Awards
About MEF Awards
The Missoula Education Foundation believes in honoring outstanding educators and students within the Missoula County Public School System.
Educators of the Year
High School
Congratulations to Jesse Dochnahl, 2023-2024 High School Educator of the Year!
Past winners:
- 2022 – Milton Zhinin Barreto, Hellgate
- 2021 – Leon Slater, Hellgate
- 2020 – Lewis Nelson, Sentinel
- 2019 – Amy Miller, Big Sky
- 2018 – Tammi Allison, Sentinel
- 2017 – Carla Hinman, Hellgate
- 2016 – Richard Farrar, Big Sky
- 2015 – Leo Dougherty, Seeley-Swan
- 2015 – Tom Andres, Big Sky
- 2014 – Cameron Johnson, Big Sky
- 2012 – Tracy Stone, Seeley-Swan
Middle School
Nominations for Middle School Educator of the Year are OPEN! You are invited to nominate an outstanding educator in MCPS who you think is above and beyond. Nominations are due by March 15.
Please access the nomination form HERE
Past winners:
- 2023 – Shawn Schweyen, Meadow Hill
- 2022 – Don Griffith, Meadow Hill
- 2021 – Elizabeth Fessler, Washington
- 2020 – Molly Norton, Washington
- 2019 – Chris Whiteman, CS Porter
- 2018 – Josh Hiday, CS Porter
- 2017 – Lori Ann Lynch, Washington
- 2016 – Scott Edge, CS Porter
- 2015 – Randy Zschaechner, Meadow Hill
- 2015 – Allison McFarland, CS Porter
- 2013 – Gregory Imhoff, Washington
Elementary School
Nominations for Elementary School Educator of the Year will open in February.
Past winners:
- 2023 – Laurel Kress, Jeannette Rankin Elementary
- 2022 – Sharon Jones, Lewis and Clark Elementary
- 2021 – Wendy Lofthouse, Missoula Online Academy
- 2020 – Jon Fines, Jeannette Rankin Elementary
- 2019 – Kathy Dungan, Lewis and Clark Elementary
- 2018 – Betsy Sharkey, Lewis and Clark Elementary
- 2017 – Michelle Salisbury, Cold Springs Elementary (now Jeannette Rankin Elementary)
- 2016 – Kathy Dungan, Lewis and Clark Elementary
- 2015 – Molly Kast, Rattlesnake Elementary
- 2014 – Bryan Barrett-Catton, Lewis and Clark Elementary
- 2014 – Claudia LaRance, Paxson Elementary
Most Inspiring Student Awards
The 15th annual Most Inspiring Student Awards banquet is coming up! We are excited to be honoring our student nominees, and look forward to celebrating MCPS students in 6th-12th grades.
When: Thursday, April 4th, 2024
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Location: DoubleTree Hotel, 100 Madison St.
We are seeking table sponsorships for this event! As fellow members of the Missoula community, your support of this great event is eseential. Due to budget constraints, each student has only been able to bring two guests to this banquet. With your support, they will be able to bring additional guests to celebrate with them, such as grandparents, foster parents, social workers, para-educators and other classroom teachers. The increase we have seen in additional guests wanting to join to celebrate these outstanding students is tremendous, and your table sponsorships will help make their attendance a reality.
To sponsor a table, please access the Most Inspiring Students Table Sponsorship Form here. Print, fill out and return to the Missoula Education with payment.
For additional event sponsorship opportunities, please contact Executive Director, Susan Tower, at [email protected] or by phone at 406-728-2400 x1071.