HILARY MATHESON
EDUCATION REPORTER
Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region.
IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families.
Recent Stories
Kalispell Public Schools board reorganizes, gets budget update
The Kalispell Public Schools board of trustees selected new leadership, welcomed a student representative and reviewed the budget following school elections.
Student musicians excel at 2026 state music festival
Talented student musicians from area schools earned high scores at the Western State Solo and Ensemble Music Festival held May 1 and 2 in Helena.
Tournament bridges generations and sharpens the mind through classic card game
Sixth, seventh and eighth graders played tricks and made contracts in a tactical game of duplicate bridge at the second Kalispell Middle School Flathead Valley Bridge Center tournament.
School levy issues defeated in Tuesday’s election
Flathead Valley voters defeated all school levy issues in Tuesday’s school elections, according to preliminary results.
Eighth grader advances to Montana Civics Bee
St. Matthew’s Catholic School eighth grader Tristan Robbins is on his way state after placing second at the Western Regional Civics Bee.
Jamming with the Flathead Valley Roller Derby league
On a rainy Wednesday night at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo Building, members of the Flathead Valley Roller Derby league ditch their shoes at the door and lace up their skates for one more practice before the weekend’s Big Sky Brawl.
Legends Restyling wants to go the extra mile to support the community
Legends Restyling in Evergreen opened as a family-owned business that values supporting the community with a “pay it forward” mentality.
Federal judge rejects Kalispell Public Schools' request for summary judgment in hazing lawsuit
A federal judge denied a request to end a Title IX lawsuit against Kalispell Public Schools — stemming from sexual assault allegations involving the Glacier High School wrestling team in 2022 — ruling there is enough disagreement about key facts that the case should go to trial.
Students hit a high note at the 2026 District Music Festival
Northwest Montana’s students didn’t miss a beat at the District Music Festival hosted by Flathead and Glacier high schools.
Stillwater trio competes in Presidential AI Challenge
Three Stillwater Christian School freshmen represented Montana at the regional level of the first Presidential AI Challenge, competing against students from other western states.