Celebrating the High School Teacher of the Year - Luke Johnson, Flathead High School

Luke Johnson is presented the High School Teacher of the Year Award by (from left) Stockman Bank President, Joe Kola - FHS '94 and Director of KEF, Dorothy Drury - FHS '02.

Kalispell Education Foundation (KEF) - in partnership with Kalispell Public Schools (KPS) - is thrilled to announce that Luke Johnson of Flathead High School is named the 2024 High School Educator of the Year! He was surprised with the honor during an all-school assembly on Friday, Dec. 20.

This award, sponsored by KEF's generous partner Stockman Bank, recognizes Mr. Johnson’s exceptional dedication to his students and his unwavering commitment to excellence in education. He receives $1,000 for his classroom and $250 for personal use, courtesy of Stockman Bank.

"I feel incredibly honored to serve these students and this community," Mr. Johnson said following the assembly. "The students, staff and administration make being at Flathead High School a joy. I feel an immense amount of gratitude to be able to be part of this community."

As a beloved teacher of English and Theatre at Flathead High, Mr. Johnson is known for his ability to inspire, challenge, and connect with students in profound ways. His classroom is a space where students feel supported and encouraged to step out of their comfort zones.

Students and community members alike shared the profound influence Mr. Johnson has on their lives, which is why the Kalispell Education Foundation Student Board selected him out of nearly 500 submissions.

Mr. Johnson's passion, dedication, and heart extend beyond the classroom, as he also directs Anastasia: The Musical premiering in February at the Flathead High School Auditorium. Tickets are on sale in mid-January.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Johnson for exemplifying what it means to be an extraordinary educator.

Each year, Kalispell Education Foundation (KEF) recognizes the teachers of the year at the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels as well as a Non-Teaching Employee of the Year. KEF thanks Stockman Bank for generously sponsoring this award and helping bring valuable and deserved attention to the dedication and hard work of our public school employees.

November 2024

As we move into the third month of the school year, the energy in Kalispell Public Schools is inspiring! Classrooms are alive with learning and growth, and Kalispell Education Foundation (KEF) is excited to support our educators and students in every way we can.

We’re getting ready to launch our annual Educator of the Year program, a unique opportunity to celebrate the outstanding teachers who make a difference in our students' lives. Meanwhile, the KEF board is currently reviewing funding requests submitted this month by teachers who are eager to elevate their classrooms and enrich student experiences.

Thank you for being a part of our journey in supporting educational excellence in Kalispell.

$61,165 raised through the Great Fish Community Challenge

Our final numbers are in! We are so grateful for the countless KPS families, Flathead businesses, community members, and KPS alumni who helped us raise funds and awareness to support teacher innovation and student learning for the 2024-2025 school year! In addition to your direct support, KEF received the maximum match of $14,500 provided by Whitefish Community Foundation! These funds will help KEF continue to grow it’s ability to support student learning through innovative teaching ideas!

This year, every single member of the KPS School Board, every building principal, the superintendent and assistant superintendents, as well as numerous other teachers and members of the administrative team joined the KEF board by giving during the Challenge. We are so grateful for our leadership’s personal investment in our wonderful KPS staff and students.

Congratulations and thank you to KGEZ Radio Station! KGEZ received this year’s “Corporate Citizenship” award for their generous support of local nonprofits, particularly in their promotion of the Great Fish Community Challenge. As part of their award, KGEZ able to select a nonprofit of their choice to receive a $2,500 special grant, and they selected the Kalispell Education Foundation! If you have a chance, please join us in thanking John, Robin and their team for supporting public education in our community.

Grants in Action: Historical Journaling

Digital tools like Chromebooks are invaluable in classrooms, but research shows that handwriting can engage more of the brain and enhance learning compared to keyboarding. Recognizing this, two teachers at Kalispell Middle School, Dr. Haring and Mr. Kelner, requested KEF funds to help them integrate historical journaling into a yearlong Social Studies and English Language Arts project.

Each of their 110 students will use a journal this year to adopt the perspective of a historical figure and respond to prompts, helping enrich their understanding of history while fostering critical thinking and writing skills. The journals serve as tools to record their growing knowledge and insight, helping students track their progress and engage in deeper learning.

A big thank you to our Great Fish Community Challenge donors for making this project possible! Your support is directly contributing to meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that will have a lasting impact on these students' academic journeys.

Complete List of 2024-2025 Fall Micro Grant Recipients

Updates for the 2024/2025 Educator of the Year Program

KEF is excited to partner with Stockman Bank for our third annual Educator of the Year Awards! This is a special opportunity for our community to recognize and celebrate the dedicated educators who make a difference every day in our children’s lives. This year, we are excited to expand our recognition to include a new category for support staff, honoring the essential contributions of the many staff members who work tirelessly to ensure a high-quality learning environment for our community’s children.

As the year progresses, families can expect a notification from their child’s principal with more details on the nomination process and how to submit your suggestions for these awards. We invite all families to participate in this opportunity to highlight the exceptional people who bring excellence to our schools each day.

2023-2024 Educator of the Year Recipients

Save the Date: Kalispell Education Foundation to Classroom Giving Program on Giving Tuesday!

We’re excited to introduce a new way to celebrate the teachers who make an incredible impact on our students' lives. This year, on Giving Tuesday, Kalispell Education Foundation is launching the Classroom Champions Fund—a meaningful opportunity for families to show their gratitude through a gift that directly supports classrooms across our schools.We look forward to sharing more details later this month!