Montana CTE Teachers to Receive $25,000 in Grants from Qwest to Support Innovative Uses of Technology

Thanks to a $25,000 Qwest Foundation grant, the Montana ACTE has partnered with Qwest to provide financial resources to teachers who have developed creative ways to use technology to improve student learning.

The purpose of the grant is to identify, highlight and recognize Montana K-12 Career and Technical Education 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.

"We are pleased to partner with the Quest Foundation to offer an opportunity for Career and Technical Education teachers who are eager to try innovative ways to use technology in their classrooms but are limited by tight budgets," said Dr. Jody Messinger, Division Administrator of Career, Technical and Adult Education at the Office of Public Instruction. "As we are pressured to put more and more of our resources toward increasing test scores in reading, mathematics, and science, it is equally important to provide rich experiences for students to use these academic skills in integrated and relevant ways. This Qwest technology grant can help with that."

“Technology plays a critical role in almost every aspect of our lives, especially in learning. We want to help provide Montana CTE teachers and students with opportunities to showcase how technology can be used more effectively in the classroom, said Rick Hays, President Qwest Montana.

Teachers who are awarded the Qwest Foundation grant will produce a videotaped demonstrating their project they were able to engage students with technology with the monies from the Qwest grant. Projects identified as “best practices” will be shared with Montana K-12 teachers.

The deadline is May 1, 2006 for teachers to apply for grants of up to $5,000. Applicants will be asked to submit a proposal detailing how they will use the funds to support and enhance learning with technology. Application information is available on the Montana ACTE web site: http://www.montananacte.org.

Contact: Mark Branger, Montana ACTE

Executive Director

406.967.2540 x3306

[email protected]