Central to our support of students across our region is our focus on providing a wide array of professional learning opportunities for educators and educational leaders. Our professional development is responsive to the stated needs of our members, and we work across our geographic area to align goals, core competencies, resources, strategies, and data collection to focus on student outcomes without increasing costs. We have built and maintained strong networks of connected educators across discipline areas, creating communities of practice that otherwise would not have existed. Following our merger with the Montana Education Curriculum Consortium in 2014, professional learning activities at Southwest Montana School Services are truly comprehensive, ranging from curriculum design to classroom execution.

Much like our other programs, we strive to keep costs for professional learning as low as possible to ensure it remains available to all, and we also work to ensure that on-site development opportunities are available to all districts in our region. This includes our targeted, tailored development opportunities, as well as our core programming annual events focusing on social & emotional learning, science education, and technology education.​
This is a sampling of the professional learning topics, workshops, and conferences we offer:
  • Advanced Placement Summer Institute (Bozeman, June 2020)
  • Science Summer Institute 
  • CPI Workshops & Certification (Crisis Prevention / Intervention)
  • Curriculum Development & Alignment (through MECC)
  • EPAS (Educator Performance Appraisal System)
  • Gifted & Talented 
  • IEFA (Indian Education for All)
  • Instructional Practice and Support (in any content area)
  • MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support)
  • School Culture & Climate
  • Social & Emotional Learning
    • Common PIR Day (every September; next one is Sept. 25, 2020)
  • Technology Integration & Education
For a professional learning consultation for your district, please contact:
Melissa Tovaas
Director of Education Services
office ​(406) 624-3336 ext. 2
cell (646) 831-7264
mtovaas@mt-schools.org