Nominate a Rock Star Montana History Teacher

 Do you know a middle or high school (grades 7-12) teacher who does an exemplary job teaching Montana history?

Please nominate them for the 37th Montana Statehood Centennial Bell Award by completing this very simple form, which will take less than two minutes to complete. Nominations are due April 13.

Nominated teachers will be asked to submit two one-page letters of support, one from their principal, superintendent, fellow teacher or librarian and one from a student. They will also be asked to submit one to two pages detailing why they enjoy teaching Montana, how they engage their students in learning, how their Montana history course recognizes cultural diversity and anything else they’d like to share about their class or methods.

Nominees will receive instructions on how to submit this material. Deadline for submissions is May 10, 2026.

The winner will receive the 37th Montana Statehood Centennial Bell Award, which honors the Montana History Teacher of the Year. They and their class will be honored at a ceremony in the State Capitol on Friday, November 9, 2026. The Teacher of the Year will also receive a cash prize of more than $3,000 to put toward classroom materials, field trips, speakers, and anything else that will enhance learning in their classroom.

This program, initially created by Montana television newscaster Norma Ashby, is sponsored by the Montana Historical Society with financial support from the Montana Television Network, the Sons & Daughters of Montana Pioneers, the Virginia City Preservation Alliance, and the 1889 Coffee House.

Good Reads and Gallery of Outstanding Montanans

 

Interesting Articles from the Montana Free Press

Do you subscribe to the Montana Free Press? I've recommended it before and I'm recommending it again. Here are a few of the fascinating articles they've published recently. 

• How the Fort Peck Tribes build a bison blueprint
• Northern Cheyenne Tribe reclaims cultural belongings from UM
• Where does eastern Montana start? Montanans disagree
• Montana ranks 7th for US Olympians per capita
• BLM nominee talks land sales, local management in senate confirmation hearing
• Majority of Montanans say there’s about the right amount of federal land in new poll
• EPA finalizes repeal of emissions rule that could have forced Colstrip’s closure

Interesting Reads from Beyond Our Borders

My brother lives in Seattle and often sends me articles that relate to Montana. Most recently it was this article in the Seattle Times: "Calling It Quits In Coal Country: New Rules Force a Town with Washington Ties to Go Its Own Way."

Nominate Someone for the Gallery of Outstanding Montanans

The Gallery of Outstanding Montanans was established by the State Legislature in 1979 to pay homage to citizens of the Treasure State who made contributions of state or national significance to their selected fields of endeavor while epitomizing the unique spirit and character that defines Montana. Inductees into Montana’s hall of fame are rotated into the gallery on a biennial basis; each is honored for an eight-year period. This program is managed by the Montana Historical Society. 

Every ten years, the Montana Historical Society puts out a statewide call for nominees--and this is the year! Consider having your class nominate a local hero. Learn about current and former inductees and find a link to submit a nomination. Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, May 3, 2026.

Share what you know!

The 2026 MFPE Educator Conference will be held in Great Falls, October 15-16 and the Montana Council for Social Studies is looking for presenters! (I bet other curriculum groups are looking for presenters as well.)

This year's conference is hybrid, so even if you can't make it to Great Falls, if you have information, strategies, lessons, or resources that you think other teachers could learn from, I hope you'll put in a proposal. I've talked to a lot of great, inspiring teachers who were anxious about presenting to adults and I'll tell you what I told them: Be brave!  

The deadline to submit an application to present at the is APRIL 30! 

Will you help make the social studies strands as strong as they can possibly be by sharing your strategies, knowledge or best lessons? Click here to submit your proposal.

March PDs

Social Studies Tuesday

Join MTHS Teacher leaders in History on March 17 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. for a discussion on Engaging Students in Community Study. 

Why is it important to engage students in documenting and studying local history? What are some easy ways to get students thinking about their own lives, families, and neighbors as part of history? Learn about projects, strategies, and resources you can use to have your students research close to home. Register for this session.

IEFA Best Practices Conference

There's still time to register for 2026 IEFA Best Practices, which will be held in East Helena on March 23 – 24. This year's conference theme is "We Are All Related: Planting the Seeds of Knowledge, Growing our Montana Story," which emphasizes the vital connection between culturally responsive education and building strong community relationships.

Prepare for two days of engaging sessions, hands-on workshops, and inspiring keynotes designed to provide you with practical, authentic strategies for embedding the Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians across all grade levels and content areas. Come learn, share, and collaborate as we collectively work to ensure every student fully knows the history and identity of our state.

Highlights include a two-hour IEFA experience in the Montana Heritage Center's Homeland exhibit, an evening of Indigenous musicians and comedians, and keynotes by Dr. Shane Doyle (Crow) and Watson Whitford (hippewa Cree and Navajo). Use this link for Best Practices 2026 Registration.

P.S. Have you voted in Montana Madness today?  

Montana's Constitution

 

Bring a Virtual Guest Speaker into Your Class for Montana Constitution Day

On March 22, 1972, all 100 delegates to the Montana Constitutional Convention signed a new constitution for the State of Montana. And just as we celebrate Constitution Day in the U.S. on September 17 to commemorate the September 17, 1787, signing of the United States Constitution, the Friends of the Montana Constitution are calling on Montanans to commemorate our State Constitution every year on March 22 – Montana Constitution Day!

Because March 22 falls on a Sunday this year, they've moved their programming to Friday, March 20, when they will host a livestreamed lecture by the Honorable Anthony Johnstone, Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, wo will present “The Montana Constitution in Time” with an introduction from Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Cory Swanson.

Judge Johnstone’s presentation considers the development of the Montana Constitution over time in relation to the 1889 Montana Constitution, the U.S. Constitution, and other state and national constitutions. Your class is invited to tune in online via Zoom at 10:30 a.m., March 20:  https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/89140933494. 

Resources to Teach about the Montana Constitution

MTHS has a number of resources to help teach about the Montana Constitution, including lesson plans, a chapter dedicated to its creation in Montana: Stories of the Land, and a 23-minute video with discussion questions. You can find links to all of these resources here. 

Not Everyone Is a Fan of Montana's Constitution

I was interested to see this article in the Montana Free Press, talking about a meeting held by Mountain States Policy Center to discuss rewriting the constitution. Voters weigh in on whether to call a new constitutional convention every 20 years. The issue will next appear on the ballot in 2030. 

What Do You (and More Importantly, Your Students) Think?

Montana's 1972 Constitution is relatively short and easy to read. It's also relatively easy to amend. I wonder if, after reading it, your students would support calling for a constitutional convention to rewrite the entire document, passing amendments to change portions of it, or if they think our founding document is fine the way it is.