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Mid River announced a2it 2023 Education Technology Grant recipients. Montana law requires that the cooperative's Fund for Education, funded with unclaimed capital credit dollars, be used for educational purposes. 12 applicants were awarded grants totaling $80,000. Requests for nearly $175,000 were received.

$10,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Richland County for virtual reality equipment and workforce readiness curriculum through Transfr VR.

$8,500 to Circle Public Schools to help purchase the laptops for the 24-25 school year for the school's 1-to-1 laptop program.

$8,000 to Garfield County Fire Foundation to develop the Fire Facts fire safety training website.

$7,500 to Washington Middle School in Glendive for the purchase of Tech Tubs.

$7,500 to Winnett High School for Newline Interactive Smart Boards in the classrooms.

$7,500 to Prairie Elk Colony School for a Smart Board and classroom laptops.

$7,000 to Dawson County High School visual media productions class for the purchase of new cameras.

$7,000 to Roy Public School for the purchase of a large screen Smart TV to be used for school and community education.

$6,000 to Roy Elementary School for the purchase of iPads to be used in kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms.

$4,500 to Lewistown Junior High School for the purchase of technology education equipment.

$4,000 to Miss Heather's Pre-K in Circle to purchase a Smart Board for the Pre-K classroom.

$2,500 to the Miles City Public Library to update and add several new pieces of equipment including computers, iPads, and a Smart TV.

I sat with Miss Heather Blakslee(aka Miss Heather) about her new Smart Board (from Mid-Rivers grant money) for Pre-K Classroom. Miss Heather heard about the grant thru a friend. This was the first grant Heather has applied for. Before receiving the grants, large smart screen Heather was using her personal cell phone plugged into a smaller tv. . Her classroom has 14 spots available every year and she have 13 this year. Average age of Pre-k is 4-5 years old. Monday through Wednesday you find Miss Heather inspiring our youth. Heather does it for the love of it, she like most teachers spend endless hours preparing lesson plans and cutting, pasting laminating (almost always done at home and bought with teachers own money). She explained the students are given many opportunities for movement and "wiggle breaks" which are just what they sound like. She has a monthly dramatic play corner, which has included a pretend Dr's office and Grocery Store. Talking with Miss Heather you can feel her passion and love for teaching.

Heather said she consults with kindergarten teacher Mrs. Knuth to see what she expects of her future students. I stated that the Pre-school is the new Kindergarten. She stated that Pre-k is important in child development, gives the child structured environment with shiort periods with their peers. This is Heathers second year teaching pre-k, with 14 students last year and 13 this year, I would say she is filling a needed service. Was we sat chitty chatting we decided she was one of my first interviews. In closing I asked Heather if she wanted to tell the readers anything and without a breath and great excitement "Thank You Mid-Rivers for the technology grant to have this smart screen, stand, and laptop in the classroom".