Polson teacher finalist for Teacher of the Year

Tamara Fisher Alley, a K-12 Gifted Education Specialist for the Polson School District, is among four finalists for Teacher of the Year.

This year, 41 teachers from across the state were nominated by community members, teachers, administrators, and parents. Of those nominated, 19 teachers successfully applied to be the 2024 Teacher of the Year.

According to the Office of Public Instruction, the process of selecting finalists is framed by two committees of stakeholders. This first committee reviewed and narrowed the applications to four finalists, and a second committee meets Sept. 12 to chose the Teacher of the Year, who will then compete for the national title.

All four finalists teach at schools located on reservations, received their degrees from the Montana University System, and have between 12 and 28 years of classroom experience. The other three finalists are: Teresa Heil, a K-12 Visual Arts teacher at Frazer Public Schools; Jacob Turcotte, a 7th grade English teacher and the lead teacher for the Buffalo Unity Project at Poplar Middle School; and Kevin Kicking Woman, a Blackfeet Language and Culture teacher at Browning High School.

“These four finalists reflect the qualities found in all of our Montana teachers,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. “I am very appreciative of the dedication these teachers have to our Montana students, families, and education system.”