Educators are innovators.
Jackie and Megan Thompson began with three donations to the Powell County Literacy Program. Moose Lodge gave $55, Rotary gave $50 and Kiwanis gave $50. With that $155 beginning, the Powell County Literacy Program has evolved into a necessary part of our community fabric.
The program began with an all-volunteer staff of four tutors. Megan ensured that the tutors were provided quality education through Literacy Volunteers of America. By 1994, she had successfully recruited and trained 17 volunteer tutors for the program. In 1994, Megan was accepted into the VISTA program under AmeriCorps. This allowed her to collect a $600/mo stipend. Megan’s VISTA position was cut in 1996 at the Federal level. At that time, Megan began work with our county commissioners, Jerry Claussen and Jules Weber, to explore alternative funding for the program. Together the group chose to use their authority to collect on the mill set in place for Public Education. It is through that mill, that our program is primarily funded.
Through the years, the program has utilized OPI grant opportunities as well as private grant opportunities, and in-kind donations to further grow. This has allowed for the Literacy Program to offer TABE assessment services, purchase Adult Basic Education materials, and even provide some technology to our students.
As our program struggled to navigate educational opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic, we focused our efforts on securing funding to update our in-office technology as well as providing ways to virtually connect students.
With our Google Suite of educational services, we will be able to provide outreach into the county, so that we can serve our rural communities of Garrison, Avon, Elliston Helmville, Ovando, Gold Creek, and Racetrack.
Our program is partnered with Butte Adult Community Education through the Butte School District. This has provided a much richer opportunity to access resources for our students. Through this partnership, we can now offer ESL classes, Industrial training, and more. Our list of services keeps growing.
We invite you to come and see us. Let us help you realize your post-secondary education and career goals.
“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”
Mount Powell, Montana
Powell County Literacy Program Mission Statement:
Believing that every person has a purpose, value, and potential, the Powell County Literacy Program provides free instruction to adults and out-of-school youth to improve their basic skills, attain the HiSET, transition to post-secondary education, and/or improve employment status.
Powell County Literacy Program Guiding Principles:
Potential – We believe every person has a purpose, value, and potential and should be treated with dignity and respect.
Commitment to Service – we value integrity and regard for others while providing quality services in a courteous, student-focused manner.
Learning – We believe that learning is a lifelong experience. We honor the knowledge and experience that adult learners bring with them. We acknowledge and encourage different learning styles.
Partnership – We believe in a partnership between the teacher and the learner, sharing the responsibility of learning through planning, decision making, and goal setting.