High School Teachers: Apply to Become an MHS Teacher Leader in History

Two years ago we started an Elementary Teacher Leaders in History program, and last year we added middle school teachers. It's gone so well that this year we're soliciting applications from high school teachers to participate in the program. 

If you are interested in helping improve history education in your schools, districts, and regions (particularly the teaching of Montana history), consider applying to become a Montana Historical Society Teacher Leader in History. 

Successful applicants will demonstrate a commitment to history education, interest and experience in teaching Montana history, excellence in the classroom, experience in sharing best practices with their colleagues, and familiarity with the Montana Historical Society’s work and educational resources.

In addition to the criteria above, program fellows will be chosen to reflect Montana’s geographic and educational diversity, assuring representation from different regions and both small and large schools.

Those accepted as high school Teacher Leader Fellows will be brought to Helena for a two-day Teacher Leader in History Summit, to be held at the Montana Historical Society, June 24-26, 2019, at the conclusion of which they will be certified as Montana Historical Society Teacher Leaders in History. (Note: These dates have changed.)

Throughout 2019-2020, this select group of Teacher Leaders in History will:

• Serve as members of the Montana Historical Society Educator Advisory Board, providing advice and classroom testing of lesson plans on an as-needed basis.
• Work to increase the Montana Historical Society’s visibility in their schools and communities.
• Assist other teachers in their schools in finding appropriate resources/implementing lessons that reflect best practices in history education.
• Promote Montana Historical Society resources to other teachers through a formal presentation at one or more regional conferences (for which they may earn OPI Renewal Units)
• Promote Montana Historical Society resources within their own school or across their district through informal outreach and/or formal presentations
• Communicate with Montana Historical Society staff throughout 2019-20, documenting the outreach they have conducted and participating in up to three one-hour virtual meetings (scheduled at mutually agreeable times).

 In return, the Montana Historical Society will provide the following:

• Full travel scholarships to attend the free two-day June 2019 Summit.
• An honorarium of $100 to cover travel expenses to one regional conference, at which the participant is presenting, or up to $100 to your school to pay for a substitute teacher so you can present in a nearby district.
• Ongoing support and consultation, including model PowerPoint presentations to use and adapt as in presentations to fellow educators.
• A certificate designating the participant as an official MHS Teacher Leader in History.
• Up to 15 OPI Renewal Units or 1 graduate credit (at the cost of $150/pending course approval from MSU-Northern.)  

Although preference will be given to teachers who teach Montana history, English teachers and librarians (or other subject area teachers who incorporate significant amounts of Montana history into their curriculum) are invited to apply. No more than ten teachers will be selected for this special program. Apply online here. Applications are due May 5. Awardees will be notified by May 10.