Kalispell Public Schools offers new scholarship program for employees

Kalispell Public Schools has launched Empowering Educators, a competitive scholarship program to help employees transition into teaching or obtain needed endorsements for hard-to-fill positions, particularly in special education.  

The new competitive scholarship program will prioritize employees affected by job cuts.  

“With all of the shifting there are going to continue to be some open positions that are going to be challenging [to fill] ... . We do recognize that one of the best ways to be able to fill these shortages is investing in the people that we already have," district Special Services Director Chamea Bennett said in a Feb. 25 presentation to the school board.  

Certified and classified employees working part- or full-time may apply. The district will reimburse recipients up to $5,250 annually for a maximum of four years, to further their education or teaching qualifications. Recipients must continue working for the district while receiving scholarship money.  

Scholarship pathways include earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree that leads to a Montana teaching license or obtaining endorsements to teach specific subjects, grade levels, or student populations. The endorsements will be key Bennett said, when reassigning employees to different positions.  

“People will be able to fill one of those positions that they might not be qualified for at this moment,” Bennett said.    

The Empowering Educators scholarship program will be paid for through the Adult Education fund. This budgeted fund contains money from a permissive levy.   

The Kalispell program is based off a Bozeman program called Transition to Teaching.  

“I think this is a wonderful idea,” school board trustee Linda Kaps said.  

For more information, or to apply, email bennettc@sd5.k12.mt.us or call the Special Services Department at 751-3400 extension 3408.   

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.