Montana Education Excellence

"It’s really pushing an urban agenda onto our rural states."

Instead of fighting students’ passion for connecting to each other and the world through personal gadgets, the Bozeman schools have decided to join them, and turn what could be electronic toys into tools in a technologic revolution in education.

"Every single day I was out of my comfort zone," Bakker said. "I did something new every single day."

The project has grown to become not only a teaching resource, but also a student and faculty research forum for projects related to sustainable living.

The College has created a Professional Advantage program designed to give graduates an edge in their job searches and careers.

“AWIM offers hands-on learning in the classroom to make math and science come to life,” said First Lady Nancy Schweitzer. “I encourage Montana teachers to take advantage of this professional development opportunity to access high-quality curriculum without extra time or travel costs.”

Jim Reed’s eyesight is rapidly vanishing, but the 27-year-old graduate student doesn’t plan on letting that keep him from using the Internet to follow news, download music or manage his bank account.

“As an educator, to be able to enter grades from home, work, wherever you are at, is wonderful from our end,” he said. “Our jobs sometimes don’t ever seem to end, and if you need to check on a student from home, now that’s suddenly an option.”

Students going to the Bitterroot College program seeking a higher education degree or certificate can finally earn that parchment without having to leave the valley – thanks to a satellite program of University of Montana-Western.

There are many reasons onlookers are paying greater attention to salaries these days – pay freezes, furloughs and new high-profile hires like football coaches and university presidents.