HELENA — This week’s One Class at a Time recipient is Smith Elementary School teacher Jena Marshall.
Marshall is helping her first grade students learn valuable science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.
Members of First Interstate Bank were joined by KXLH to surprise her at Smith School with a $250 check.
The money will be used to create a STEM area in her classroom with various materials and challenges for the students to explore, solve and create.
Marshall says it is fun to watch the young students work through the tasks, and in turn build critical thinking skills for the future.
“The goal is just to get kids thinking in terms of some of those science and math careers,” said Marshall.
Marshall added downtime can be detrimental to the students’ learning, and the STEM area will help limit any downtime.
For more than a decade, First Interstate Bank and MTN have partnered for the One Class at a Time grant. The mission of the grant is to foster educational opportunities for local teachers and students.
A panel of retired teachers and school officials select the grant recipients from a pool of submitted applications.
For more information about One Class at a Time, including how to apply, visit here.
