do recognize that one of the best ways to be able to fill these shortages is investing in the people that we already have," district Special Services Director Chamea Bennett said in a Feb. 25 presentation to the school board. 

 

Flathead High School speech coach wins Assistant Coach of the Year

Flathead High School's Scott O'Donnell was selected as Assistant Coach of the Year for the Montana West District of the National Speech and Debate Association.  

He will be up for the National Assistant Coach of the Year, which will be awarded during the national speech and debate tournament in June.  Scott O'Donnell said the award means a lot and is validation that the work he's doing is making an impact. 

 

GFPS CELEBRATING ARTS, MUSIC, THEATER IN SCHOOLS

March is youth art month in Great Falls and students in Great Falls Public Schools are showcasing their talents with lots of activities over the next few weeks. It's also theater and music in schools month for the district. Dusty Molyneaux, GFPS' fine arts supervisor, told the school board during their Feb. 10 meeting that he works with and for 43 teacher artists. "Can you imagine what Great Falls would be like without art, music or drama graduates in our community? What would Great Falls look like without these programs in our schools," Molyneaux asked the board.

 

Shepherd High School adding girls flag football in the fall

Shepherd High School will be offering girls flag football next fall during the 2025-26 school year. The Yellowstone County News first reported that the school district approved adding the sport at its February school board meeting and The Billings Gazette and 406 MT Sports confirmed with Shepherd activities director Tina Downing on Tuesday. Downing told The Gazette and 406 MT Sports that student interest was key in the decision for Shepherd High School to add girls flag football. Downing said she is currently working on hiring a head coach. "I actually had students come to me and ask if they can get the ball rolling," said Downing, who added, "They collected data on their own of how many girls would be interested. So, with the kids on board, I couldn't turn it down."

 

Hamilton science teacher receives award from environmental nonprofit

Environmental nonprofit Bitterroot Trout Unlimited honored Hamilton science and "Classroom Without Walls" teacher Vanessa Haflich with the Earl Little Award for excellence in youth education last month. "I like getting to interact with the kids and teach things that I'm passionate about and interested in," she said. "And I really love seeing kids carry that passion and find something that they're interested in or that they're good at." The award is named after Earl Little, a fly fishing teacher and conservationist who started the "Bitterroot Buggers" program nearly 30 years ago, which this year features seven instructional sessions dedicated to learning fly tying, trout identification, entomology and fly casting.

 

Libby Middle High School gets new water filling stations with LOR grant

A LOR Foundation grant was awarded to Libby Middle High School to purchase and install seven new water bottle filling stations. "These new stainless steel filling stations are replacing some very old, original white porcelain water fountains," Assistant Principal/Activities Director Mark Rochin said. "The fountains were a welcome surprise to all the students, staff and community members. Rochin wrote the grant with the help of local LOR Director Tabitha Viergutz. Several of the new water fountains replaced old fixtures that had gone unused for a long time. Others were placed in new locations. The areas that now have new water fountain stations are the front lobby, where two were installed, music hallway, science/math wing, middle school hallway, auto/wood shop and the welding shop.

 

Sentinel students seek to create cleanable computer keyboard

Earlier this year, student engineers from both Sentinel High School and Big Sky High School won their school $2,500 worth of Samsung products by making it to the state finals of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. At Sentinel, the three-person team submitted a project for their capstone engineering class, which challenges them to make a product that solves a real life problem. The problem: Computer keyboards are really dirty. Even personal computers accumulate all sorts of grime, and in a hospital or school, dozens of dirty sets of hands might pass over those keys every day. Students Jake Pheng, Sylas DeBusk and Kera Belanger illustrated the problem with petri dishes - agar with samples taken from dirty keyboards bloomed with bacterial growth compared with clean keyboard samples.

 

"One Class at a Time" honors Rose Park Elementary teacher

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. Meet Cassandra Kutzler, a 5th-grade teacher who does her best to make her classroom a comfortable space for her students. "Yeah, it's super important because they never know what situations they're going to get in as they grow up," said Mrs. Kutzler. "When kids are comfortable they learn and they want to be there, too. That's the whole point of school, is to be safe and to learn. You're able to grow and develop and also just feel like you belong."

 

Brown Bag Lecture Series to return March 4th.

MSU Northern is holding another installment of the their Brownbag Lecture Series on Tuesday, March 4th. New Media Broadcasters spoke with one of the presenters, Dr. Gwen Hart. "The brown bag lunch is a really great opportunity for people to hear about research and other exciting academic programs that are going on at MSU Northern" This lecture will be over the use of AI in the classroom, and will feature a panel of several MSU assistant and associate professors who studied some literature on the integration of AI into education and put it into practice in their courses.

 

Hamilton eighth grader wins Ravalli County Spelling Bee

"F-L-O-R-I-D-L-Y" After spelling the word "floridly," meaning very flowery in style, Hamilton eighth-grader Oliver Pound clinched the win for the 2025 Ravalli County Spelling Bee, capping off his middle-school tenure with a bang. There were a total of 16 fourth- to eighth-grade competitors from schools across the Bitterroot at the Hamilton Middle School auditorium Thursday evening, all of whom had successfully won the spelling bees in their respective classrooms and schools.

 

Missoula County Public Schools unanimously approve girls high school flag football

Girls flag football is coming to Missoula. In a Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to approve the sport for Missoula's three Class AA high schools: Big Sky, Hellgate and Sentinel. "I think they're (students) very excited," Sentinel activities director Josh Jannusch told 406 MT Sports. "This is my second year here and almost from the moment I got on campus, I've had people ask, 'When are we gonna have flag football?'" The sport will be funded for the first three years by a grant from the Atlanta Falcons Arthur M. Blank foundation, which will supply $45,000 to each of the schools. The grant will provide $20,000 in 2025, $15,000 in 2026 and $10,000 in 2027.

A new principal for Meadow Lark Elementary School

After a long career in education culminating in serving as the principal of Meadow Lark Elementary School, Teresa Sprague has announced her retirement. The position was opened up to current district principals, and after careful consideration, a new hire has been made - Lyndsey Stulc: Stulc currently serves as principal at West Elementary School. After six years at West, Stulc will begin her new position as principal of Meadow Lark on July 1, 2025. "I've already had students coming in today and hugging me, and I have to reassure them that we still have a lot of school left," says Stulc. "We are not taking our foot off the gas pedal here, and we'll be finishing strong."

 

February 2025 Great News

Whitefish teacher receives kidney from local parent

After seven and a half years of battling polycystic kidney disease, Whitefish Middle School teacher Sean Duff was donated a kidney by local parent Janelle Hansen last month, and both are recovering well. Duff may be a seasoned veteran in teaching language, reading and history, but he was still at a loss for words to describe the feeling of gratitude. "It's an overwhelming feeling, that somebody wants to do that – or even try, because people have tried before," Duff said.

Gov. Gianforte visits Missoula schools to spotlight student projects

Governor Greg Gianforte is visiting Missoula schools Wednesday to spotlight the achievements of students involved in career and technical education projects. The event is an opportunity for the Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) community to showcase the hard work and dedication of students in programs like STEM, woodshop, and welding. 

Hellgate Middle School principal picks up statewide honor

Hellgate Middle School principal Jamie Courville was recently named the 2025 National Distinguished Principal for Montana and on Tuesday, the school community came together to celebrate with an assembly. “After looking all over the whole state of Montana, and considering almost 400 school principals, I am proud to say that we made the decision that the very best principal in the state of Montana was right here at your school,” School Administrators of Montana executive director Rob Watson while presenting the award.

For the little ones: How Bozeman nonprofit's work helps multilingual students, families thrive

Supporting newly arrived Spanish-speaking families and Multilingual English Learner (ML/EL) students has always been a priority for one Bozeman nonprofit. Now, after a recent influx of ML/EL students in the Bozeman School District, its services are more vital than ever. Vanessa Zamora, executive director of Bienvenidos a Gallatin Valley, said the nonprofit was founded in 2019 after a district ML/EL support staff member raised concerns that the growing student population wasn’t receiving adequate mental and physical support. That concern quickly spread to friends in the local Quaker community — a Christian group that believes in direct spiritual experience — who took action. They began organizing clothing drives and developing a mentorship program — now known as the Partner Family Program — that pairs immigrant families with bilingual mentors to help them navigate their new home. 

Missoula schools highlight Career and Technical Education efforts at Gianforte visit

To celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) month, Missoula County Public Schools showed off some of their CTE programs as Gov. Greg Gianforte toured Russell Elementary, Washington Middle and Sentinel High School on Feb. 26. One example of CTE in Missoula’s schools is the career transition services program available to students with disabilities. Andrew Lowney, a transition services specialist from the Department of Health and Human Services, said on Wednesday that the program serves upwards of 200 MCPS students. One of those students is Grace Grutsch, a Sentinel High School student who works as a lunch aide at Russell Elementary. She said her favorite part of the job is working with kids, and plans to keep working for the district after she graduates. 

Forsyth students celebrate keeping beloved dogie mascot after logo debate

After nearly three months of conversations between Forsyth Public Schools, its students, its branding partner, community members, and Texas Longhorn lawyers, the town's high school has a singular official logo. "A couple of years ago, when they changed the logo … It just kind of came out of nowhere and people never had a chance to speak up," said Preston McGregor, the Forsyth High School (FHS) student body president. McGregor, a Forsyth junior, responded to the school's initial mascot proposal with a video on Facebook, expressing community concerns surrounding the imagery, which garnered more than 150 interactions, more than 50 comments, and nearly 100 shares. 

From 'Purr' to 'Crescendo,' Butte-Silver Bow County Spelling Bee tests students' steel

Fifty-nine spellers, 185 words, 12 rounds, and two hours later, the Butte-Silver Bow County Spelling Bee found its champion, Dreyko Seibel, an eighth grader from East Middle School, who will advance to the 60th annual Treasure State Spelling Bee in Bozeman on March 22. Fourth grader Cam Nicholls, from Hillcrest, was the runner-up. About 200 attendees gathered in the East Middle School auditorium to witness the event and support contestants. "I think the number one thing is that spelling bees give [students] confidence in that they can get in front of a group of people to speak and to put themselves out there," said Butte-Silver Bow County Superintendent Jim O'Neill. "That's a fear that a lot of adults even have, getting up in front of group of people and speaking - but when you're a little 4th grader and you have to get up in front of a room full of people, it tells you that you can do difficult things, and it gives you confidence."

Somers-Lakeside School District hires new superintendent

Alexander Ator is set to replace retiring Somers-Lakeside School District Superintendent Joe Price. Price has served as superintendent since 2016 and spent 45 years in education. His last day will be June 30. Price said he is looking forward to retirement, but there are things he will miss, like welcoming students to school, he said.  "The best part of my day, every day, is greeting kids when they get off the bus every morning," Price said. During his tenure, Somers-Lakeside voters approved a $15.8 million bond in 2017 that ultimately funded construction of a new middle school, which opened in 2020. The decision to offer Ator the superintendent position was unanimous at a Feb. 12 school board meeting. Ator accepted a two-year contract with a $120,00 salary following negotiations held during a Feb. 20 meeting. A final contract will go before the board for ratification at an upcoming meeting. 

Gallatin High School's Erica Schnee reflects on being named Principal of the Year

Last month, Gallatin High School Principal Erica Schnee was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Montana Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) Principal of the Year award at the annual Montana Principals Conference. Schnee's office is showered in memories and memorabilia of her many years in education.

GFPS wraps up 'High Voltage' weekend

Great Falls Public Schools wrapped up their High Voltage Weekend on Saturday evening, and some of those prospective teachers will be leaving with offer letters of employment within the district. The High Voltage Weekend allowed prospective teachers to spend a few days learning about what Great Falls has to offer and interview with the district for open teaching positions from kindergarten through high school in a variety of different subjects. 

Havre Public Schools dual-credit courses giving students almost two years of college credits.

Havre High Schools dual credit classes have seen huge success in recent times according to reports from the district and from Superintendent Brian Gum. New Media Broadcasters spoke with Gum, who says that some students are leaving high school with huge amounts of college education already finished. "We had some students speak at the last board meeting, where they can essentially come out of high school with an associate's degree almost ready to go. You don't have that at every town or every high school so that's a big one" Average college tuition costs in the state of Montana are thousands of dollars per year, and an associate's degree typically equates to around two school years or four semesters of college education.

Starbase Montana reaches 30,000 student milestone

This week, around 20 fifth-grade students from Clancy Schools took the bus to Fort Harrison in Helena as part of the Montana Department of Military Affairs's STARBASE education program. STARBASE Montana is a Department of Defense STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program administered by the Montana Department of Military Affairs. Since its inception in 2007, it has grown to serve approximately 2,000 young people in the Treasure State each year between its two classroom locations: Fort Harrison in Helena and Great Falls.

Montana Youth visit statehouse during Youth Mental Health Advocacy Day

Approximately 60 young people from across the Treasure State descended on the Montana State Capitol to bring awareness to and discuss Youth Mental Health. Terrence Lozeau, who lives on the Flathead reservation in northern Montana, was among the youth who visited the state capital, spoke with lawmakers, and sat on Monday's sessions and hearings. "It means way more to me than most people would think, I come from a family where I lost people to suicide; I lost my sister to suicide, and I've lost friends to suicide," Lozeau said.

Peyton Henson crowned Hill County spelling champ

The competition at the 57th Annual Hill County Spelling Bee found a champion last Thursday, with Havre Middle School eighth grader Paisley Burr winning the bee and earring the trip to represent Hill County at the Treasure State Scripps Spelling Bee March 22 in Bozeman on the Montana State University campus. Havre Middle School eighth grader Peyton Henson took second and J'dyll Parisian, a Box Elder seventh grader took third. The officials for this year's spelling bee officials are: Jackie Hanson, Marie Deegan, Jake Strissel, Marge Suek, Julie Monson and Diane McLean.Havre Middle School Principal Curt Leeds and HMS lead custodian Clark Darrah have been instrumental in the logistics of this event, Hill County Superintendent of Schools Vicki Proctor said.

Stay Fetch!: 2 Helena Middle School students to represent Montana in national app showcase

The news came in an unassuming letter to Makena Pedersen's house. She read it a few times, but it took until she handed it to her teacher, Amy Friez, for the victory to sink in. "You're going to D.C.!" Friez said. "Your app won!" Pedersen and Aurora Obie, two Helena Middle School students, are one of two Montana teams to win the 2024 Congressional App Challenge. Middle and high school students compete against each other nationwide to create the best new software app. The winners in each congressional district are invited to Washington, D.C., for workshops, tours and a science fair that lets the young coders show off their work. 

Cayuse Prairie School business manager earns prestigious designation

Cayuse Prairie School Business Manager and Clerk Heather Mumby has earned the Association of School Business Officials International's Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations designation. School business professionals who earn the certification have proven they have the knowledge, expertise and fiscal credibility to lead their school district and effectively manage its finances, according to the association.   Mumby said expanding her knowledge through continued professional development has always been a priority.

Kalispell Public Schools officials outline career exploration pathway

Kalispell Public Schools engaged local employers and employees in a discussion about its career development initiatives Tuesday at Flathead Valley Community College, emphasizing programs from elementary through high school and encouraging business partnerships to expand student opportunities. At Kalispell Public Schools the career exploration pathway starts in kindergarten - a shift in the typical career exploration track that usually starts in high school or college.   "Early career exploration isn't just about choosing a job, it's about broadening long-term possibilities, building confidence, sparking curiosity for future goals," said school district K-8 Community Involvement Coordinator Cara Rathke during a Kalispell Chamber of Commerce luncheon. 

Butte group wants to bring farm-to-table education to local schools

Do you know where your food comes from? Well, a group of people in the Mining City are looking to teach children about Montana-grown food products. "When we educate children, that's the longest lasting impact; that changes lives," says Abbie Phillip, the coordinator for round table discussions about local food systems. According to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, local food systems consist of production, processing, distribution, consumption of food, and waste management. Philip says the group is turning their focus to schoolchildren. "Farm-To-School really helps to solidify the importance of the local food system: eating well, contributing, being a part of growing food at the earliest level, and that's children," says Phillip.

Billings schools plan to remain open all week despite snowfall

Amid persistent snowfall over the last two weeks, all Billings public schools remained open on Monday, generating a mix of reactions from parents and students. Superintendent Erwin Garcia said that despite more snow and cold temperatures in the forecast, there is no plan to close for snow this entire week. Garcia said the decision to keep schools open was made with help from the National Weather Service. He emphasized the importance of maintaining educational continuity.

 

Alberton School selected as Montana representative in national competition

Alberton School is participating in a nationwide competition; the goal is to fix a problem in their state using technology. The tudents of Alberton School have chosen to create a virtual reality experience on Montana Tribes. "An immersive experience that will educate other students whether they are in Montana or Nationwide," said McKenna Akane. "The history and culture of that respective tribe in a way that that tribe feels is culturally respectful and historically accurate." Akane, the K-8 STEM Educator at Alberton School, is in her second year of teaching and has already started to broaden the horizons of her students. In her STEM education class, the students learned to use Meta Quest 2 headsets as well as coding and 3D modeling to create their own immersive experience to educate others. The course is offered to sixth through eighth graders.

Corvallis schools seeking volunteers for middle school career day

Corvallis Public School District is looking for volunteers for a career fair at the middle school on Thursday, April 3. The middle school is partnering with the district's Rise Charter to host their first career day and are looking for locals with passion for their chosen profession to speak to the students. Event organizers are looking for a variety of professions to speak. Volunteers would be expected to give a 20- minute presentation on their profession to a classroom of students. The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30, p.m. To sign up, fill out a volunteer form available online.

Billings schools celebrate SROs' dedication on National School Resource Officer Day

The Billings community is showing gratitude for its School Resource Officers (SROs) on National School Resource Officer Day. Billings Public Schools expressed appreciation for their partnership with local law enforcement, highlighting the work of the dedicated SROs in the district. "We appreciate our partnership with county and city law enforcement, especially our eight school resource officers! Thank you!" the district shared. The Billings Police Department also took a moment to acknowledge the important role SROs play in the community. "Today is National School Resource Officer Day and we want to take a minute to celebrate ours," they stated. "Thank you all for your dedication and service to the youth in the Billings community, keeping our schools safe, and serving as mentors."

Sunnyside students challenge local businesses in Tower of Books

Sunnyside Intermediate School students will soon be conducting what is hoped to be the first of an annual Tower of Books Reading Challenge, and they are inviting local businesses to take them on. Sunnyside Librarian Jade Miller told Havre Weekly Chronicle that the challenge, part of Read Across America Week, begins Monday, Feb. 24 with the final numbers due Thursday, March 6. That gives the students - and members of businesses - 11 days to add books to their "tower," Miller said. The Sunnyside fourth and fifth graders are expected to read books at or above their reading level to ensure they are challenging themselves, and have to pass an Accelerated Reader Comprehension Test on each book to show they have read and understood the text. Books qualifying for the challenge are any reading material at least 10 pages long, including novels, picture books, professional development materials, and so on. 

Hellgate Middle School principal wins Montana Distinguished Principal Award

Hellgate Middle School Principal Jamie Courville was named this year's Montana Distinguished Principal at the annual Montana Principals Conference on Jan. 26-28. Distinguished principals are selected for making sure their students' academic and social needs are met, as well as fostering cooperation with the community. Courville is the first Hellgate principal to be chosen for this award. "It kind of puts us on the map," Hellgate Elementary superintendent Molly Blakely said. "I think it's very humbling," Courville said. A School Administrators of Montana press release cited some of the reasons for Courville's selection, such as organizing an annual dodgeball tournament to get the community involved raising money for Toys for Tots. Courville also told the Missoulian he'd started some successful classes such as financial literacy and industrial arts. 

Hill County Spelling bee brings best spellers to middle school

The 57th Annual Hill County Spelling Bee started this morning at Havre Middle School, with local students spelling away to earn the chance to represent Hill County at the Treasure State Scripps Spelling Bee March 22 in Bozeman on the Montana State University campus. The officials for this year's spelling bee officials are: Jackie Hanson, Marie Deegan, Jake Strissel, Marge Suek, Julie Monson and Diane McLean. Havre Middle School Principal Curt Leeds and HMS lead custodian Clark Darrah have been instrumental in the logistics of this event, Hill County Superintendent of Schools Vicki Proctor said. Independence Bank has sponsored three Chamber of Commerce gift certificates; $50 (1st place), $30 (2nd place) and $20 (3rd place). Medals are provided by the Hill County Superintendent of Schools Office.

Vending machines in schools aim to spark kids' love of reading

Instead of the usual chips and candy, students can find creativity, adventure, and imagination with the new book vending machines that are going into some schools within the Great Falls Public School district. Sacajawea Elementary School unveiled its new book vending machine on Wednesday, with their students more excited to read than ever before. 

Sunnyside students challenge local businesses in Tower of Books

Sunnyside Intermediate School students will soon be conducting what is hoped to be the first of an annual Tower of Books Reading Challenge, and they are inviting local businesses to take them on. Sunnyside Librarian Jade Miller told Havre Weekly Chronicle that the challenge, part of Read Across America Week, begins Monday, Feb. 24 with the final numbers due Thursday, March 6. That gives the students - and members of businesses - 11 days to add books to their "tower," Miller said. The Sunnyside fourth and fifth graders are expected to read books at or above their reading level to ensure they are challenging themselves, and have to pass an Accelerated Reader Comprehension Test on each book to show they have read and understood the text. Books qualifying for the challenge are any reading material at least 10 pages long, including novels, picture books, professional development materials, and so on.

Miller Receives Pony Pride Award at HPS Board Meeting

The Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday night. Last Month's Pony Pride Winner Lindsay Ratliff had Superintendent Brian Gum announce that Sunnyside School librarian Jade Miller was her selection for this month's Pony Pride winner. Havre High School Principal Dustin Kraske had three students tell the board about their personal journey's utilizing the dual credit, credit recovery, and school to work programs that Havre High School offers. In new business, the board on 1st reading passed a revision of their financial management policy. The second reading and final passage of this policy will take place at the March meeting. The board approved unanimously the integrated district strategic plan. You can find that plan on the Havre Public Schools website at blue pony k12 dot com. Finally, the board approved the call for a Board of Trustees and potential Mill Levy election in Elementary District 16 and District A for May 6th, 2025. There will be two Board of Trustees positions up for election. 

Augusta student wins 60th Lewis and Clark County Spelling Bee

"C-I-R-C-A-D-I-A-N." On Wednesday, the winner of the 60th Lewis and Clark County Spelling Bee was an Augusta seventh-grader who did not expect to win or be a part of the competition. Kayden Martin's championship word was circadian, and she spelled it correctly after requesting it be used in a sentence. "I just got second place in the school bee, so I kind of had to (be here)," Martin said following her win. "The first place guy got sick, so another alternate came with me." She added she only studied a little bit prior to the competition with the words she was given, but "that was about it."

Congressional App Challenge winners announced, apps to be on display in US Capitol Building

Code Girls United members Emma Anderson and Makayla Davenport of Kalispell have been named winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Montana's western district by U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke. The winning app, "Adventure Challenge," was developed by Anderson and Davenport in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. In Montana's 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale named Code Girls United members Makena Pedersen and Aurora Obie of Helena as winners for their app "Stay Fetch," which they designed to aid animal lovers in finding and adopting the pet that will best suit their lives. 

Billings Public Schools hosts career fair in April

Billings Public Schools is calling on local businesses to participate in the 'Let's Get to Work Career Fair.' This event aims to connect graduating seniors with career and job opportunities within the community. The career fair provides a platform for businesses to engage with young talent and showcase potential career paths. Participation is free for vendors, encouraging a wide range of businesses to join.

Hellgate Elementary uses rafting prizes to get students reading

It's not a good idea to bring a book whitewater rafting - the pages will get soggy, and an e-reader will fry. But Zoo Town Surfers owner Ian Fodor-Davis still wanted to find a way to use his whitewater rafting business to get Missoula's kids reading. "The general idea is just to incentivize kids to read more," Fodor-Davis said. "I was looking for a way to involve the community a little more. Reading is near and dear to me." He had the idea of using whitewater rafting prizes to incentivize reading through a raffle. So he went to Jamie Blixt, who works as a Zoo Town Surfers guide in the summer, and teaches technology, broadcasting and financial literacy at Hellgate Elementary during the school year. She wanted in. "It's really exciting to merge two worlds," Blixt said. They brought the idea to Hellgate Elementary librarian Peggy Racicot. 

Helena students snack on 100-foot-long sundae to celebrate 100 days of school

Friday marked the 100th day of the school year for Helena Public Schools and students at Warren Elementary School enjoyed a sweet treat to celebrate. The school's annual Sundae Day has been happening on the 100th school day for nearly five decades. Before dessert, students worked on writing and math projects throughout the day. The main event was a 100-foot-long ice cream sundae for teachers and their classes to dig into.

Skyview students take the stage in MSU Billings' Atomic Circus show

Montana State University Billings Atomic Circus came to Billings Skyview High School on Friday with a bang. For eight years, MSU Billings science professors Dr. Matt Queen and Dr. Dan Willems have put on the live chemistry demonstration show for fifth graders across eastern Montana, but now they have expanded and upgraded the show for high school students

'The dogs are doing what they love': C.R. Anderson students visit with mushers for Race to the Sky

Students at C.R. Anderson Middle School listened to a presentation Friday from mushers involved in the Race to the Sky and had an opportunity to meet some of the furry team members. The presentations were organized with the help of the middle school's eighth grade science teacher, Shannon Thomas, who said they came about through an interdisciplinary unit where her students were taught about the friction of the sleds, war dogs at Camp Rimini, math along the trail and graphing data about the mushers. Around 50 students were present, listening in the school's cafeteria. The mushers shared stories about their experiences before the start of the Race to the Sky, now in its 40th year, on Feb. 8.

Whitefish student is a positive force among her peers

When Zoey Marzo sees a need she acts. The Whitefish High School senior can make things happen. Behind the initiative, drive, and planning she puts into each goal, event and program, is the heart, passion and enthusiasm to improve the lives of those around her.  "She is reliable, compassionate and charismatic. To be in Zoey's presence is a gift and our world is a better place with her in it.  Not only does she work hard academically, her creativity and desire to enhance the lives of those around her is nonstop," Whitefish School District board chair Darcy Schellinger wrote in her letter nominating Marzo, for the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award. 

Montana DECA Education Conference underway in Missoula

The Montana DECA Educational Conferences runs through Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula. Conferences are targeted, highly focused learning experiences for students that support national curriculum standards. The conferences connect students with corporate professionals to engage students in learning industry-related trends and content. "I'm looking at international business relations. I'm looking to create marketing campaigns and marketing opportunities for businesses transitioning to and from U.S. markets. So I'm looking to transition overseas goods, whether in Europe or western Asia into U.S. markets, and then same thing, transitioning U.S. marketed products to Europe or other Asian countries," said Brett Charles Pesola, DECA state officer for Flathead High School, said.

Farmers State Bank offers nine $10K scholarships to western Montana students

armers State Bank is currently accepting applications for nine 2025 Scholarship awards being offered to Montana students. This scholarship is aimed at graduating seniors with a GPA of 2.5 to 3.5, who plan to attend a two- or four-year college, technical or trade school full time. A $10,000 scholarship is available to one qualifying student from each of the following communities: Darby, Hamilton, Corvallis, Victor, Stevensville, Florence, Missoula, Helena and Kalispell. A total of nine scholarships will be awarded. Applications will be accepted from Feb. 1 through March 15. Visit farmersEbank.com/scholarship for requirements and application forms.

Bozeman High science teacher Miles McGeehan wins Presidential Award

Bozeman High science teacher Miles McGeehan was recently honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The Biden Administration announced the awards for 336 teachers and mentors nationwide on Jan. 13. PAEMST is the highest award K-12 math and science teachers can receive from the U.S. government, a White House release said. Award recipients represent schools and organizations from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools, and the U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands).

CMR educator receives Montana Theatre Educator of the Year award

In the video above, Paul Sanchez reports on Lesli Evans, an educator at CMR High School in Great Falls who received the Montana Theatre Educator of the Year award. CMR High School said in a Facebook post: Mrs. Evans is in her 15th year with Great Falls Public Schools and her 13th year as the Paraprofessional in the Performing Arts Department at Charles M. Russell High School. She is a graduate of CMR. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Montana. She has worked with Summer Showcase, ACT Theatre, Phoenix Productions, Garden City Ballet, Missoula Community Theatre, Missoula Children's Theatre, University of MT Department of Drama/Dance, CMR Performing Arts and a few independent production companies.

Cut Bank school gets a book vending machine

From a news release: On Thursday, January 30, at 8:30 AM at Cut Bank HC Davis Elementary, we will be having a ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new book vending machine. The vending machine was a project initiated by the Cut Bank High School National Honor Society to help promote literacy in our elementary schools. With the help of the Cut Bank Educational Foundation & Alumni Association and their executive director Amy Overstreet, the group secured a generous grant from First Interstate Bank to cover the cost of the book vending machine.

Shepherd School District educator receives "One Class at a Time" honor

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. Meet Tina Downing, the K-12 special education adviser and activities director who is passionate about what she does, especially when it comes to her special students she fiercely supports. "Kids with disabilities can do anything," said Mrs. Downing. "They can advocate for themselves, they can get jobs in the community, they can go to college, they can go to the military. They can do whatever they want to do." As you can imagine, she stays quite busy but wouldn't have it any other way.

Gallatin County students shine at rural schools spelling bee

The Gallatin County Rural Schools Spelling Bee recently showcased the talents of young spellers from the area. The event, organized by the Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools, was held at the Gallatin County Courthouse. Twenty-six students from Malmborg, Pass Creek, Cottonwood, and Springhill schools, all in grades 4-8, participated in the competition.

January 2025 Great News

Educators, parents get behind bill to boost starting teacher pay in Montana

Molly Blakely has taught teachers in Montana, the "best and brightest," and they've asked her what they can earn in the Treasure State. Blakely, who has been an adjunct instructor at the University of Montana for 18 years, said when she offers an honest answer to their questions in an interview prep class, the future teachers ask one question: "How do I get certified (to teach) in another state?" State institutions are doing great work training teachers, Blakely said, but Montana is losing them, and a bill to increase starting teacher pay would help. Blakely and other educators testified Wednesday before the House Education committee in favor of House Bill 252, the Student and Teacher Advancement for Results and Success, or STARS Act, intended to boost teacher pay.

Montana in line with US average score in 'Nation's Report Card'

Test scores from students across the U.S. have not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels of achievement, a trend that's true in Montana as well. While Montana isn't scoring as high as it did in 2019, the state just exceeded the national average and that of several surrounding states in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) testing, also known as "The Nation's Report Card." Montana's economically disadvantaged students lagged behind the most with an at least 19-point difference in scores across different categories. Montana Superintendent Susie Hedalen said in a statement Wednesday that while the results are encouraging, the state needs to remain focused on improvement. "We are committed to addressing these challenges and continuing to work towards better outcomes for all of Montana's students," Hedalen said.

Flathead Valley teams dive into robotics challenge qualifying for state competition

Teams of budding engineers tasked with programing LEGO robots to dive beneath the ocean to complete a list of missions got to see their hard work pay off during a recent competition hosted by West Valley School. While the students watched as their autonomous robots worked to release a shark back into its habitat, helped a diver transport coral and retrieved a treasure chest from a shipwreck during the tournament on Jan. 25. The event featured 16 teams of about 95 students from Smith Valley, Somers, West Valley, Eureka and Ronan. "Hundreds of student hours have been spent building and troubleshooting these machines to move effortlessly around the game board," said West Valley science teacher and tournament organizer Matt Honcoop. 

Bozeman High science teacher Miles McGeehan wins Presidential Award

Bozeman High science teacher Miles McGeehan was recently honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The Biden Administration announced the awards for 336 teachers and mentors nationwide on Jan. 13. PAEMST is the highest award K-12 math and science teachers can receive from the U.S. government, a White House release said. Award recipients represent schools and organizations from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools, and the U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands).

Teacher receives district award, community seeks funding for national nomination

At Highland Elementary School, it is no secret that Erin Sutherland-Evans (known to her students as Ms. Evans) is cherished by those she teaches. "Ms. Evans, I am so glad you are my P.E. teacher. I am so happy that you are one of the best P.E. teachers in Montana. You should be the best in the world," wrote one student, Stanford, in a letter. This year, Sutherland-Evans was named a SHAPE America Elementary Physical Education District Teacher of the Year for the Western District. "My favorite thing–I think, (are) the smiles, the loves, the hugs, the Tootles that I am getting," said Sutherland-Evans, whose career was inspired by two of her own fourth-grade teachers.

Sparks fly at annual high school Crosstown Weld-Off in Helena

It was a head-to-head matchup between Helena High and East Helena High in the 13th annual Crosstown Weld-Off on Thursday hosted by the Helena High School American Welding Society Club. Students dug through scrap metal, chose pieces that would work for their project, then designed and welded the project in four hours. This year's theme was Native American culture. "The students showed great creativity and sportsmanship," Cindy Galbavy, welding instructor at Helena High, said in a news release. "Congratulations to all the students and the winning teams from Helena High and East Helena High School. Thank you for making the 'Weld-Off' such a great success."

Central Elementary School hosts 10th annual Kids' College

The 10th annual Kids' College event was hosted Friday at Central Elementary School, where 25 volunteers from various professions showed students career possibilities for their futures. The program, started in 2015, began with teachers offering a chance to show off their skills outside of what they taught, according to Central Elementary School teacher Amy Casne-Fetz. "My second degree is music, so I did a music class. A couple of years later we thought 'Why don't we involve some people from the community and get them in to teach about their careers, so kids could get excited about different career paths,'" she said.

Japanese consul general visits Helena High School, shows support for Montana connections

Japanese Consul General Iyori Makoto spent part of his day visiting Helena High School on Thursday and talked about the importance of Montana and Japan's connections to each other. Iyori visited with Helena High School Principal Brian Kessler, Lauren Gustafson, a teacher at Helena High School, and Assistant Superintendent Josh McKay. Former Helena High School Principal Steve Thennis built the connection with its sister school Senshu University Tamana High School in Kumamoto. "It's started to bloom into a really cool experience. Mr. Thennis went over and spoke at the school last year and I think we are going to try and bring Principal Watanabe to our graduation this year," Kessler told Iyori. Kessler added the school would like to broaden the connection between the schools and in March some students will Zoom with other students in the Japanese high school.

Whitefish School District puts athletic improvements on 'fast-track'

The Whitefish School District approved a project delivery contract for the high school's academic and athletic improvements at a board meeting Jan. 14.  The district anticipates beginning construction on the athletic expansion portion of the project this spring or summer, with completion by spring 2026.  Construction could start for the academic improvements to the high school in spring 2026 with completion by fall or winter 2027, according to the contract. Luke Hammon, owner's representative for the project, said that the tentative schedule is "a fast-track to get the athletic facility done sooner than the building." 

GFPS CLAIMS $916,188 IN STATE TAX CREDITS

Great Falls Public Schools raised $916,188 this month through the Montana innovative educational tax credit program. The state created a tax credit program for education during the 2021 Legislature and the window to claim those dollar-for-dollar tax credits was Jan. 15. The program allows residents to make a cash donation to their local public schools and individuals or companies can contribute up to $200,000 per year for educational programs. Married taxpayers filing jointly may take a tax credit of up to $400,000 for each tax credit, according to the Montana Department of Revenue. The tax credit will apply to a donor's 2026 taxes.

Students at Billings Senior High School raise awareness for MMIP cases

Students at Billings Senior High School are taking action to raise awareness about the increasing number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases in the community. The effort is part of a project led by McKenzie Watterson's 9th-grade class. The project, known as the Red Dress Project, aims to highlight cases that have not yet been resolved.

Big Horn County and Hardin Schools to benefit from $1.1 million grant

The Montana Department of Commerce announced that more than $1.1 million in grant funding has been awarded to five Montana communities to support vital public safety and development projects in coal-impacted areas. The funding was allocated to these communities by the Montana Coal Board. Benefitting from this award will be Big Horn County who will receive $37,500 for a growth policy update and Hardin Public Schools who will receive $750,000 for a boiler replacement project. "Coal Board grants support coal-impacted governments by funding construction and reconstruction of designated highways, supporting county land planning and financially assisting public schools in coal-impacted areas," said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. "At Commerce, we are proud to support the people who live in Montana's coal country. In the last five years, more than $15 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to eight counties, seven school districts, seven cities or towns and one tribe."

Ex-Billings Public Schools AD Mark Wahl honored with MHSA's Haugen Award for meritorious service

Former Billings Public Schools athletics and activities director Mark Wahl was honored with the Montana High School Association James C. Haugen Meritorious Service Award on Monday at the organization's annual meeting at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the MHSA. Wahl was the School District 2 AD from 2011-23 and retired after 37 years in education overall following the 2022-23 school year. He was a math teacher, golf and basketball coach and administrator throughout his career, first coaching at Kate Fratt Memorial School in 1984 in the Billings Catholic Schools system before embarking on later stops in various roles in BCS, Billings Skyview and Billings Senior.

Fundraiser generates over $100,000 to help Billings students

A combination of generosity, hard work, and motivated students resulted in over $100,000 being raised for student activities and programs administered by the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools. And one lucky winner took ownership of a new Chevrolet Equinox. This is the seventh year Denny Menholt Chevrolet has donated a brand new SUV at no cost to the foundation for a raffle. Tickets were sold both directly from the Education Foundation and by students.

Are MT Schools Really Going Phone-Free? Here's the Truth

Montana parents and students are buzzing over claims on social media that the state has quietly rolled out a "phone-free campus" policy for public schools. The supposed ban, which would prohibit students from using their phones during the school day, has sparked heated debates among families and educators. The speculation surrounding a phone-free campus policy isn't entirely baseless. Earlier, in 2024, Governor Greg Gianforte publicly advocated for measures to reduce screen time in Montana schools. His comments came amid national discussions about the impact of smartphones on student performance and mental health.

Billings schools remind families of bus tracker as temperatures drop

As temperatures are expected to drop this week, Billings Public Schools is reminding families about their school bus tracking app, StopFinder. The district shared information on social media to help families prepare for the cold weather. The National Weather Service predicts very cold temperatures for Monday. Billings Public Schools stated that these temperatures are within normal operating standards for the district, and schools are expected to operate as scheduled. However, they will continue to monitor weather conditions and provide updates through ParentSquare and Facebook if anything changes. Families are encouraged to ensure their children are dressed warmly and to be prepared for possible weather-related bus delays. The district suggests waiting with children at bus stops. 

Newman Elementary teacher recognized by "One Class at a Time"

Meet Ryan Pekins, a third-grade teacher who understands the importance of building strong relationships with his students. "That's what it's all about," said Mr. Pekins. "Those relationships with my students is really why I got into teaching." His goals always remained the same in his over 10 years of teaching. "What can I do to impact kids in their lives? How can I help them become, first of all, better people and great citizens and, of course, help them gain the skills they need to have opportunities in their life." His impact has been long-lasting and former students still come back to see him.

University of Providence offers direct admission to GFPS students

The University of Providence has announced a direct admission partnership with Great Falls Public Schools, offering guaranteed admission to those who meet GPA requirements. On average, 230 graduating students in the great falls public school district go on to college. The University of Providence's Direct Admission Program aims to make college more accessible for local students as well as keeping academic students in the Great Falls area.

Two Capital High teachers receive Presidential Award for STEM teaching

Capital High School teachers Sarah Urban and Jake Warner are among seven Montana educators who have received the presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching for 2025. MTN News spoke with both educators to learn more about their passion for their profession. Sarah Urban has taught at Helena Public Schools for 21 years and emphasizes hands-on learning. "I really like a hands-on approach to teaching, so I try to get kids involved with hands-on activities, whether it be modeling or laboratories or any sort of activities," said Urban. "There are a lot of excellent science and math teachers in Montana and across the country, and I'm just honored to be one of the ones who was recognized for this award."

Lockwood High celebrates seniors' Yale and MIT commitments today

Lockwood High School is celebrating two seniors, Laira Larson and Kiera Olson, for their remarkable academic achievements. They are the first students from their school to commit to some of the top universities in the nation. Larson will be attending Yale, and Olson is committing to MIT. Both students expressed their excitement for their futures and are grateful to embark on this new journey together. They have been pushing each other to grow since the fourth grade.

Montana teachers receive Presidential Award for STEM teaching

Capital High School teachers Sarah Urban and Jake Warner are among seven Montana educators who have received the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2025.

Flathead High School plans Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Celebration

Flathead High School, in collaboration with the Crown of the Continent Choir, Flathead Folk Band, and International Baccalaureate English and music students, will honor the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. through a community celebration featuring music and speeches. The public is invited to attend the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Celebration at 5 p.m. Monday in the high school auditorium, 644 Fourth Ave. W. in Kalispell. There is no cost to attend. The event aims to foster an understanding of King's legacy through speeches, music and videos, underscoring his enduring influence on non-violent social justice movements. The program will feature a selection of songs and anthems from the Civil Rights era. 

Sidney Public Schools Launches New CDL Program For Students

When school is back in session next semester, the Sidney Public Schools is rolling out an exciting new program aimed at providing students with the opportunity to earn their Commercial Driver's License (CDL) as part of their educational experience. The program, which will begin with five to six 18-year-old students, is designed to help meet the growing demand for skilled truck drivers in the region. Thom Barnhart, the school's curriculum director explained that this initiative is funded through a transitional learning grant from the Department of Public Instruction. The grant is designed to offset the cost of the program and ensure that the local workforce needs are met. Barnhart emphasized the importance of the program, saying, "This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and enter a high-demand career field while still in school. It's an investment in both their futures and the future of our community."

GFPS WORKING TO ADD HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

Plans for high school baseball are progressing and the Great Falls Public Schools board heard an update from district officials on the process during their Jan. 13 meeting. Lance Boyd, as assistant superintendent, focused on the main requirements the board wanted to address before fielding high school baseball teams, to include field availability, Title 9 equity concerns and fundraising. In August, the school board voted to approve adding baseball in the spring of 2026, contingent on a committee being formed under the guidance of GFPS administration; consideration of four factors of betterment of students and baseball in Great Falls, interest and support, financial viability and sustainability, and feasibility; a report being submitted to the board for review by June 1, 2025; and that the startup and operating costs for the first three years would be privately funded. The plan must also outline how Title 9 requirements will be met.

Erin Evans named Western District Teacher of the Year in Physical Education

Highland Elementary physical education teacher Erin Evans has been named Western District Teacher of the Year in Physical Education through SHAPE America.

Whitefish student rallies for families impacted by cancer

Whitefish High School senior Maggie Mercer knows firsthand the difference a support system can make for families battling cancer. Now, she's leading the way to support other local families grappling with the disease. Mercer was a young child when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She was lucky enough to have a full-time nanny to care for her and her three siblings while their parents traveled out of the area for treatment. The fortune to have help from a nanny was not lost on her.  "While my mom was battling, we had a really good support system here and from the community as well," Mercer said.

Construction academy to roll out at Bozeman's two high schools

Bozeman High School and Gallatin High School students will soon get some hands-on work at a new construction academy launching in the school district this year. "I like doing stuff with my hands like I can't sit at a desk all day," says Gallatin High sophomore Jaxson Huckert. Huckert says this dual credit class, which earns him college credit, will set him up for his future. "I think I will definitely take that over other things because it is more applicable to what I want to do. I want to go into plumbing," Huckert says.

New tax credit program launches in Montana, unlocking opportunities for students

On Wednesday, a new state education tax credit program will begin accepting donations from around Montana, though Billings Public Schools is already on board. "Those $5 million that were collected last year, throughout the state, tell an important story and that's (of) people that believe in education," said Erwin Garcia, the superintendent for BPS. The Innovative Educational Tax Credit, which was created by the passage of House Bill 408, is a dollar-for-dollar match for donations made to public school systems up to $200,000 per year for individuals and corporations.

"It's Scholarship Time" program open from now until March 1st.

Applications for the Montana "It's Scholarship Time" program started January 1st. There are many scholarships available for Montana's high school students, and some giving preference to students who meet certain requirements like being in an ROTC program or those aging out of foster care. Scholarships are also available outside of the state program for students who are planning to attend Montana State University Northern through the MSU-N Foundation. Deadlines for the "It's Scholarship Time" applications are March 1st, and those with questions are encouraged to contact Reach Higher Montana.

Teacher pay, school funding and math skills top on Montana lawmakers' priority list

Increasing teacher pay, finding ways to get more money to school districts and boosting students' early math skills are on the agenda as Montana legislators plan to take up a broad range of proposals this year addressing the K-12 system's most chronic challenges. On the funding front, several House Republicans have already signaled plans to tackle one of the most pressing education issues in the state: teacher pay. Low starting salaries for early career educators are a driving factor in Montana's ongoing teacher shortage, making it hard for many local districts to recruit and retain staff. Montana Free Press wrote extensively last month about the still-evolving STARS Act, a proposal shepherded by Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, that aims to use Montana's school funding formula as a vehicle to increase wages for early career educators. In an adjacent move, Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, the incoming chair of the Legislature's education budget subcommittee, has introduced a bill to diffuse the local funding burden on property taxpayers by levying that support countywide rather than from taxpayers in specific school districts.

Glacier High speech and debate bags a win in Corvallis

The Glacier High School speech and debate team captured another tournament win in the AA division in Corvallis on Jan. 10-11. Glacier rose to the top with 248 points overall for the Class AA win, followed by Flathead in second place with 227 points. Third place went to Missoula Hellgate with 162 points. In Class A, B, C, Columbia Falls High School took a commanding lead, scoring 158 points overall. Whitefish High School placed second with 82 points. Polson High School rounded out the top three with 33 points.

Capital High student welders support local charity with auction

Student welders at Capital High School are preparing to make a difference through their craftsmanship. The students, under the guidance of Jim Weber, have created metalworks pieces that will be auctioned on January 18 at the Big Hearts Under the Big Sky Banquet. The event supports free outdoor adventures for those who have provided extraordinary services to the country and children facing life-threatening illnesses. Last year, the students' projects raised $10,200 to aid the Montana Outfitters & Guides Association's mission. This year, the welding and machining students aim to surpass that amount.

"One Class at a Time" honors Castle Rock Middle School teacher

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. "I hope they realize that band is something they can do their entire life." Meet John Goodheart, a band teacher who grew up around music. "My mom was a church organist," said Mr. Goodheart. "She had a piano in the house and I started kind of like messing around with the piano by the time I was three. My sister and I grew up singing together and she is also a music teacher in the district. Music is just kind of a family thing."

Flathead Electric Co-op offers $120k in scholarships

The Flathead Electric Cooperative is offering over $120,000 in scholarships in 2025, with applications due Feb. 23. The scholarships range from $1,500 to $6,000 and are funded through unclaimed capital credits. The Co-op is able to award capital credits that go unclaimed for five or more years for educational purposes.

Students from Montana School for the Deaf and Blind advance in STEM competition

The Montana School for the Deaf and Blind are one of five state finalists for a nationwide Stem competition. Erin Barr has taught at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind for a decade. Barr, who teaches students with visual impairments, said, "I have been pretty much since I've been here promoting STEM. And I'm just in love with STEM" And she's not new to the Samsung STEM competitions. Barr said, "This is actually the third year that I've had students that have, become state finalist[s]. We've gone on two times to be state winners." However, there is a twist. Barr said, "This is my first time doing this project, however, with middle school students." The Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition inspires young students to come up with innovative solutions to the world's problems. The young students at MSDB chose a topic close to home.

Beagle tapped to lead Libby Middle High School

Scott Beagle was named the interim principal at Libby Middle High School last week following the resignation of former Principal Jim Germany, who was accused of assaulting a student in December. Beagle was given the reins at a Jan. 6 special meeting of the Board of Trustees at the Central School building. Germany, who allegedly assaulted a student during class on Dec. 9, is expected to be arraigned in Lincoln County District Court on Jan. 13 on a felony charge of assault on a minor. Beagle is the director of curriculum and special services for the school district. He also helps coach the Libby Loggers boys varsity basketball team and is the first assistant fire chief for the Libby Volunteer Fire Department.

UM gets $9.4 million gift from Washington Foundation for K-12 educators

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has given $9.4 million to UM's College of Education to fund an initiative that will both address declining youth mental health and incentivize newly graduated UM teachers to stay in Montana. "This gift has the potential to transform K-12 education in Montana, giving our children the support they need to thrive and empowering our educators," UM President Seth Bodnar said in a press release. The new Phyllis J. Washington Children and Educators Initiative is twofold. First, it funds a new Institute for Positive Education, which will create a curriculum emphasizing positive psychology. Positive psychology is a practice aimed at nurturing positive beliefs and behaviors rather than suppressing negative ones, the release said. The institute will create new courses such as "Evidence-Based Wellbeing for Educators" and "Applications of Positive Psychology for Families, Communities, and the Media," as well as offering continuing education, training and conferences, according to the release. This new institute is aimed at addressing rising depression and anxiety among young people, it added. According to the most recent Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 43% of students reported periods of depression lasting two weeks or more.

Deep Roots: Billings Public Schools awarded $37,000 for tree planting project

Billings Public Schools has been award a $37,000 grant to plant trees on 14 school campuses to increase natural shade, act as a natural safety barrier and boost education. Ponderosa Elementary School is one of the schools that will benefit from this. The head custodian at the school, Rollie Gramley, remembers when some of the first trees were planted on campus.

Columbia Falls High students back under 1 roof despite previous challenges

A summertime roof project at Columbia Falls High School resulted in part of the high school being damaged, causing students to attend classes in different district buildings. After months of work repairing the damage, students from the high school finally returned. It was not the way students and faculty wanted to start their year. At the start of the school year, 690 students were spread out between three different schools, including the salvaged rooms in the high school. "We had to utilize three different campuses," said Principal Josh Gibbs. "We were able to move away from the Hungry Horse campus to just using four classrooms at Glacier Gateway around Thanksgiving." While crews repaired the roof, Gibbs was grateful for how faculty and teachers adapted to the changes.

Montana High School Students Build Much-Needed Housing for Glacier National Park

On the Friday afternoon before Christmas, as some in the Flathead Valley left work a little early or rushed to the store to do some last-minute holiday shopping, a small group of students were hard at work inside the woodshop at Columbia Falls High School as if it was any other day of the year. While a long holiday break awaited them when the final school bell rang, there was no desire to cut corners or put their tool belts down a little early. Since 2019, students at Columbia Falls High School have helped build cabins for employee housing and other important structures for Glacier National Park. This school year, the students are finishing their sixth two-bedroom cabin for the park and their 13th structure overall. They have also constructed entrance kiosks and tool sheds.  Glacier officials said the student-built homes have helped the park deal with a shortage of employee housing in recent years, especially on the east side of the park.

Beartooth Elementary School teacher receives "One Class at a Time" award

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. Meet Haddy Wanner, an educator who has been showing her teaching chops ever since she was a little girl. "My favorite toy growing up was my chalkboard," said Ms. Wanner. " I taught my dolls, my mom said, when I was like three or four so it's just what I've always wanted to do. I love it." She's a 4th-grade teacher and really enjoys that grade level.

Superintendent Gum reminds taxpayers of Innovative Education Tax Credits

I would like to remind everyone about the Innovative Education Program Tax Credit opportunity here at Havre Public Schools. You can get a dollar-to-dollar tax credit for donating up to $200,000 per year for the Havre Public School District. Montana House Bill 279 allows taxpayers to donate up to $200,000 to the public school district of their choice, to support innovative educational programs. Please refer to our website for more information on this program or you can swing by the Robins Administration Building to pick up your form. On January 15th at 10am, Havre Public Schools will submit all information regarding this opportunity. Please contact Moses Deanon at (406)-395-8550, ext. 6713 for further details.

Baldwin Junior High students travel the country from their desks

Baldwin Junior High School geography students are mastering geography skills, learning about school life in other states, and demonstrating hometown pride in a writing project connecting them with students across the country. The students recently took part in the Great American Mail Race and wrote letters to students at middle schools in almost all 50 states. The writing project provides the opportunity to learn about U.S. geography and everyday life in other communities across the country. The project began when the Baldwin students received a letter from a seventh grade student from Billings, Montana. The letter contained instructions on how to participate in the Great American Mail Race and a questionnaire seeking information about school life in Baldwin. The Montana student's letter described middle school life in Montana, including classes, after school activities and unique places to visit. 

Bozeman schools offer hands-on construction skills program

Bozeman School District is launching a new program to provide students with practical construction skills. The initiative, led by Career Outreach Coordinator Karl Schwartz, aims to prepare students for careers in construction by offering hands-on experience. Students at both Bozeman high schools will have the opportunity to enroll in a year-long class focused on carpentry and construction. This program allows them to earn dual enrollment credits from Gallatin College. By the end of the course, students could graduate with three college credits. Schwartz emphasized the importance of this program, stating, "When we get students into career technical education classes where they have the opportunity to work with their hands and create, they all of a sudden realize that that's something they're passionate about. 

Book vending machines spread through Billings schools, improving literacy and good behavior

Book vending machines are now implemented in at least five Billings elementary schools. Their purpose it to make literacy and education more engaging. Administrators in Billings School District 2 believe these vending machines have been an effective strategy. The vending machines may not look like the ones most of us were used to when we were in school. But they are a lot healthier. Instead of junk food, the vending machines provide food for thought and for the soul. MTN asked first grader Luke Stevenson on Friday what book he wanted from the vending machine.

Billings Public Schools accepting tax-refundable donations through mid-January

Billings Public Schools will be accepting tax-refundable donations from the public through Jan. 15. Donors will receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their 2025 state taxes, through the state's Innovative Educational Tax Credit. These donations can be used for advanced learning opportunities, technology, expenses for students with disabilities, work-based learning and pre-apprenticeship programs, and career and college-ready programs.

'Over the moon': Darby senior accepted into Vanderbilt University on full-ride scholarship

The incoming freshman class at Vanderbilt University will feature students from all over the world - including Lilly Bennett from Darby.  Lilly got the email with the news she was accepted at the basketball gym in Victor - just before her varsity team played their rival. She was so overwhelmed in the moment, she didn't understand what the email was saying, she told the Ravalli Republic on Thursday. "I was like, 'no way, this is not real,'" she said. The Darby Tigers won the game. Lilly will be going from a graduating class ofclass of 23 kids to a campus of more than 7,000 undergraduate students in Nashville, Tennessee - a nerve-wrecking change but one she's "over the moon" about.

 

December 2024 Great News

FFA returns to Havre High in a big way

After a few decades of being missing-in-action, FFA - Future Farmers of America - has returned to Havre High School with tremendous success. Havre High chapter members just returned last week from an event in Fort Benton where the Blue Pony FFA'ers placed first in every event. The chapter has been busy all year - and for the last three - at events and competitions with the Havre students excelling in their work. That included attending the 97th National FFA Convention this year in October in Indianapolis. Havre had 16 students in the grand total of just fewer than 73,000 members at the convention.

 

Florence School celebrating student donations with assembly featuring Monte

Florence-Carlton Middle School is hosting an assembly Thursday to celebrate student-organized donations to local nonprofits through a new school initiative. Representatives from each of the nonprofits will receive donations collected by the students, and explain how they will be used at an assembly at 1:15 p.m., according to a school press release Wednesday. As part of the first annual SOAR to Support Community Service Project initiative, students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades each chose a local nonprofit to support throughout December.

 

Program brings Butte's young and young at heart together

This is a tough time of year for elementary school teachers. To paraphrase a line from "Twas the Night Before Christmas," the famous Clement Clark Moore poem of 1823, visions of sugar plums have been dancing in students' heads and with just days before the Christmas break, it gets harder to keep the kids engaged. Kara Remsen and Alex Colvin, kindergarten teachers at Margaret Leary School, had come up with a solution to counteract that malady. The project included two learning experiences that would hopefully keep their 33 students focused, all the while teaching them crucial life lessons - the joys and benefits of interacting with Butte's older population and the importance of giving. Remsen and Colvin decided to partner with a residential facility for older adults, The Springs of Butte, and start an intergenerational program.

 

Stockgrowers scholarships offered

Montana Stockgrowers Foundation is accepting applications for its annual Education Heritage Scholarship Program. Scholarships will be awarded to three students in the amounts of one $5,000 scholarship and two $2,500 scholarships. Each year, MSF awards college students, who are seeking a career beneficial to ranching, with a scholarship. To be eligible applicants must be enrolled in college and have completed at least one semester in college, be a member of Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), or have at least one parent/guardian who is a member, and demonstrate a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants enrolled in vocational and out-of-state schools will be accepted.

 

DMS eighth graders dominate stock market game

The Montana Council for Economic Education (MCEE) announced on Monday the winners of the Fall 2024 Stock Market Game, a statewide competition that challenges students to build financial literacy, teamwork, and investment strategy skills. While over 1,800 students from more than 50 schools competed and 85% of the 650 teams were high school representatives, Dillon Middle School produced the champion team, three of the top 10 teams, and a fourth team just out of the top 10. Dillon Middle School eighth graders Kolton Karlsgodt and Nathanial Romkema topped the earning chart to win the contest and split $250 in first prize money. Karlsgodt and Romkema grew a $100,000 starting balance into a portfolio worth $142,305.57.

 

Art students canvas Plains to spread holiday cheer

Early on a recent December morning, around 30 art students from Kristen Coles' class descended on 14 Plains businesses. Their canvases for the day were the windows along Railroad Avenue. Their goal: Bring color and cheer to the business district for all to see.  Many of the art students participated for the first time in what has been a tradition for almost 20 years. The budding artists broke up into groups of two and three, with painting supplies in hand and designs in mind, ranging from Christmas trees and Santa's sleigh to the Grinch.  Art students LeAnna Demars, Emma Dimond, Brady Tucker, Atlas Owens and Shay Nelson shared their talents on the windows of the Circle. The effort had the added benefit of temporarily freeing them from the classroom, they said.

 

Bozeman welcomes Copper, the new K-9 at local schools

The Bozeman Police Department has introduced Copper, a two-year-old yellow lab, as the newest member of their K-9 team. Thanks to a successful fundraiser by the Bozeman Police Foundation, the community raised $10,000 to launch the School Resource Officer K-9 Program. Copper, who will be based at Gallatin High, is trained in detecting explosives, firearms, and ammunition. She will rotate through other schools in the district, providing comfort and safety to students and staff. Copper's handler, SRO Foley, is wrapping up their training, and they will officially start on January 6 when classes resume after winter break.

 

Riverside Middle School teachers design beaded graduation caps for Indigenous seniors as free gift

For the first year, teachers at Riverside Middle School are designing original, intricate beaded graduation caps for Indigenous students that special day they get to walk across the stage. "We make these for anybody," said middle school teacher and the club's founder, Allison Grosskop. This new girls-club at Riverside Middle School is made exclusively of teachers and staff rather than students. "We just started beading what was in our heart, and just started creating what we had, so it would be there for the last-minute student," Grosskop said.

 

Billings Public Schools, health department expanding in-school clinic model

This isn't your typical exam room or clinic. The magazines haven't been there for years and there's no "Good Housekeeping." Students can stop by and add pop culture words on a bulletin board of intergenerational slang. And when they go into the exam room, there's a traditional exam table, or a large bouncy ball, not so unlike the kind you'd find at a gym - take your pick. It has a machine that takes vitals, like blood pressure and temperature, but it's what you'd expect when you merge a medical clinic with a high school. The small, in-house clinic looks and feels like it's been there for longer than a few months, and the concept has been around for years, even in Billings Public Schools, which opened its first school-based clinic at Orchard Elementary a decade ago with its partner, RiverStone Health, the county's public health agency.

 

Flathead High School alumni help current students through donations

When Carol Lechner saw a Facebook post from the Heart Locker last year asking for donations for teens for Christmas, she wanted to help. A year later, it has officially grown into a tradition for Lechner and the Flathead Alumni and Friends. The Heart Locker, also called the Kalispell H.E.A.R.T. Program, partners with Kalispell and Evergreen school districts to support children, youth, young adults and their families who are facing housing insecurity or homelessness by connecting them with resources to meet their basic needs. "It can't be overstated how much community donations mean to our program," said Janelle Willett, the team and young adult case manager and homeless liaison for Heart Locker.

 

Director leads meal service for thousands of students

Serving thousands of hungry kindergarten through 12th-grade students is no easy feat, yet it's done on a daily basis in Kalispell Public Schools, overseen by new Food Service Director, Christine Thelen. Outside the Central Kitchen on a fall November morning, the cold air gives way to the warm aromas from all the cooking and baking inside. Standing next to a wire rack stacked with dry ingredients, Thelen got an update when dozens of turkeys were set to arrive to prepare for a Thanksgiving-themed meal.

 

Lockwood Schools proposes Lion's Path Academy charter school for at-risk students

The Montana Board of Public Education reviewed charter applications on Wednesday, including for the Lion's Path Academy in Lockwood. Lockwood Schools' alternative charter school would help students who may be falling behind. It will be inside Lockwood High School so those students will still have that connection. Lily Gill is a sophomore at Lockwood High School and has dreams of becoming a pediatrician. "I love kids first off and this school really helped me a lot," Gill said. And last year she needed help.

 

Scholarships available for Polson High School graduates

Any student who is currently enrolled as a senior at Polson High School or as a previous PHS graduate are eligible for these scholarships; provided by Polson Scholarship and Education Foundation (PSEF). Fifteen different $1,000 scholarships are geared for high school seniors. Fourteen different scholarships up to $2,000 are available for PHS students enrolled in college. These scholarships are for any accredited four-year, two-year, community college or vocational program. Qualifications vary with each scholarship. All students are encouraged to apply as these scholarships are for every type of student with various GPAs.

 

Jeremy Harder reflects on 25-year career at Big Sky School District

The night before Jeremy Harder's interview at the Big Sky School District in August 2000, the then 27-year-old bathed in the Gallatin River and camped at Red Cliff. After his interview, the BSSD team encouraged him to see Big Sky, so Harder drove to the base of Lone Mountain and back down again. By the time he returned from the scenic tour, BSSD was ready to give him a job offer, which Harder accepted, starting a career that's spanned a quarter century.

 

Nuggets from Helena: Local schools, 1969-1975 – We're all shook up!

In February of 1969, the Catholic Diocese of Helena announced they would close all first-12th grades at the end of the 1968-1969 school year. This action would send an estimated 1,000 students into Helena Public Schools. The Helena School Board had six months to plan for the large increase in students. The board began by considering the purchase of Helena Catholic Central High School, the land and the building. The land and building sat on 24.5 acres that the Catholics bought in 1964 for $13,000. The building itself, finished just before the 1965-1966 school year, cost $1.4 million. The building location is near the intersection of Custer Avenue and Green Meadow Drive.

 

Montana Ag Network: Students experience bison harvest and Blackfeet traditional ceremony

A bison harvest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that recently became a reality for Great Falls and Helena students. Giving these students an opportunity for cultural and agricultural education, Blackfeet organizers asked MTN to film during the ceremony to help educate the public. "We are taking this animal's life, but this animal is also going to be providing life," said Larry Ground, a Blackfeet elder.

 

Missoula-area teachers explore the use of artificial intelligence in schools

About two dozen Missoula-area teachers pondered the uses and risks of artificial intelligence in the classroom at a first-of-its-kind AI "playdate" Thursday night. Montana Digital Academy executive director Jason Neiffer introduced the concept of the "playdate" format to the teachers before they broke into groups to discuss and practice with artificial intelligence tools. Neiffer says the informal, hands-on seminar is a new way his organization is hoping to get teachers talking about how AI is transforming education. "If we can just turn that into a larger conversation about teaching and learning, I think we will do some amazing things with it," Neiffer said in an interview with MTPR. "But, the future seems to be happening so quickly all of a sudden, that it is certainly something to catch up to."

 

Dutton/Brady school board receives state award

The Dutton/Brady school board this fall was awarded the Montana School Board of the Year Award by the School Administrators of Montana (SAM). According to a SAM press release, the award recognized DBPS for its exceptional dedication and innovative contributions to education. The board was honored at the annual Montana Conference of Education Leadership (MCEL) in October in Missoula. The award celebrates the board's accomplishments in board policy, infrastructure development and support for educational programs that enrich the community and foster student success. DBPS Superintendent Jeremy Locke nominated the board, citing the board's commitment to progressive policies, enhanced learning environments and community-centered programs, the release reads.

 

Montana State education department works to address statewide teacher shortage

At the end of November in Montana, there were 51 openings for special education teachers, and a report on the state's teacher shortage last year identified special education as one of the top three critical shortage areas in Montana. At the same time, many Montana children need and benefit from the services that special education teachers provide, according to Leslie Rogers, assistant professor in the Montana State University Department of Education and an expert in special education. Those include both children on individual education plans, or IEPs, and the general student body. "What special education teachers do is great for students with disabilities, as well as for the entire school community and other students in that school," Rogers said. To help address the state's need for special education teachers, MSU will soon begin offering a special education teaching certificate after receiving approval from the Montana Board of Regents. The certificate is for undergraduate students majoring in education who wish to develop teaching skills that will help them better support all students, including those with disabilities, according to Sarah Pennington, an associate professor in MSU's Department of Education who helped develop the certificate.

 

Havre High FFA gain sees success at Ag Expo

A total of 33 Havre FFA members traveled to Bozeman November 13-16th. The chapter spent their time competing at Ag Expo, sponsored by John Deere. This is single-handedly the largest competition offered to all chapters across the state besides the State Convention in April. Ag Expo provides opportunities for the next generation of leaders to improve their personal and professional skills, while interacting with peers of the same interest. This Expo also offers leadership workshops and a motivational speaker to inspire members. Ag Expo offered 41 competitions in all, and Havre FFA competed in 19 of those competitions. The results are in, and we are very proud of our success this year.

 

Helena students participate in the district's first bison harvest

Last month, about 40 Helena high school students loaded onto a school bus at 6:30 a.m. and departed to the Big Sky Bison Ranch in Cascade County.  With snow falling later that day, the students gathered around Blackfeet elders to watch, learn and, for some, reconnect to their cultural history through the harvest of a bison - a classroom first for Helena's students. The district's Indian Education academic specialists Terri Johnson and Joe Pichardo spearheaded the harvest project, which they began planning last year. Johnson told Montana Free Press the harvest was a unique learning opportunity for everyone who participated.  "It was a completely different way of viewing education," Johnson said. "I think it just showed how education can leave the classroom."  Helena students and teachers were able to join a Great Falls student group on the ranch for the harvest, something that the Great Falls district has been doing for several years. 

 

Taking life to give life: Montana students connect to culture through ceremonial bison harvest

A bison harvest allowed Montana high school students to engage in Indigenous traditions, while taking a life to give life through ceremony in Vaughn at the Big Sky Bison Ranch. Students from Great Falls and Helena public schools visited the ranch on Nov. 22 to participate in a pipe ceremony, buffalo stories and the hunt, all of which were led by Blackfeet elders. There were 39 Helena Public Schools students in attendance, 21 were Indigenous, nine culinary students and nine Advanced Placement environmental classmates. Sage and cedar burned, filling the air with a distinctive scent while students listened to speeches from Larry Ground, a Blackfeet elder. "When an animal gets taken, it's sad, but then you guys remember about the things that happen in the future of days that will have gone by. You guys will be providing food to a lot of people," Ground said.

 

University of Montana program tackles counseling shortage in rural schools throughout the state

As a matter of routine last spring, University of Montana graduate student Erin Dozhier would settle into their home office on the north end of Missoula and prepare for a barrage of questions about houseplants and parrots. The queries came from public school kids hundreds of miles away, their worlds temporarily connected to Dozhier's through a version of Zoom often utilized by therapists for virtual counseling. Usually, Dozhier would start with their most tried-and-true strategy for building rapport with young clients. "Number one, if you want students to talk to you, ask them about their pets or show them your pet," said Dozhier, whose parrot Alfie often made appearances in such sessions.

 

Bozeman schools prepare for 5k Santa Run

This is one of the school district's biggest fundraisers, building grants for teachers, aiding kids with food insecurity, and more, connecting the whole community.

 

Hellgate Elementary gets grant to expand abuse prevention program

In a classroom on Nov. 26, Hellgate Elementary counselor Catie Cook talked to kids about what to do in scenarios ranging from a bully pushing a friend on the playground to a stranger wanting to pick them up after school, asking the kids for input. The kids' responses ranged from "tell a teacher" to "use violence." Catie took all the suggestions in stride, directing the kids back to some core safety rules at the center of the Speak Up Be Safe program. The program teaches kids that they have the right to make choices about their own bodies and to ask safe adults for help. Cook has been teaching the Speak Up Be Safe program, a curriculum aimed at preventing various kinds of child abuse, to kindergarten and first-grade students at Hellgate Elementary for 10 years. Now, thanks to a $7,000 grant from the Gianforte Family Foundation, the program will be offered to all grades at Hellgate Elementary, kindergarten through eighth grade.

 

Lincoln Elementary School marks first full year in modular classrooms

Administrators, teachers and students at Lincoln Elementary School recently marked the first anniversary using the modular classrooms after shutting down the 1909 portion of the facility. Although a unique temporary arrangement, school officials appreciate the functionality of the modular complex. In June of 2023, the Glendive Unified School Board approved the purchase of prefabricated modular classroom units to establish on the blacktop outside of LES as a temporary solution to issues with the facility's aging infrastructure. Classrooms were eventually shuffled around in order to shut down the oldest part of the elementary school and now, one year later, administrators reflect on how the new temporary facilities are faring for teachers and students.

 

Superintendent's column: Helena students blend tradition and science in bison harvest

Field trips are some of the most cherished memories of our school years. I'll never forget watching salmon spawn at the outlet of Lake McDonald when my third-grade class at Noxon Elementary took a trip to Glacier National Park. Today, I want to highlight a first-ever, unforgettable field trip for our Helena Public Schools. Our outstanding high school Title VI Indian Ed Tutors – Terri Johnson of Helena High and Joe Pichardo of Capital High – recently took a group of nearly 40 students to a ranch near Great Falls to participate in a traditional bison harvest led by Blackfeet tribal elders. There was a lot of anatomy and a whole lot of learning. Students and adults were enthusiastic throughout the day, even as wet, heavy snow numbed their fingers and toes. The group was comprised of Native American students from both schools as well as students from culinary and AP Science courses.

 

Students in Poplar connect and create with 'Buffalo Unity Program'

At Poplar Middle School, students are reconnecting with their culture and community through the Buffalo Unity Program. Designed as part of Montana's "Indian Education For All" program, the project combines hands-on-learning with traditional teachings using the buffalo as a foundation. "This is how Native American people survive," said Poplar Middle School educator, Joseph Hammar. "Unless we teach these kids about the buffalo and the importance of the buffalo to their people, they're not going to know it." This year, the program focused on engaging students in workshops, storytelling sessions, and field trips out to Turtle Mount Buffalo Ranch on the Fort Peck Reservation, where the students learned about the buffalo's role within tribes.

 

Career Center welding students prepare UFO float for Billings' holiday parade

The 39th annual holiday parade took place in downtown Billings on Friday night; among the floats was one created by the students of the Career Center. "We decided to have the welding kids create us a welded UFO, and we're gonna have aliens and people walking around with UFO umbrellas," said Aurora Anttila, the president and founder of Career Center's student advisory board. This year's parade theme was "out of this world.”

 

Internet-capable learning bus connects Crow students to higher education

Pryor Public Schools is enhancing educational access with the help of a 2021 USDA Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant. Located within the Crow Nation in southeastern Montana, the district is using the grant to connect students and teachers to new learning and job-training opportunities through distance learning technology. The district serves about 145 students, all of whom identify as American Indian, and faces challenges such as limited access to educational resources and economic growth. The DLT grant is funding technology to support remote learning, career development, and professional growth for both students and teachers. The project includes a hybrid approach with mobile and fixed learning stations. A mobile learning station, equipped with internet access, will travel to various locations, allowing students to take online courses, participate in job training, and engage in educational field trips. This initiative aims to overcome geographic barriers that have previously limited educational access.

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November 2024 Great News

Skyview High School's 'Blue and Silver' program highlights student stories through journalism

At Skyview High School, a new class allows students to explore the world of journalism while uncovering the untold stories that make their school unique. Students are learning to find stories in their everyday surroundings and sharing them with their peers through Blue and Silver, a student-produced weekly video news program. Course instructor Jehremy Felig, who is normally a chemistry teacher, took on the role of leading the program after volunteering his free time to help students produce the program in the past. Initially, it was just a couple of students meeting him during lunch to film, while Felig wrote scripts and edited the footage after hours.

 

Ekalaka Public Schools' in-house daycare a model for rural communities

Ekalaka Public Schools has taken a significant step towards addressing the critical need for quality childcare in rural communities. The district's in-house daycare, located within the elementary school building, opened its doors in August 2022. This initiative was made possible by a $163,000 Child Care Innovation Grant, awarded to Ekalaka as one of only two public schools (alongside Browning) among 31 grantees across Montana. The grant funding spanned from September 2022 to August 2024. The closure of the town's last daycare provider in May 2022 presented a significant challenge for many families, particularly working parents employed by the school district. "I couldn't work if there was no childcare available in town," expressed Drake Burch, a district employee. "Having both of my kids in the same building is incredibly comforting," she added, highlighting the convenience offered by the in-house facility.

 

Evergreen School District focuses on community connections

The Evergreen School District is in its 122nd year of continuous operation and is the 48th largest school district in Montana (of almost 400 districts). The district has approximately 650 students and 120 staff. The district operates three schools: East Evergreen Elementary School (preschool through fourth grades), Evergreen Junior High School (fifth through eighth grades), and the Evergreen Crossroads Program (kindergarten through eighth grades). With a strong history of working with and supporting students and their families, many of whom attended the Evergreen School District themselves, below are several ways we continue to partner with our community to help provide additional opportunities and support outside the traditional classroom. 

 

'Just blown up': Billings Career Center offers new drone class

From firefighting to journalism, drones have been an invaluable tool in many industries in recent years. It's why the Billings Career Center is now offering a drone class, giving students the chance to get drone-certified. With aspiring dreams to become an architect, 17-year-old senior Tommy Tracy jumped at the chance to be a part of the new curriculum. "Drones are always fun. And what's cool about this class is it's more than just a drone class," said Tracy at the Career Center Wednesday. "Sure, we have a lot of fun, but it's teaching us skills to use in a growing industry. And I think that's really important because drones is, I mean, the past five years, it's just blown up."

 

Corvallis High School hosting 79th annual lighting of Marty Litvin Memorial Tree

Corvallis High School is hosting the 79th annual lighting of the Marty Litvin Memorial Tree on Dec. 3. The event will feature horse-drawn trolley rides, visits with Santa and performances by the high school choir, orchestra and jazz band after the tree lighting. The tradition started in 1945 when Bob and Alice Carmichael started the community singalong right after World War II, the Ravalli Republic previously reported.  A Douglas fir tree is used as the community Christmas tree and was planted in 2000 to honor the passing of Corvallis High School biology teacher Marty Litvin, who died in an avalanche in 1989.

 

Montana nonprofit awarded $1 million toward violence prevention in schools

ore students in Montana will have access to mental health resources thanks to $2 million in federal grants headed to the Treasure State. The U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Lolo-based Montana Professional Learning Collaborative (MTPLC) $1 million toward violence prevention in schools, one of two entities awarded in Montana. The collaborative is looking to expand mental health resources to underserved schools in remote rural and tribal communities in Montana, and one school district already using their services said it's been a useful tool for them in helping their kids. The organization has online trainings and holds conferences for teachers. It also runs Montana Cares, a program that allows students to submit anonymous reports to their district and connects users to help if they are struggling with depression or bullying. MTPLC Executive Director Jessica Johnson told the Ravalli Republic that smaller school districts may not have a school administrator or a counselor, but 65 schools are already onboarded to Montana Cares, translating to about 30,000 kids having access to mental health resources. With these extra funds, that number is expected to grow, she said.

 

Glacier High School speech and debate triumphs at Missoula invitational

Glacier High School's speech and debate team brought home the hardware in a decisive win over the weekend in Missoula.   The Class AA team racked up 178 overall points at the Nov. 15 and 16 tournament, surpassing Bozeman's 129 points. Flathead High School placed third with 118 points.  "What a battle from our team," Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said. "This was truly a team effort, and we ended up in first place because of the balance across all the events."

 

USDA awards $5 million in grants for tribal students

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $5 million in grants to support tribal students at land grant colleges and universities across the nation. This funding is part of the New Beginning for Tribal Students (NBTS) program, which aims to eliminate barriers to workforce entry for tribal nations and enhance tribal workforce development. In Montana, the NBTS program is available to students at Montana State University and Salish Kootenai College. The program focuses on increasing retention and graduation rates for tribal students. In addition to the NBTS program, there are two other scholarship opportunities available for tribal students in Montana. These are the USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program and the Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellowship.

 

After-school program helps Missoula students bring dream projects to life

It can be hard for families of teenagers to find something for them to do after school. Families First is trying to fill that gap with the Dream Bigger Afterschool Program that launched in September, which is aimed at helping seventh through 12th graders pursue their passion projects at Missoula and Lolo's public libraries. For the kids, that means time, mentorship and resources to work on anything from SCUBA certification to filmmaking. The goal is that they'll create something that'll do more than just gather dust, teen program director Nick Ehlers said.

 

Angel Fund online fundraiser underway to help Helena-area students

Angel Fund's online silent auction is live and has a goal to raise $20,000. There are more than 60 items up for bid to help students in the Helena area. Go to: https://go.helenair.com/y1k0sa. Between 5-9:30 p.m. on Dec. 2, On Broadway will donate 50% of its proceeds to The Angel Fund (gift certificate purchases not included). Doors at the restaurant at 106 Broadway St. open at 4 p.m. with dinner seating starting at 5 p.m. Auction items will be available for viewing at On Broadway from 4-8 p.m. Angel Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that helps children in need. It began 35 years ago at one school helping a few students with winter coats and field trip fees.

 

MSU receives $3M grant to boost STEM education in underserved areas

A $3 million grant will support a six-year project at Montana State University to expand access to STEM education in rural parts of Montana. The grant, from the Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, will support a project that will develop a group of 26 experienced STEM teachers to serve seven high-need school districts. The project, known as RAISE STEM Leaders, will support the Browning, Colstrip, Cut Bank, Hardin, Polson, Pryor, Ronan, St. Labre and Superior communities. Program participants are eligible to receive a stipend of $12,000 per year for up to five years, which could be applied to graduate degrees.

 

Miles City finds progressive way to attract teachers: an in-district daycare

MILES CITY - Elementary school teacher Miranda Stevens is living out her dream job as a teacher at the same elementary school she attended years ago. "It's something that I've wanted to do since I was in first grade," she said.

 

Students put finishing touches on mural for Libby's Peace Officer Park

The mural in Libby's Peace Officer Park has been completed. Students and teachers from the Libby Central School battled a wide variety of weather conditions during the past year to finish the work of art, adding to the city's fine tradition of scenic murals. The 10-foot diameter mural sits behind the metal wings that the late Todd Berget made, and commissioned by the Kootenai Valley Rotary Club, before his death in 2019.

 

Columbia Falls takes top spot at speech and debate tournament

Columbia Falls High School speech and debate swept up the competition on home turf this weekend. The Class A team amassed 209 overall points for the first-place finish. Whitefish High School speech and debate finished second with 92 points. Fifteen schools attended the Saturday tournament hosted by Columbia Falls, which featured 228 entries.

 

'Touches the heart:' Billings elementary school delivers handwritten letters to veterans

BILLINGS - Billings students from Arrowhead Elementary School wrote and hand-delivered letters to Billings military veterans for Veterans Day. The drop-off happened Friday at Mission Ridge at St. John's located on Rimrock Road but began with an idea from second grade teacher Marci Schieno.

 

Service members share stories at Billings middle school's Veterans Day assembly

BILLINGS - Will James Middle School held its annual Veterans Day assembly on Monday, welcoming veterans from around the country. "I spent 22 months overseas in southeast Asia. It was a wonderful experience, one I will never forget, and I would never change – it was for you," said Kent Thompson, a sergeant E-5 veteran of the Marine Corps.

 

Hamilton Schools honor local retired military in Veterans Day assembly

Four Hamilton High School Seniors - set to enlist in the military upon graduation - set up a table for one to represent members of the armed forces who are no longer with us. In front of the high school gymnasium full of students, parents and retired veterans, Army Sgt. 1st Class and Student Resource Officer Chris Lueck described the symbolism behind each part of the table setting - a white cloth to represent the soldiers' pure intentions, a single rose to represent the faith they will return, a slice of lemon on the plate for their bitter fate. "They are commonly called POWs or MIAs, but we call them brothers," said Lueck. "They are unable to be with us today, and so we remember them."

 

TEACH Academy in Missoula offers unique early education approach

TEACH Academy, a charter school in Missoula, is offering a fresh take on early education. Since opening in August, the school has been exploring new ways to engage with the community and enhance its educational offerings. TEACH Academy is an arts integration K-5 charter school and one of two charter schools within the Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) system. In January, the school will open enrollment again and gauge community interest for potential new classes. Currently, the school serves around 85 students.

 

Glasgow School District Awarded Golden Gavel Award

The Glasgow Schools Board of Trustees, comprised of Blaine White, Stan Ozark, Chrissa Nelson, Derek Beadle (incoming May '24), Ryan Fast (outgoing May '24) and Chair Angie Page (outgoing Oct. '24) was awarded the 2024 Golden Gavel Award by the Montana School Boards Association. 

 

GFPS superintendent honored for Career & Technical Education efforts

In the video above, Brianna Juneau reports on Heather Hoyer, the Great Falls Public Schools superintendent, who was recently recognized for her efforts to bring Career & Technical Education programs and resources to the forefront of 10,000 enrolled students across Great Falls.

 

Glacier speech and debate wins first tournament of the season

The Glacier High School speech and debate team earned its first win of the 2024-25 season over the weekend at the Kalispell Kickoff.  Glacier defeated crosstown rival and defending Class AA state champion Flathead High School with a score of 277 overall points. Flathead took second place with 223.5 overall points. Missoula Hellgate placed third. In Class A, B and C, Columbia Falls High School speech and debate edged out Whitefish High School with an 82.5 to 77-point victory led by Carson Settles and Reed Wollenzien's first-place finish in Duo Interpretation. Overall, the two teams ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, among all competing schools. Frenchtown took third place. 

 

Bitterroot Valley schools to host Veterans Day assemblies

chools throughout the Bitterroot Valley are planning to hold assemblies to mark Veterans Day and honor local veterans. The holiday was first known as Armistice Day, recognizing the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. Congress in 1954 expanded the day to honor everyone who had served and changed the name to Veterans Day. The national ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honored with the laying of the presidential wreath. States and municipalities honor local veterans with events around the country.

 

Harlem High School is competing for sports upgradeHarlem High School is currently in a national competition to receive new lighting for their football field as well as a new track so the school can host track meets. While the Wildcats hosted three night games this football season, the current lighting includes 4.3- foot candles as opposed to the recommended 50-foot candles. The track is made of cinder; it has not been used for a meet since the late 1900s. Coach Lyle Faulkinberry said, "Our outdated lighting system, installed in the late 1970s, is holding our athletes back. New energy efficient lighting would transform our facilities, extend practice hours, and allow us to host evening events and bring our community together."

 

Capital High Senior football players honor teachers that "Made an Impact"

A large portion of senior year is about looking into the future, but on Friday Capital High seniors reflected on their pasts, honoring the teachers who made a lasting impact. Twenty-two Capital High School football seniors visited their former elementary schools and middle schools to give a teacher who inspired them a Bruins t-shirt. Players described their former teachers as "energetic, great, awesome and exciting." One player visited his former teacher and she barely recognized him because he had grown so much since the fifth grade. Although years have passed, many of the teachers expressed the same feelings about their students.

 

Big Sky High School to put on production of Arsenic and Old Lace

Drama and fine arts have always been an important part of Missoula County Public Schools, and Big Sky High School is opening its fall production this week. The students at Big Sky have been working on the production because of the importance of the program. "This is where they feel safe. This is ... they don't have sports, they don't belong to anything else. This is where they come and this is where they thrive all through high school," noted Big Sky High School drama teacher Melissa Briner. "And a lot of our students do go on to succeed professionally, whether it's in the theater or not, because of the skills they learn here in the theater, the arts are so important."

 

Browning Middle School book fair encourages community support

Browning Middle School is hosting a book fair starting Monday, November 4, 2024. The school is inviting the community to help make this event a positive experience for all students, regardless of their financial situation. To support this initiative, donations can be made to the librarian's e-wallet account. These contributions will provide books for students who may not be able to purchase their own. The school emphasizes the importance of young people having the freedom to choose their own reading materials. "Young people who are given the freedom to choose their own reading materials and who have the luxury of having books at home are at a huge academic advantage," the school stated.

 

Plains School Board earns statewide recognition

Plains School Board members have received statewide recognition from the Montana School Boards Association. School Board member Ellen Childress received the Marvin Heintz award for earning the highest level of individual certification in the Montana School Boards Association's School Board Academy.  Plains Public Schools received recognition for completion of the certification requirements by every member of the board of trustees in the Montana School Boards Association's School Board Academy.  The awards were presented at the October school board meeting.

 

"You are stronger than you think": Gallatin High senior youngest American woman to summit Himalayan peak

Asha Noor Shehryar, a Gallatin High School Senior and the youngest American woman to summit Manaslu, is seen in her home on October 31, 2024, in Bozeman. "It was so tiring, but when I got to the summit, I got a little teary-eyed, I kind of couldn't believe I made it. It just felt surreal," Shehryar said. Asha Noor Shehryar, a Gallatin High School Senior and the youngest American woman to summit Manaslu, is seen in her home on October 31, 2024, in Bozeman. "It was so tiring, but when I got to the summit, I got a little teary-eyed, I kind of couldn't believe I made it. It just felt surreal," Shehryar said. That all changed Sept. 23 when the Gallatin High School senior reached the summit of 26,781-foot Mount Manaslu in the Nepalese Himalayas at 4:10 a.m.

 

Kalispell speech and debate teams ready to talk the talk

Flathead High School is looking to defend its state championship title in speech and debate against top rival and 2024 state runner-up, Bozeman, and fellow Kalispell team, Glacier High School as a new season begins. The Class AA speech and debate teams will speak their mind in the season-opener, Kalispell Kickoff, Saturday, which will be held at Flathead, 644 4th Ave. W., Kalispell. The first round starts at 8 a.m. with finals set to begin at 4:30 p.m. Flathead launches the competitive season on home turf with about 110 team members with more Braves set to join after fall sports wrap up. Flathead head coach Shannon O'Donnell anticipates this year's team will be strong in debate events, despite losing most of last year's state members competing in interpretive events.

October 2024 Great News

Hamilton High seniors host mock election at Daly Elementary

merica is less than a week away from deciding who will serve as the next president and Montana voters could determine the party majority in the U.S. Senate, but at Daly Elementary the vote was between Skittles and Starburst.

 

Hamilton High School government students on Tuesday used the two candies as a way to teach elementary students in kindergarten and fourth grade about the importance of voting in light of the upcoming election - one some seniors will be voting in for the first time. Kiah Nisly, who teaches U.S. Government at Hamilton High School, told the Ravalli Republic she got the idea to host this lesson on democracy when her fourth-grade daughter told her she didn't know what it looked like when she said she was going to vote.

 

MTHS Announces Montana History Teacher of the Year

The public is invited to attend the celebration for Jenifer Powell as the 2024 Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year.

Before retiring in June 2024, Powell was the seventh-grade social studies teacher at Corvallis Middle School, where she demonstrated an exceptional dedication to teaching and a profound passion for imparting knowledge of the history of Montana to her students.

She and her former students will come to Helena on Nov. 8 – Statehood Day – for a ceremony to celebrate her commitment to teaching Montana history.

 

Board approves Hamilton Keystone after-school program expansion

Affordable childcare is hard for parents to find across Montana, but the Keystone after-school program in Hamilton is looking to expand and could help meet the demand in the Bitterroot. The Hamilton school board last week voted unanimously to allow for the expansion of the program to include 4-year-old early literacy learners. The program has more than doubled in participation in recent years in a county deemed a "childcare desert."

 

Driven by learning: Flathead High School automotive program navigates into 75th year

The automotive program is cruising through its 75th year at Flathead High School.  

Going along for the ride have been generations of graduates who have gone on to work and own shops and businesses, many of which were and are local.  

 

Billings Public Schools saves more than $1 million on energy

Billings Public Schools decreased its energy bill by 26.3 percent or $1,056,033 last year with energy-efficient equipment and practices. It's projects such as installing solar panels at Riverside Middle School that have allowed School District 2 to save money on energy. Scott Reiter, the district's facilities director says with solar panels, the meter can run backwards, not enough for credit, but still a savings to the district each year. Reiter says the 50-kilowatt solar panels cost more than $300,000. With about $230,000 in grants, Reiter expects the system to pay for itself in less than 10 years with savings of about $10,000 annually. The savings is one of several for the Billings public schools which adds up to more than $1 million in energy savings over the last year.

 

Bozeman High School prepares to bring vibrant "Singin' in the Rain" production to stage

Bozeman High School's Hawks Theatre Company is set to debut a vibrant rendition of "Singin' in the Rain" next weekend. The production aims to bring the lively energy and vivid colors of the classic Hollywood film to life on stage. "The sets are going to look amazing, like, we're both wearing extremely bright colored costumes, and I think just all of those colors are just going to pull together really nicely," said senior Levi Pufahl. "Like, when it's officially under the lights, you know," he said. The company has been preparing diligently, ensuring that their performance captures the essence of the story, which takes place in Old Hollywood during the transition from silent films to "talkies."

 

Applications open for Kalispell high school student scholarships

High school seniors and current undergraduate students in Kalispell have a chance to secure scholarships through Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC). FEC, in partnership with Basin Electric Power Cooperative (BEPC) and the Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association (MECA), is offering these opportunities. BEPC provides a $1,000 scholarship annually, while MECA offers a $500 scholarship. Both awards are available to dependents of FEC members. Applicants will be judged on various criteria. Academic strength, including courses, GPA, and national testing scores, accounts for 20%. School and community activities, awards, and honors also represent 20%. Employment, volunteerism, and community service contribute another 20%. Finally, a personal statement is weighted at 40%.

 

Montana Youth Vote starts for K-12 students

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Superintendent Elsie Arntzen announced the 2024 Montana Youth Vote opened Monday. Students in kindergarten through 12th grades will be able to vote for candidates on the Montana ballot. Older students will be able to vote for Montana's Supreme Court races and the proposed ballot initiatives. The younger students will get age-appropriate ballots. The results will be shared on Nov. 1. The results have predicted Montana's elections in the past. The Montana Secretary of State's office sent out the following: The 2024 Montana Youth Vote opened to all Montana students in grades K-12 on Monday, announced Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen.

 

Teacher at Broadwater Elementary earns "One Class at a Time" award

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. This week, we honor a teacher who knows the importance of learning how to read early on in life. "Read to kids when they're babies, read to them when they're older and there's nothing they can't do if they can read. It's such an important skill." Meet Taylor Vanderby, a first-grade educator at Broadwater Elementary School who comes from a teaching family and knew from a young age that's exactly what she wanted to do with her life, too.

 

Montana high schoolers show off global knowledge at annual competition

Dallas Doney and Marie Hogan, students from Harlem High School, participate in Academic WorldQuest competition at the University of Montana in Missoula on Tuesday. Nearly 500 students from high schools all over Montana gathered in Missoula this week to meet with diplomats, learn about global cultures and explore professional pathways abroad. The three-day event included roundtable discussions led by former ambassadors, a performance by African dance group Djebe Bara, and visits with representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency. Students enjoyed global cuisine prepared by refugee chefs through United We Eat, the food program of a local nonprofit that supports refugees and immigrants. They also created a mosaic project that helped them learn about the Arabic language and that will be displayed at the Wren hotel. But the hallmark event, the reason why hundreds of students traveled from every corner of Montana, was the Academic WorldQuest, a team-based competition that tests how much students know about international relations, the globe and current events. Winners travel to Washington D.C. to compete nationally.

 

New vending machine lets C.S. Porter students swap tokens for books

For most kids, school vending machines are a place to exchange allowance money for salty snacks. But since the week of Oct. 8, the students at C.S. Porter Middle School can cash in good deeds for good books at an LED-lit vending machine outside of the library. Last spring, the school raised funds for the Inchy the Bookworm Book Vending Machine, which is meant to help kids build a personal library. The LED-lit interior displays rows of covers, from drawings of historical events to faces of creepy dolls. "The kids really love scary books," librarian Brianna Lipke said. "They're always asking for scary books in the library." The books are bought with tokens, and the tokens are purchased with "Cougar Coupons," which teachers give to students for good deeds and positive behavior. Between the machine's installation and Oct. 15, 34 books were bought with inchworm-embossed tokens. Since a token costs 10 Cougar Coupons, that's 340 good deeds. "We just wanna get books into their hands that they get to keep," librarian Kim Rieley said. "Not every kid can get a new book very often.”

 

Billings school district opens 'Cafe Protege' kitchen at Lincoln Center

Billings Public Schools opened a new food-service facility aimed at training budding restaurateurs on Thursday at the Lincoln Center. Café Protégé Kitchen is a one-year culinary course through the Lincoln Center that accepts 40 students a semester. It offers an introduction to the restaurant and food service industry, including workplace safety, using equipment, and culinary skills. The original kitchen at MSU Billings' City College flooded in 2023 at the end of the school year, forcing the class to move. Chef Bill Jensen has been the program's teacher for nearly 10 years and was excited for the new space. For over a year, the program was temporarily on the second floor of the Lincoln Center building in an old chemistry classroom with one stove, four burners, and regular tables for prepping.

 

Kalispell school brings Indigenous Peoples project into the curriculum

Fifth grade students at Edgerton Elementary School in Kalispell are in the midst of a project focused on learning about the history of Indigenous tribes across the United States. Education on Indigenous culture is important for Kalispell students due to the Flathead's deep roots with Indigenous people. "There are so many different tribes that are native to Kalispell. I didn't know this until actually doing this project, that the name Kalispell itself is a Native American tribe. But it's really important because there are kids in the valley that have roots to different tribes all around," said Edgerton Elementary School fifth grade teacher Katie Haas. Students are creating posters that highlight the history, art, culture, housing and daily life of Indigenous tribes across the nation.

 

Missoula teacher hopes high schools will help give Montana housing

This April, about 300 Montana FFA students worked together to build a tiny house out of a shipping container at the state FFA convention in Billings. Now, Big Sky High School agriculture teacher and FFA adviser Tom Andres has his eyes on the next step: a full program where shop classes build tiny homes for affordable housing. At the convention, students worked long shifts to complete the house within five days, doing everything from wiring to plumbing. On Oct. 16, the tiny house sat perched in the Missoula Public Schools agricultural center for a visit by Gov. Greg Gianforte, who came to highlight the work done by the students. "We wanted it to be perfect for whoever's in there," Spencer Hielle, a senior at Frenchtown High School, said.

 

Billings Public Schools equipped with life-saving tools

Fentanyl continues to be a problem all across the country, the state and in Billings. To combat that and to help save lives, Narcan has been put in many places. As a precaution, School District 2 has placed trauma kits in all the schools and those kits include Narcan in case of a fentanyl overdose. "It is a true life-saving measure that we can take," said Joe Halligan, school safety & emergency management coordinator for the Billings Public Schools. "Very simple to administer. Relatively cheap." Halligan says some school workers have been trained to administer Narcan.

 

Great Falls students step up to rebuild Little League Dugout after windstorm

Recently, 70 mile-an-hour winds swept through Great Falls, causing significant damage, and demolishing a Little League dugout at the West Side baseball fields. Pete Pace, the high school house instructor for Great Falls Public Schools, led a group of about 35 students from both C.M.R. High School and Great Falls High School to rebuild the dugout. "We had a little break in our action on the high school house and we decided to come over here and not only use our skills, the students' skills to rebuild this, but also help out the community," said Pace. For many of the students, this effort is a chance to connect with the community and give back to a place that holds special memories.

 

Darby Schools hosting book drive for donations to African libraries

The Darby School District is hosting a book drive until Nov. 8, with donations going toward both the local community and to libraries in Africa through the African Library Project. The goal is to collect 500 books by Nov. 8. The district is asking parents and guardians to send gently used children's books for ages 3-10 with their children to school. There are donation boxes in Darby at Daly Elementary, Washington Preschool and at Curious Minds Children's Center. Syble Solomon, Ravalli County coordinator for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, is helping to organize getting the books to Africa - and she's getting some help from students as well. Solomon said Parton's nonprofit, which donates one book per month to participating children's families until they are 5 years old, wants the books to continue to be donated if families are looking to pass them on.

 

Great Falls Public Schools Foundation hosts raffle to win Toyota truck

Great Falls residents have a unique opportunity to win a brand-new Toyota Tacoma while supporting education. The Great Falls Public Schools Foundation, in partnership with City Motor Company, is hosting their annual fundraiser to benefit student groups and provide school grants. This community-driven initiative has been running since 2013, providing much-needed resources for local schools. This year, participants can purchase tickets for $10 and enter a raffle for the chance to win the new car.

 

Helena high school students bringing literature to life for kids

Helena High students are set to bring joy to young children today. They will perform original pieces at several elementary schools in Helena, including Jefferson, Central, Smith, Warren, and Bryant. These performances, inspired by children's books, aim to engage first graders in reading and potentially spark their interest in theater.

 

Montana's Indigenous education curriculum sets bar nationwide

From shining a light on dark times in American Indian history to showing today's students how to build a teepee facing the rising sun in the east while withstanding strong western winds on the plains, Montana's Indigenous education curriculum is setting the bar nationwide. At Lewis and Clark Middle School in Billings on a brisk October day in 2024, just a few days before Columbus Day, also widely known as Indigenous People's Day, it is a cultural and structural lesson day for 7th-grade students as they learn how to set up a teepee properly. It's all part of the Billings Public School system's Indigenous Education program.

"One Class at a Time" awards teacher at West High

Q2, Western Security Bank, City Brew Coffee, and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have teamed up for "One Class at a Time." The program recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to help their students. This week, we are honoring a math teacher at West High who emphasizes the importance of learning critical thinking early on in life. "I think it's more the logic and reasoning of math. I always tell kids it's not the specific math you're learning, but it's more the logic and reasoning skills that you take with you for the rest of your life." Meet Kate Delavan, an educator who uses many methods to engage her students in critical thinking including having them work often in groups.

 

Emerson students in Butte get free winter coats as part of 'Operation Warm'

Students in Butte got the gift of warmth as local volunteers distributed free coats to students Friday morning. "They are ecstatic, they are smiling and jumping up and down. I've had more hugs today than I can even count because they're just so excited. They have a new coat," said Emerson Elementary Principal Erna Gallagher. Volunteers with FedEx helped distribute 450 free coats to students at Emerson as part of the national coat giveaway, Operation Warm. "To be warm, you know, that's what our goal is to have every kid have a coat, a pair of gloves, and a pair of socks," said FedEx representative Greg Peters. Students enjoyed picking out their favorite coats.

 

Flathead High School automotive teacher receives national recognition

It was cause for celebration Tuesday morning at Flathead High School in Kalispell as automotive teacher Rob Hunter took center stage. "It's crazy seeing that a small town like us in Kalispell is getting recognition around the world, it's just super cool to see that," said Flathead High School student Cole Butler. Hunter was one of 25 teachers across the country and the only teacher in Montana to receive the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. He earned a $50,000 check, with $35,000 going directly to his school program. "It totally caught me off guard, took me several minutes to get my composure back, never had that much attention in my life," said Hunter.

 

Flathead High School auto teacher surprised with $50,000 prize

More than 20 people showed up to Flathead High School Tuesday morning to surprise automotive teacher Rob Hunter with $50,000 from the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program. After the third-period bell rang, the group of students, administrators, school board members, Kalispell City Councilor Chad Graham and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke gathered and walked across the street from the high school to the auto shop carrying balloons and banners into his classroom. Hunter is one of 20 skilled trades teachers nationwide, and the only Montana teacher to receive the award. Of the $50,000, $35,000 goes to the FHS skilled trades program and $15,000 goes to Hunter.  "What I love most about teaching is watching my students grow from beginners to highly skilled professionals after graduation. I love to hear about their success in the skilled trades," Hunter wrote in his application.

 

Montana's Teacher of the Year on the challenges and rewards of teaching

Education leaders in Montana select a Teacher of the Year to recognize achievement and innovation in the classroom. This year's winner hails from the small town of Power, Montana, where she teaches middle school English, Spanish and Art. MTPR's Austin Amestoy sat down with Montana Teacher of the Year Dawn Sievers to talk about the award and how teaching has changed in the nearly three decades since her career began.

 

Hamilton High senior recognized as National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist

When Chloe Greek was in the fifth grade her grandmother gave her a jade tree, which she has kept alive ever since. In keeping that tree alive, Greek learned small acts of kindness can make a difference in people's lives - a lesson she included in her personal essay that led her to be selected as the only National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist in Hamilton this school year. Greek is one of 45 semi-finalists in Montana and over 16,000 semi-finalists nationwide for the scholarship. Winners will be announced next spring for the 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million.  To qualify to be a semi-finalist, applicants have to first score high on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which she took in October of her junior year. Greek said she scored a 1420, with the highest possible score being 1520. Kaplan, an education company which provides test preparation materials, considers the score to be in the top percentile of test results.

 

Montana College Application Weeks encourages high school seniors to apply

As one door closes, another one opens. High school seniors throughout the state are getting ready for that next chapter in their lives by filling out an application that's applicable to 16 universities and colleges throughout the state as part of the Montana College Application Weeks. On Thursday morning, students at PAL were putting the puzzle pieces together with the help of Helena College Admissions staff to complete their application.

 

ADF and partners introduce welding careers to students

As the demand for skilled workers in trades like welding continues to grow, industries across Montana and the U.S. are struggling to fill critical roles. Recognizing the shortage, companies like ADF International, along with other industry partners, have started outreach initiatives aimed at educating and recruiting high school students into these in-demand careers. At the heart of this effort is an out-of-the-box approach by welding teacher Mr. Weber of Capital High School in Helena, who has been instrumental in bringing his students to ADF International for hands-on learning experiences.

 

Students learn about career options at Montana Knife Company

Students from a pair of Mineral County Schools were given a tour of Montana Knife Company's manufacturing facility as part of National Manufacturing Day, "I think it's important with high school kids to have them understand that there's a different path in life between maybe the traditional college route and the route a lot of people make," said Montana Knife Company CEO Josh Smith. "I think this is an opportunity for these students that I never got to see in school." It may seem hard to find a good-paying job without a college degree these days but Montana Knife Company showed some high school students what can be done without one.

 

Kalispell Schools Debut New Charter Programs

In between class bells and student announcements, the Kalispell Public Schools (KPS) on Thursday unveiled the two in-district charter schools that opened at Flathead and Glacier high schools at the beginning of the school year. "We're really proud of the work that we've done," Peter Fusaro, KPS assistant superintendent, said, addressing a handful of reporters, students and staff at Glacier High School. Fusaro called on teachers, administrators, students and community leaders to share how the two charter programs - Rising Wolf Charter at Glacier High School and Flathead PACE Academy at Flathead High School - have brought increased flexibility to a historically regimented learning schedule, and further developed the district's relationship with local industry. Both programs are a product of House Bill 549, a law passed by the state Legislature last year that allows public school districts to create in-district charter programs and provides them with additional state funding to do so. The charter schools are governed by the existing local school board, as well as an advisory council made up of parents and community members.

 

Power Public Schools teacher Dawn Sievers honored

Power Public Schools teacher Dawn Sievers was awarded the 2025 Montana Teacher of the Year Award by the Office of Public Instruction last week.

Sievers teaches grade seven English and grades seven through 12 Spanish and art. The other finalists for the award were: Billings Senior High School's Jennifer Fleek Airne, Missoula Hellgate Elementary's Jordan Capp and Livingston East Side Intermediate School's Megan Brenna. Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen joined Power students and staff in presenting Sievers with the honor at an assembly on Sept. 25.

The Teacher of the Year Award was first presented in 2019. Arntzen said the award was opened into 10 separate regions. The regions include nine non-tribal and one tribal region. The tribal region was added because 10% of Montana students live in tribal communities. Arntzen said the application process was opened in an easier manner so more people could apply. She said she wanted to recognize the award as a state-designated honor and not an organizational one.

 

Alberton teacher being nationally recognized for innovative approach to STEM

For a rural school like Alberton, access to technology can make a huge impact on kids' lives. McKenna Akane - a teacher in only her second year as an educator - has earned three awards in the past year for the creative ways she's implementing technology. Mahlon Manson is a student in Akane's class with aspirations high as the moon. He told MTN, "My dream job is being an engineer for NASA." Manson continued, "I think it's really cool to look at the planes and see how they work." Due to Akane's dedication as a teacher, kids in Alberton like Manson are getting ready for take-off. "Finding those controls and pedals and yokes; being able to explain how everything works together," stated Akane. "The fighter jet. It's the easiest to operate from what I've found," added Manson. Plus Akane is receiving national recognition including the Outstanding Teacher Award from Project Lead the Way for using exploratory methods.

 

Russell Elementary in Missoula honored as National Blue Ribbon School

Russell Elementary School in Missoula has been awarded the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School for Excellence. This honor is given based on exemplary test scores and academic achievements. Principal Peter Halloran emphasized it as a collective achievement.

 

Missoula County Public School shares resources for school shooting prevention

We are only a few weeks into this school year and already there has been an uptick in shooting threats both here in Montana and across the country. Schools have to have a plan ready in the event a threat becomes real violence. MTN spoke with Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) and a local expert to learn how they navigate these alarming situations and what steps to take to spot trouble before it turns tragic.

 

Missoula school district offers free gun locks to support community safety

MISSOULA, Mont. - Missoula County Public Schools is distributing free gun locks to the community. The initiative comes at the end of Suicide Prevention Month. The distribution is part of the Safe Storage Campaign by MCPS. Superintendent Micah Hill explained that the drive aims to support the community by limiting access to firearms, hoping to enhance safety in homes.

 

Darby Schools host Powwow Exhibition for American Indian Heritage Day

The jingles from dancers' regalia echoed through Darby High School's gymnasium Friday as students gathered to watch a Powwow Dance and Song exhibition for American Indian Heritage Day. Ignace Quequesah, 17, told the Ravalli Republic he was wearing his grandfather's outfit dancing in the Men's Traditional category - which features movements that mimic battle action - wearing the traditional bustle on his lower back. "I can feel him in my heart every time I dance," he said. "It makes me feel proud of who I am." Quequesah was one of 10 dancers who were accompanied by more than a dozen other students from high schools in Arlee and Ronan, as well as Mission High School and Twin Eagle River School, to teach about and perform traditional dances for K-12 students in Darby.