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. The link will be available when the scholarship is open.

Our 2025 Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship Recipients

Conor Russell, Lincoln County High School
Conor Russell is a social studies teacher at Lincoln County High School in Eureka, Montana, where he has taught for the past 10 years. He teaches U.S. History I and II, Civics, Transitions, and World History. Upon completing his Master’s in U.S. History through Missouri State University next fall, Conor looks forward to offering dual enrollment courses in U.S. History I and II. He is committed to expanding access to higher education by helping students earn college credit at a reduced cost while still in high school. In his spare time, he is an avid outdoorsman who loves living in the northwest corner of our lovely state. He enjoys hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and floating his drift boat down the streams and rivers in the area.

Heidi Lesnik, Roundup High School
Heidi Lesnik has been a teacher for 19 years and is currently employed by Roundup High School. She has taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Earth Science at Roundup High School. She currently teaches BIO 101 and BIO 102 courses. Heidi is one graduate-level biology course away from full certification to teach this class as a dual enrollment opportunity for her students.

Rachael Newmiller, Choteau High School
Rachael Newmiller has been a dedicated secondary educator for over twenty years, with the past sixteen spent teaching science to grades 7–12 in Choteau. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science, Geology, and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, General Science Broadfield from Montana State University Bozeman, both earned in 2003. In 2011, she furthered her expertise with a Master of Education in Interdisciplinary Studies and Special Education from Montana State University, Billings.

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 open from January to March each year. Learn more.