The Montana Department of Education has made recent changes that have improved the compensation received by educators teaching in Montana. While teacher salaries are still below the national average, the situation is improving and Montana offers several programs and benefits that assist teachers in furthering their education, receiving training and increasing their earning potential. Mentorship programs have also been established to further professional growth and development and are proving successful as more Montana teachers learn effective, necessary teaching skills.
Data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that Montana schools had 144,418 students and 10,398 teachers during the 2006-2007 school year, providing a student to teacher ratio of 13.9:1. This is lower than the national average of 15.5:1 and is likely one of the reasons why 2005 data shows that Montana students perform better than average on math and reading assessments when compared to their nationwide peers.
Smaller class sizes, improving compensation packages and an educational system poised for change come together to make the future of teaching in Montana bright. This makes it a great time to consider Montana for a teaching career.
Montana Teacher Requirements
Montana is a state that has the potential to grow in the future due to energy explorations and unlimited building opportunities. For those interested in a career teaching in Montana, now is the perfect time to start taking steps to become a part of this exciting state to belong to.
Like many other states, Montana has teacher shortages in areas such as mathematics, sciences, and special education areas. Unlike many other states, Montana has a reasonable cost of living and many low crime areas that make this state an ideal place for new teachers to consider.
As the population in Montana grows over the upcoming years, the need for those who would like to be teaching in Montana grows too. It is entirely possible that the future will hold many new jobs, new programs, new funding choices, and new schools in Montana if current energy trends continue to bring newcomers into the state.