January 2022
This newsletter contains news and information of interest about
Montana Rural Teacher Project. Thanks for staying informed.
Recruiting the FINAL Cohort!
It may be a new year, but we are still recruiting all over Montana for our final cohort of applicants for the Montana Rural Teacher Project!

We want to help recruit and retain teachers for your district.

The Elementary Cohort is closed, as they are enrolled in classes now, but the Secondary Cohort is still accepting applications. We would love to see applicants with an interest in teaching Math, but English, Science, and History subjects are of course welcome.

Refer a potential new teacher to MSU's Master of Arts in Teaching program. This program offers applicants with a bachelor’s degree a pathway to complete a teacher preparation program and become a licensed Montana teacher in as little as one year. 
 
Those admitted to the MAT degree program in the coming year will be invited to apply to take part in the Montana Rural Teacher Project (MRTP) final year.

15 secondary spots are available.
Help MSU prepare teachers for rural schools.


Participants receive a living wage stipend while completing the 12 month degree program and two years of mentorship in exchange for a three-year commitment to teach in an eligible Montana school. 

Secondary track starts - May 2022 
Extended application deadline – February 15, 2022
If you know of prospective applicants, please invite them to contact
How Are Our MRTP Graduates Doing?
Our first cohort graduated May 2021, began teaching Fall 2021, and has now completed their first semester of teaching. We wanted to highlight how our students are feeling in their communities. This month we highlight Kimberly Poore.

Kimberly is teaching 1st grade and is the K-6 music teacher at West Glacier Elementary. The focus of her curriculum she plans is making sure all the needs of the child are met when they come to school and places a strong focus on the social and emotional learning of the child. In doing so, Kimberly has created some beautiful connections with her students.

As the music teacher, Kimberly and the K-6 students put on a winter program. This show was the first time that parents had been allowed in the building since March 2020. To create a memorable experience for the students and parents, Kimberly partnered up with the art teacher to have the students create the art pieces that went with the show. Each grade preformed several songs and the 5th/6th grade group acted out a short play that tied the songs together. Kimberly said, “It was a really nice way to welcome the parents back into the building and share the hard work their students have been doing.”


Our MRTP participants are happy to be in the classroom and in the community. Your school not only benefits from a great new teacher who is supported with two years of MRTP-provided mentoring but also support for school leaders through SAM and trustees through MTSBA.