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February 2024

This newsletter contains news and information of interest about
Montana Rural Teacher Project. Thanks for staying informed.

30 MRTP Graduates in MentorMT

With all three cohorts of MRTP graduates now actively teaching in schools, more energy is focused on the two-year mentoring component of the program. Each MRTP participant has been matched by subject and grade level with an expert mentor teacher who can model effective instruction, collaborate on planning, and offer motivation and moral support.


At present, thirty MRTP teachers are receiving mentoring. Mentee-mentor partners may live hours apart but many have choices for connecting via phone, email, Zoom, Google Classroom and other media. They have options to complete book studies, record their teaching in virtual peer observations, meet up for an in-person site visit or workshop, or attend one of the regional Rendezvous events held in spring and fall.


The success of the MRTP mentoring model inspired the launch of MentorMT, a parallel program currently serving 115 rural teachers across Montana - many of whom entered the teaching profession from nontraditional pathways and backgrounds. Funded by Margaret A Cargill Philanthropies, the MentorMT program dovetails with MRTP and has greatly expanded the network of knowledgeable peers who are ready to share just-in-time resources and collective wisdom.


The MentorMT program is strategically positioned to absorb and continue the work of MRTP mentoring in future years. MentorMT is open to all new and underprepared rural teachers whether they are graduates of traditional programs, working on a provisional license or with emergency authorization, teaching outside their endorsed grade level and/or subject area, or in Montana on an international visa. New teacher enrollment in MentorMT for Fall 2024 will open in April.

For more information about MRTP mentoring or MentorMT enrollment opportunities,

please contact Dr. Jennie Luebeck.

MAT Degree Program

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree program is for individuals with a bachelor's degree who are interested in becoming a licensed teacher in Montana. Coursework has recently been modified to support classroom teachers on Class 5 provisional licenses. The MAT offers rolling applications and start dates for Spring, Summer, and Fall for all endorsements.


The MAT admitted 32 students for the 2023-2024 academic year -- 14 Elementary and 18 Secondary (7 Science, 2 Modern Language, 4 English,

1 Social Studies, and 3 Family Consumer Sciences).


This summer 17 students will be graduating from the MAT program:

7 Elementary and 10 Secondary (4 Science, 1 Math, 3 English, 2 Social Studies).

Give a 3 Credit Tuition Waiver!

The MSU Graduate School offers the

Refer-a-Bobcat program for licensed educators. This program provides a 3 credit tuition waiver for students referred and admitted to a master's degree program. For the typical 30 credit master's degree program, this is a 10% discount on tuition!


Accepting Applications Now.

Candidates can begin as soon as Summer 2024

For more information regarding the MAT

contact Jamie O'Callaghan today.