Our Advisors

Connect with an advisor in your area for career information, scholarship help, or other education needs. Our knowledgeable and experienced advisors are Certified Career Service Providers (CCSP) and support schools and students throughout Montana. They are an excellent resource for educators. Our Advisors provide:

• Classroom, after-school, or parent presentations on scholarships, college search and selection, career exploration and planning, and so much more. Students attending a presentation will have a chance to win a $500 scholarship in our monthly drawing; parents can enter, too!       
• Support for individual students and families. 

Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship

The Reach Higher Montana Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship aims to increase high school students’ access to high-quality dual enrollment opportunities by expanding the number of educators eligible to teach courses for college credit, especially in Montana’s small communities.

Eligibility:

Educator currently teaching in Montana, preferably in a high school classified as A, B, or C.

Committed to offering dual enrollment course(s) in current school upon completion of educational requirements (Master’s degree, plus nine graduate credits in content area for General Education Core; additional education as needed for Career and Technical Education courses). 

Scholarship Amount:

• $2,500 per award

How to Apply:

• Application opens March 1 and closes April 1. 

Our 2026 Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship Recipients

Steven Hardt, Lockwood High School
Steven Hardt teaches social studies at Lockwood High School. With 15 years of teaching experience, he currently teaches American Government and Dual Enrollment Civics. Steven holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from Augustana University and has earned 20 additional graduate credits focused on modern educational dynamics, such as the incorporation of Generative AI in the classroom. He is currently working toward full credentialing to expand the social studies dual enrollment footprint at his school. Steve is committed to serving diverse student populations, viewing high-quality, low-cost college credit as an essential bridge to success for first-generation university students.

Shelby Holmes, East Helena High School
Shelby Holmes is a science teacher at East Helena High School, where she has taught for the past five years. She currently teaches Biology, Earth and Space Science, Chemistry, Forensic Science, and AP Chemistry. Shelby holds a Master’s degree in Education and is currently advancing her professional qualifications through a Master’s in Chemistry Education program at the American College of Education. Her primary professional focus is expanding dual-enrollment opportunities for her students, transitioning from traditional AP models to college-credit courses that better prepare them for the rigors of higher education. She is deeply committed to mentoring students in STEM fields and helping them build the necessary skills for both the workforce and collegiate success.

Jedd Tougas, Ronan High School
Jedd Tougas teaches science at Ronan High School on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. He teaches earth and space science, environmental science, and chemistry. Jedd is a first-generation descendant of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes and was born and raised on the Flathead Reservation. He is a passionate educator who believes in building meaningful connections with students to help foster their connection to the places where they live. Jedd holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Boardfield Science Education as well as a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Integrative Indigenous Education from the Slaish Kottenai College. His master’s work focused on integrating place-based culturally sustaining science experiences that connected classroom learning with local landscapes, community knowledge, and environmental stewardship through traditional ecological knowledge and storytelling.

Level All - A College and Career Readiness Resource

Level All was built to help students of all pathways achieve their goals. Their content, tools, and resources guide you every step of the way. We’ve partnered with Level All to give you free access. Sign up, it's quick!

Explore what Level All has to offer:

• For you this week—Check here regularly to find timely information personalized for you to keep ahead of the journey.
• Set your goals—Level All’s comprehensive content helps you make informed decisions about the best path for you.
• Journeys—Achieve your most important goals with personalized Journeys that break down complex problems into easy, bite-sized steps. 
• Tools—Level All tools include the College and Scholarship Finders. Learn everything you need to know to build great college and scholarship lists. 
• Recommended For You - Based on your interests, this section suggests new topics you might find interesting or useful.
• Partners—Learn more about Level All's leading partners and discover exciting opportunities available exclusively to Level All users.
• Discover—Check out the Discover page for all the content Level All made for you.

FAFSA Resources

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an integral part of applying for college, scholarships, work-study, grants, and more. Check out these resources to support your student's FAFSA needs.

Complete The FAFSA Using These Helpful Tips:

• Start with the FSA ID; the student and one parent will need this to complete the FAFSA. This can be done at any time, but it's best to get it done early.
• The FAFSA opens October 1st. Get the FAFSA done as soon as possible.
• Filling Out the FAFSA. This resource will guide you through the steps to file the FAFSA. Filing the FAFSA requires both student and parent information.
• The Priority deadline is December 1st. Check with the financial aid office to confirm the date. Schools have limited funding, and students who submit their FAFSA by the priority deadline are most likely to receive eligible funds.

Resources We Love

These resources will help you and your students through the FAFSA process.

• FSA ID — Start with the FSA ID. Before you can file the FAFSA, you need to have an FSA ID. Both the student and one parent (if student is dependent) need to have their own FSA ID.
• Federal Student Aid — FAFSA filing starts here. Using your FSA ID, login to FAFSA and start finding money for school! The FAFSA will be available in December this year, check with your financial aid office for the priority deadline. To complete the FAFSA, students and parents will need their tax information from two-years prior to the anticipated start of college.
• Federal Student Aid Estimator — Use the FAFSA Aid Estimator to estimate the amount of federal student aid you may qualify for so you can be prepared to apply for scholarships and other funding opportunities needed to pay for higher education.
• Completing the FAFSA Form — Get in-depth information about the FAFSA form and what to expect after you submit your application.
• Financial Aid Contacts — College financial aid staff are truly the FAFSA experts! They're a great resource to ask FAFSA questions and to help host your event. 

Teacher Externships

Work-based learning isn’t just for students. Teacher externs join a business for three days in the summer, learn how their teaching applies to industry, and bring new knowledge back to their students. The application is now open and closes on March 1. Apply Now!

Learn more about Teacher Externships.