Congratulations to Susan Seastrand, Montana Rural Teacher of 2009!

On February 18^th, at the Montana Association of County School Superintendents Conference, in Helena, Susan Seastrand was recognized as the Montana Rural Teacher of the Year for 2009.  Susan teaches at Ayers Colony in Fergus County where she has been the sole teacher of the K-8 one room school for seven years.

Her school is somewhat unique in another way; all the students are Hutterites.  This group of Montana citizens has led a somewhat isolated life, but during Susan's tenure there she has provided a variety of enrichment programs for the students.  According to an article that appeared in the News Argus shortly after the award was announced she is quoted as saying "When I began teaching at Ayers, the students had never been exposed to 'outside events.'  By this I mean, the students came to school, went home, and that was all except for the annual field trip at the end of each year.  All they had been exposed to as far as education was involved with their own one-room schoolhouse."

Susan started by taking the students to regional academic events with as many as 350 area students.  For five years now they have participated in a math contest.

Working with MSSA she was one of the first to volunteer to be part of an Indian Education for All grant where she taught her students about the Indians on the Fort Belknap and Flathead Indian Reservations.  Some of the lessons she created in this program are on this website under Resources.  With other colony teachers, she took her students to visit the students at Hays Elementary School on the Fort Belknap Reservation.

            She doesn't let the basics slide either.  Since moving to Ayers she has improved student achievement and makes sure her students are ready to go on and succeed in high school.

            Susan Seastrand is an example of the many caring and competent professionals in our rural schools.  Through her grace, hard work and dedication she has made a significant difference in her students' lives.  The recognition of this state award is well deserved, and MSSA is pleased to endorse and send on her nomination for the National Rural Teacher of the Year to NREA.