HELENA — A teacher from Kalispell was honored at the State Capitol Monday, for his commitment to educating students about Montana’s history.
Kristopher Schreiner, who teaches eighth grade social studies at Kalispell Middle School, won this year’s Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year Award.
Every year, the winner of the award is recognized at the Capitol on Montana’s Statehood Day, Nov. 8. This year, because that date fell on a Sunday, the ceremony was held on Nov. 9. Some of Schreiner’s students made the trip to Helena to take part in the tradition of ringing the Centennial Bell at 10:29 a.m., to mark the time when Montana became a state in 1889.
Schreiner grew up on a farm near Laurel. He has become well known for giving his students hands-on experience with some of the work everyday Montanans did throughout history, from building fires to tanning hides to panning for gold.
Schreiner will receive $4,250 from the sponsors of the event, including the Montana Television Network, the Virginia City Preservation Alliance and the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers. That money can be used for anything that supports students’ learning; Schreiner said he plans to buy more tools so his class can practice timber and mining skills.
This is the 37th annual Centennial Bell celebration. The award was founded in 1989, by longtime KRTV broadcaster Norma Ashby-Smith, to mark the 100th anniversary of Montana’s statehood.
