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.
Board Members and Staff
Janelle Beers
Executive Director
Carolyn Hall, Board Chair
Lake County Superintendent of
Schools
Katrina Chaney
Lewis and Clark County Superintendent of Schools, MACCS President
Dr. Jayne Downey
Education Department MSU-Bozeman, NREA Executive Committee
Laura Straus
U of M Education Faculty, MSSA Board
Linda Sunderlin
MSSA Office Manager
Erin Lipkind
Laurie Bartoletti
Counseling Specialist
Missoula County Superintendent of Schools, Library Standards Specialist
NREA Hall of Fame
Dr. Claudette Morton
NREA Hall of Fame 2016
Jules Waber
NREA Hall of Fame 2019
2024 MACSS Teacher of the Year
Jamie Matthew
Jamie Matthew is the 2024 Rural Teacher of the Year, representing Swan Valley Elementary School in Missoula County. Born and raised in Seeley Lake, Montana, Jamie has been part of Swan Valley Elementary since she started volunteering in 2013. Hired as a Special Education Paraprofessional in 2013, Jamie went on to start her Bachelor of Education degree in 2017. Jamie completed her K-8 Interdisciplinary Studies Bachelor's Degree in 2019, finishing a four year program in a year and a half while teaching full time. Jamie is a school leader who believes in an open learning environment and goes above and beyond to ensure that each of her students receives the support and guidance they need to thrive academically and personally. Congratulations Jamie!
Montana Rural Teachers of the Year
Toni Hatten
Sunset School, 2023
Important Documents
Click to Download
Programs
Meeting the Needs of Montana's Small Schools
MSSA Professional Development, Curriculum and Policy Consortium
The Montana Small Schools Professional Development and Curriculum Consortium is one of the major programs of the Alliance. Starting in 1996, the Alliance has provided more than eight hundred day-long workshops to multi-grade school districts and small K-12 districts helping them create curriculum, instruction, and assessments, to meet state and federal standards. Each year the consortium has grown to serve more school districts. In 2020 the consortium is serving over 140 school districts throughout Montana in various programs. The MSSA developed a team of member teachers that continually aligns MSSA curriculum to the Montana Content Standards in all disciplines. The member section holds full K-12 curriculum, completely aligned. The Rural Schools Policy Manual is also included in consortium membership. Language for REAP and Title II grants are additional features of Consortium membership.
