I am a Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence Instructional Coach with the Montana Digital Academy as a Frontier Learning Lab Ambassador. I come with experience as a K-8 STEM Educator at a rural K-12. I am a graduate of the University of Montana’s Phyllis J Washington College of Education, and quickly gained recognition for my innovative use of technology in the classroom. In my first year of teaching, I received numerous awards ranging from state to international levels.

Bio: Dr. Maria Andersen is the Cofounder and CEO of Socrait, her 2nd EdTech startup. With a 30-year career dedicated to improving teaching and learning, Maria has always kept one foot in the classroom. She’s taught across community colleges, private colleges, universities, and K-12 schools, covering a wide range of subjects, including math, business, chemistry, ELL, and her personal favorite, a middle school elective she designed and is still teaching, called "Technology & Society."

I retired from teaching after a 40-year career in the Great Falls Public Schools. I taught classes in grades seven through twelve, and I worked as an adjunct instructor at today's MSU-Great Falls. My areas were primarily social studies and English, and I taught everything from seventh grade remedial reading to three different Advanced Placement classes in history and government. I have been involved in the Lewis and Clark story for almost 30 years. During that time, I have portrayed members of the expedition in first-person reenactments, I have been an on-board historian for Lewis and Clark themed Road Scholar tours, and I do step-on guide work for tours coming through Great Falls. I am part of the steering committee organizing the 2026 annual meeting of the Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance that will gather in Great Falls this June. This year will be the fifth of these conventions at which I have made a presentation.

Alexandra Hinchcliff is a secondary English teacher in rural northeastern Montana, where she teaches grades 7–12 in a small K–12 school on the Fort Peck Reservation. In her seventh year of teaching, she serves in multiple roles including yearbook advisor, Speech & Drama coach, and extracurricular sponsor. Alexandra holds an English degree and a library endorsement and is passionate about literacy, student engagement, and expanding opportunities for rural learners. Her recent graduate research focuses on teacher recruitment and retention in rural Montana schools, with an emphasis on how schools can better attract and support new educators.

Originally from South Dakota, Ashley Archambault is a passionate and accomplished educator with over 16 years of experience, the majority of which has been dedicated to serving schools and districts across Wyoming. Her career includes roles as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and district administrator, where she led initiatives in curriculum development, professional learning, and instructional leadership.
Ashley holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. She currently works as a national trainer and instructional coach specializing in classroom management, student motivation, and effective educational practices.
Deeply committed to supporting educators, Ashley partners with schools nationwide to deliver practical, research-based strategies that enhance student achievement and foster educator growth.

Adrienne Barnes, Polson High School Spanish Teacher
B.A. in Spanish with Teacher Licensure and International Studies
M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language
M.A. in Educational Leadership
11 years’ experience teaching Spanish in Polson, Montana
4 years’ experience teaching English (TESOL) in Kochi, Japan

Jenny Bevill, Humanities Montana's Program Development Director, is a dynamic educational leader with three decades of experience working in public schools, museums, and non-profit organizations in New York City and Montana, Jenny spent 10 years at the Guggenheim Museum and 3 ½ years at the Missoula Art Museum where she helped develop the virtual learning platform, Museum as Megaphone. Jenny has created content for many statewide arts organizations in Montana including the Office of Public Instruction and the Montana Arts Council. She joined the Humanities Montana speaker bureau in 2016 and was brought on staff in 2021. As the Program Development Director she also oversees all programs including the award winning Democracy Project. Jenny is passionate about the role of libraries in our democracy and is also a musician and songwriter.

Amanda Blair is a dedicated Special Education teacher with 15 years of experience serving students in grades K–6. She is passionate about inclusive practices, strong MTSS systems, and creating structured, relationship-centered classrooms where every student can thrive. Amanda specializes in IEP development, differentiated instruction, and research-based interventions that support meaningful growth. Beyond the classroom, she serves as a Special Olympics liaison and coach, expanding opportunities for students through athletics and leadership. She leads with positivity, consistency, and heart—believing that when you build a strong culture, students rise to meet it.

Dr. Heather Bleecker, founder of Edutorium of Excellence LLC, is an experienced educator and consultant committed to culturally sustainable STEM learning and strong school and community partnerships. With a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction and over twenty years in mathematics education, she has focused her career on supporting pre-service teachers, coaching in-service teachers, and designing STEM programs that honor place and community. From 2018 to 2025, Dr. Bleecker served at Salish Kootenai College, where she led the secondary math and early childhood programs. Her work is guided by a commitment to hands-on, inquiry-based learning that expands access and builds student confidence. She has led multiple SKC STEM summer camps, contributing to curricula design, mentor preparation, and evaluation to ensure meaningful and community-connected STEM experiences.

Lisa A. Botti has been a professional potter for over 20 years. She audited Judy Eriksen's last pottery class at UGF in 2003. She has taken classes with Cindy Eve for over 20 years and still is part of Cindy's regular students. She has been making pottery ever since.
Ms. Botti is originally from Mass. and received her B.A. in child Psychology from Boston University in 1985 and her Masters in Social Work also from Boston University in 1987. She worked as an Oncology Social Worker at University Hospital , now named Boston University Medical Center, before moving to Great Falls, Montana in 1993. She worked for Columbus Hospital covering Bereavement for the newly opened Hospice, the oncology floor and the ICU.
She currently lives near Monarch, MT on an organic cattle ranch. She has her own pottery studio inside of her barn. She has 5 young adult children and three grandchildren with one on the way!

Dana Bremner is a dedicated Amskapii Pikunii (Blackfeet) and Little Shell Chippewa educator and advocate, serving as a reading interventionist and the president of her local public school union. With a deep commitment to her family, community, and culture, Dana works tirelessly to ensure that all students, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, receive the support they need to succeed academically.

She believes in the power of education to uplift communities and is passionate about promoting cultural awareness and inclusivity in schools. Through her leadership, Dana strives to amplify the voices of her people, creating a more equitable future for Native American students and fostering a sense of pride in their heritage. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in cultural traditions, and advocating for social justice within her community.

Alli Bristow, PhD, LSC, LCPC, NCC, is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Counselor Education program at the University of Montana. She is a National Board-Certified Counselor, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and Licensed School Counselor in Montana.

Alli previously served as a school counselor and crisis therapist in both Arizona and Montana and has been a school counselor in the Bitterroot for over 15 years. Her research interests focus on supporting school counselors in training in the use of evidence-based practices to improve retention, strengthen professional identity, and prevent burnout.

She was named the 2023 Montana School Counselor of the Year in recognition of her advocacy for rural schools and her work building sustainable, student-centered counseling systems. She is running for the Montana School Counseling Association board to strengthen collaboration across the state and build sustainable systems of support that elevate the profession’s strengths while closing gaps in communication and shared resources.

Marisa Britton-Bostwick, MAE is an educator with 27 years experience in teaching and educational administration with a passion for serving underserved students and families. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Montana State University-Billings, a Masters in Educational Administration from Chapman University and has completed graduate work in literacy instruction at University of California-Los Angeles. She  holds a Certified Language Authorization graduate credential from her work with English Language Learners from University of California-San Diego.  Marisa is passionate about the instruction of students and engaging students in all learning environments and has an extensive background in working with students in secure facilities and low income areas. In 2020, Marisa has developed and implemented programs with stakeholders to positively reunify minor children with their incarcerated father prior to release.  Currently, Marisa is a federal grants coordinator at the Montana Office of Public Instruction specializing in Title II grant funding, Title ID funding and foster care.