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 Ashley House, 2024-2025 High School Educator of the Year! Ashley is the Life Skills teacher at Sentinel High School. Mrs. House is a mentor to colleagues, an advocate for students, and a compassionate leader who creates real-world opportunities for those who need it most.

Past winners:

  • 2023 – Jess Dochnahl, Hellgate
  • 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

The 2024/25 Middle School Educator of the Year nominations are open January 10th through January 31st. Click HERE to nominate!

Past winners:

  • 2023 – Terri Daniels, Meadow Hill
  • 2022 – Shawn Schweyen, Meadow Hill
  • 2021 – Don Griffith, Meadow Hill
  • 2020 – Elizabeth Fessler, Washington
  • 2019 – Molly Norton, Washington
  • 2018 – Chris Whiteman, CS Porter
  • 2017 – Josh Hiday, CS Porter
  • 2016 – Lori Ann Lynch, Washington
  • 2015 – Scott Edge, CS Porter
  • 2014 – Randy Zschaechner, Meadow Hill
  • 2013 – Allison McFarland, CS Porter
  • 2012 – Gregory Imhoff, Washington

Elementary School

Nominations for Elementary School Educator of the Year will open in February of 2025.

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 16th 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 17th, 2025

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.

For additional event sponsorship opportunities, please contact Executive Director, Susan Tower, at [email protected] or by phone at 406-728-2400 x1071.

Help support future generations!