
Montana Small Schools Alliance
Helping rural school districts meet state and federal standards in educationally sound ways.
Created in 1996 by the University of Montana-Western, Rural Education Center, Montana State University-
Bozeman, Montana Department of Education, The Montana Association of County School Superintendents, and The Montana School Boards Association.
2023 Instructor and District Scholarship Winners Announced
Instructor Scholarship Award Winner - Elissa Zelner, Turner
District Scholarship Award Winners - Creston School District
Harrison K-12
Woodman Elementary School
Board Members and Staff

Janelle Beers
Executive Director

Carolyn Hall, Board Chair
Lake County Superintendent of Schools

Erin Lipkind, Vice Chair
Missoula County Superintendent of Schools, MACCS President, Library Standards Specialist

Dr. Jayne Downey
Education Department MSU-Bozeman, NREA Executive Committee

Laura Straus
U of M Education Faculty, MSSA Board

Linda Sunderlin
MSSA Office Manager

Curtis Smeby
MTSBA Representative
NREA Hall of Fame

Dr. Claudette Morton
NREA Hall of Fame 2016

Jules Waber
NREA Hall of Fame 2019
2022 MACSS Teacher of the Year
Lara Belice

Lara is the sole licensed educator at Cooke City Schools, an isolated, K-8 rural one-room school. Lara has taught at Cooke City for the past 4 years. This year's enrollment spanned 6 grade levels, kindergarten through 7th grade. Lara is known for applying her life experiences, knowledge and philosophy of teaching and learning to create and deliver effective and engaging learning experiences. For more information on Lara and her school, click on the button below.
Montana Rural Teachers of the Year
Important Documents
Click to Download
Programs
Meeting the Needs of Montana's Small Schools
























