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
'I don't want to lock down a style. I want to keep improving'
Isaac Passwater takes his future into his hands, sketching it out with pencil and pen.
Glacier senior talks inspiration, legacy
Senior Spotlight: Class of 2015
School board trustees approve new superintendent's contract
The contract for new Whitefish School District Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt was approved by school board trustees Thursday.
Getting to know 'gramma'
When Linda Ott Gimbel walks through the double doors of Russell Elementary School, she becomes “Gramma” Linda.
Youths turn out for Community Day
Bigfork Middle School
Bigfork Middle School eighth-grader Jordan Nelson realized she was helping her peers as she packed food into bags for the Flathead Food Bank’s backpack program.
Student group wants better playground
The 20 members of the Evergreen Junior High School Principal’s Advisory Board have worked hard to improve their school.
Bigfork High expansion goes to voters Oct. 9
School board and audience members were given more detailed views Wednesday of the proposed Bigfork High School expansion before trustees decided to ask voters to OK the $14 million project.
Deal OK'd for school administrator
Trustees have approved a contract for Andrea Johnson, the incoming Kalispell Public Schools assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Trumpet fanfare flusters school
It may have been a farewell concert when a former West Valley School music teacher gave an impromptu trumpet performance Friday morning.
Girls rule at special workshops
Expanding your horizons
Girls ruled the school at Flathead Valley Community College Tuesday as they engaged in science, math, technology, engineering and medical workshops.
Superintendents discuss religion issues in schools
Three Flathead Valley school district superintendents served as a panel for an Act for America meeting Thursday to discuss religion in schools.
Board looks into teacher evaluation questions
Bigfork parents and concerned community members are closer to reaching answers to questions on teacher evaluations after weeks of addressing Bigfork School District administrators and school trustees.
Students learn life skills with makeshift village
Building funky town
Building Funky Town at Kila School was a month in the making.
Expansion would cost $12 million to $14 million
Bigfork School District has its sights on expanding the high school.
Missoula educator to lead Whitefish schools
Heather Davis Schmidt of Missoula has been selected as the new Whitefish School District superintendent.
School board considering decision on top position
A new Whitefish School District superintendent may be decided by tonight following the final two interviews with candidates on Tuesday afternoon.
Local schools lead fight against childhood hunger
Schools around the valley participated in events to fight childhood hunger with two notable standouts in Kalispell and Bigfork.
Troy principal wins state honor
Troy High School Principal Jacob Francom was named the principal of the year by the Montana Association of Secondary School Principals for his outstanding leadership and success in providing exceptional learning opportunities for students.
Flathead student wins state welding title
Wyatt McHenry has brought home a gold medal in arc welding after competing in the SkillsUSA state competition.
Local students compete in international conference
In the competitive world of business, Whitefish High School and Glacier High School DECA students put their skills to the test recently at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Five-time state champ coach Finberg resigning
After a career that included five state championships, Cary Finberg is stepping down as head boys basketball coach at Columbia Falls High School.
Grant will support summer nutrition program
The Kalispell Parks and Recreation department has received a $26,200 grant to improve children’s access to healthy food, nutrition literacy and physical activity outside of school.
Crosstown Craze still needs public help
Things are getting crazy in the remaining weeks left to prepare for the Crosstown Craze, the annual senior post-graduation blowout for Kalispell high school students.
Program aims to help parents of kids entering kindergarten
Ready, Set, Learn and Grow is a new program offered to families with children who will be entering kindergarten.
Police warn of Facebook chat coercion
Online threats targeting high school girls around the Flathead Valley are being described as blackmail by Flathead High School Resource Officer Cory Clarke.
Townsend educator picked for Kalispell job
Townsend School Superintendent Andrea Johnson has been recommended as the next assistant superintendent for Kalispell Public Schools.
Bigfork parents, teacher argue against dismissal
A Bigfork School Board decision to terminate a kindergarten teacher has drawn criticism from community members.
Sports poster invoices questioned
Local businesses should proceed with caution if they receive invoices soliciting payment for advertisement in a Flathead High School spring sports poster.
Crowd of kids joins tree celebration
Kalispell’s public elementary schools branched out from their normal routines to celebrate Arbor Day in a big way this year.
Local educators learn to 'Teach Like a Pirate'
Walking into the Glacier High School auditorium in front of 253 educators dressed like a pirate — wearing a skull cap bandanna and one big, gold-hooped earring — was not unusual for Dave Burgess.
Computer glitches interrupt student testing
Montana schools have been given the option by the Office of Public Instruction to continue or discontinue state standardized testing.
Bigfork students qualify for National History Day competition
The legacy of several strong women, along with some hard work by three Bigfork eighth-graders, have earned the trio a chance to compete at National History Day in Maryland this summer.
Flathead High to add 21 parking spaces
When a car lost a bumper driving through the parking-lot entrance of Flathead High School, it was evident poor drainage was creating a serious road hazard.
Two school districts have contested trustee elections
Two Flatheads Valley school districts — Bigfork and Whitefish — have contested races for school board positions and will hold elections.
Two school districts seek levy approval
Two school districts — Somers-Lakeside and Whitefish — are requesting special levy approval during the May 5 election.
Real horsepower: Kalispell man drives horse and buggy around town
Vehicles are a hobby for many men, but for 82-year-old Jim Aker, horse-drawn buggies are it.
Fair-Mont-Egan School seeks world view
Fair-Mont-Egan School is broadening the minds of students on an international level.
School panel wrestles with gender identity issues
Kalispell Public Schools is looking to cover all its bases before changing its nondiscrimination policy to include transgender students or students identifying themselves as having nontraditional gender identities.
Kalispell School Board to discuss gender identity policy change
Kalispell Public Schools is holding a meeting Wednesday to discuss policy changes to accommodate transgender students and other students who identify as having non-traditional gender identities.
West Valley expansion work rolling along
West Valley School’s $6.8 million expansion project is on budget and on schedule to be completed in August.
Student tops state math competition
Kalispell Middle School student Evan Kohler is in the prime of his mathematical fortitude.
Whitefish celebrates new high school
In 2009, the Whitefish School Board set a goal to be in a new high school within four years. The goal followed on the heels of two failed bond requests to renovate the high school in 2003 and 2008.
Whitefish Superintendent Orozco to resign
Whitefish School District Superintendent Kate Orozco is resigning after four years.
Stillwater launches $1.8 million expansion
Stillwater Christian School is preparing to break ground on a $1.8 million expansion possibly as soon as next week.
Classes help kindergarteners learn through dance
Education in motion
Education was in motion Thursday at Muldown Elementary School in Whitefish as kindergarteners expressed letters, numbers, colors, patterns, rhythm, mirroring and sequences through dance.
Five proms planned in one night
The big night is almost here for hundreds of prom-goers in the Flathead Valley to dance the night away in glitzy dresses and sharp tuxes.
School tries breakfast in classroom
An in-classroom breakfast option is being piloted at Hedges Elementary School in Kalispell.
Two Stillwater students hail from China
Foreign exchange at Stillwater Christian School has reached the fourth grade level with 9-year-old Hao “Lily” Quan.
Search begins for school leader
Following the resignation of Kalispell Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dan Zorn, the district has outlined a tentative timeline to fill the position.
Students flock to biomedical class
Flathead High School freshman Gracie Spence opens the exterior of a sheep heart during a dissection exercise for biomedical science on Wednesday. (Aaric Bryan photos/Daily Inter Lake)