Teacher Leaders in Montana History
The 2022-2023 MHS Teacher Leader in History Fellows include nine returning elementary, middle school, and high school teachers and six new elementary school teachers. These teachers are all experienced Montana history classroom teachers. They have also received additional training on available Montana history resources and best practices in history education. The Teacher Leaders in Montana History are ready to lead by providing one-on-one mentorship and by offering presentations at regional workshops or in-school or in-district PIR trainings within their own districts and in neighboring districts. Possible presentation topics include "An Overview of Montana Historical Society Resources," “Integrating Montana History across the Curriculum,” “Teaching Montana History in Fourth Grade,” "Using Visual Thinking Strategies," "Integrating IEFA,” “Hands-on History Footlockers," "Bringing the Montana Historical Society Museum Exhibits into Your Classroom," "Art and History: Plains Indian Pictographic Art," "Teaching with Primary Sources," and more.
Looking for a presenter? Contact a nearby Teacher Leader in History directly, or contact Martha Kohl at the Montana Historical Society for a recommendation of who will best fit your needs.
Teacher Leader Fellows
Ruth Ferris
K-5th Librarian
Billings, MT
ferrisr@billingsschools.org
406-281-6699
Areas of special interest: Literature tie-ins, IEFA, teaching with primary sources, MHS resources
Ron Buck
5th Grade
Shelby, Toole County
ron.buck@shelby.k12.mt.us
406-450-8924
Areas of special interest: Hands-on learning, ledger art, technology integration
April Wills
5th Grade/K-6th Tech and Stem, Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year, 2021
Bainville, Roosevelt County
awills@bainvilleschool.k12.mt.us
406-475-5791
Areas of special interest: Adapting lessons to lower grades, place-based history, technology integration, hands-on history footlockers, collaborative research projects across grade levels
Dylan Huisken
6th-8th Social Studies, 2019 Montana Teacher of the Year
Bonner, Missoula County
dhuisken@bonner.k12.mt.us
406-258-6151 ext. 307
Areas of special interest: Literature tie-ins, IEFA, Montana history, place-based education, Civil War, U.S. government
Jennifer Hall
7th-8th History
Eureka, Lincoln County
jhall@teameureka.net
406-297-5621
Areas of special interest: Planning multi-day Montana history fieldtrips, MHS resources, peer mentoring, historical thinking
Kathi Hoyt
6th-8th Library
Billings, Yellowstone County
hoytk@billingsschools.org
406-208-9669
Areas of special interest: IEFA, teaching with primary sources, MHS resources
Jennifer Graham
7th-12th History
Philipsburg, MT, Granite County
grahamj@pburg.k12.mt.us
406-531-4044
Areas of special interest: Mining history, teaching with primary sources, historical thinking, MHS resources
Cynthia Wilondek
10th-11th World and US History
Bigfork, MT, Flathead County
cwilondek@bigfork.k12.mt.us
406.837.7400 Extension #4237
Areas of special interest: Visual Thinking Strategies, Primary Sources in the Classroom, Adding Montana History to an American History classroom
Elysia Bain
9th-12th US and World History, government
Ashland, MT, Rosebud County
e-bain@hotmail.com
406-784-4564
Areas of special interest: Visual Thinking Strategies, incorporating Montana History into World History, IEFA, Montana Memory Project, MHS resources.
Savannah Buckner
5th-6th Grade Social Studies
Billings, MT, Yellowstone County
buckner@bluecreekschool.org
406-259-0653
Areas of special interest: Tech integration, adapting lessons for various grade levels, teaching with primary sources.
Hali Richmond
4th Grade
Sunburst, MT, Toole County
hrichmond@sunburst.k12.mt.us
406-450-1062
Areas of special interest: Teaching with primary sources, Montana history, MHS resources, differentiated instruction.
Kimberly Winkowitsch
K-8th Colony Teacher
Cut Bank, MT, Glacier County
kwinkowitsch@cutbankschools.net
406-336-2965
Areas of special interest: Literature tie-ins, hands-on history footlockers, teaching with primary sources, multi-grade classrooms
Johanna Trout
4th Grade
Billings, MT, Yellowstone County
troutj@billingsschools.org
406-698-4665 (text or call)
Areas of special interest: Tech integration, adapting materials for accessibility.
Jodi Majerus Delaney
4th-5th Grade Montessori, Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year, 2017, History Teacher of the Year for Montana (Guilder-Lehrman) 2013, Teacher Leader in the Arts (MT OPI and Arts Council), National Board Certified
Helena, MT, Lewis and Clark County
jdelaney@helenaschools.org
406-461-9918
Areas of special interest: Arts Integration, Interdisciplinary Lesson Design, Hands-on History, Living History (Nevada City, MT), Elementary Social Studies Best Practices.
Mona Shortman
K-8th Colony Teacher
Cut Bank, MT, Glacier County
mshortman@cutbankschools.net
406-391-5033
Areas of special interest: IEFA, hands-on history footlockers, multi-grade classrooms.
