CenturyLink Montana

MONTANA’S FIRST LADY AND QWEST FOUNDATION TO SURPRISE TEACHERS WITH TECHNOLOGY GRANTS

BOZEMAN, MONT., Jan. 11, 2008 – First Lady Nancy Schweitzer and CenturyLink Montana President David Gibson will visit Bozeman-area schools on Friday, Jan. 11 to surprise teachers with grants totaling more than $13,000. These teachers submitted winning proposals for technology-related classroom projects as part of the CenturyLink Foundation’s Teachers and Technology grant program.

“Today’s dynamic, rapidly changing world requires students to understand and embrace all that technology makes possible,” said Gibson. “CenturyLink is dedicated to helping educators promote the use of technology in their classrooms, and the Teachers and Technology grants help make that possible.”

Schweitzer said, “I congratulate teachers and thank them for bringing innovative teaching practices into the classroom. Oftentimes the hard work of a teacher can inspire a student to attain new heights and spark their interest in careers in math, science and technology.”

The winning teachers represent schools in Three Forks, Belgrade and Ennis.

• Cathe Felz, Three Forks High School: $5,000 for the purchase of state-of-the-art AutoCAD software to teach design and drafting for high school students. Presentation time: 10:10 a.m.
• Heidi Hersant Perkins, Belgrade Middle School: $3,448 to purchase a computer, projector and software to utilize Web-based mathematics material in the classroom. Presentation time: 11:10 a.m.
• Martha Northway, Ennis High School: $3,448 for a computer, software and audio-visual equipment to provide advanced media art and video production training at the school. Presentation time: 1:05 p.m.

The purpose of the CenturyLink Teachers and Technology grant program is to identify, highlight and recognize Montana K-12 teachers who are using technology in the classroom in new and innovative ways to improve student performance and to share this information so that others can do the same. The Montana Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE), which is part of the Office of Public Instruction, partnered with the CenturyLink Foundation to administer the grant funds.

The CenturyLink Teachers and Technology grant applications were submitted last November. Grant winners may use the funds to purchase equipment, software, supplies or to support professional development needed to advance the use of advanced technology by students in the classroom.

The Governor and First Lady’s Math and Science Initiative invites Montana’s youth to discover the many opportunities to learn about science and math in K-12 schools and higher education, find out about career opportunities and explore Montana’s splendid surroundings.