Alberton Public School to receive KPAX grant

ALBERTON – One of the teachers at Alberton Public School was recently selected as a recipient of the Allegiance Benefit Plan Management and KPAX “One Class at a Time Grant.”

The grant will go to Hannah Anderson, the physical education teacher at the Alberton schools. The grant goes to schools and is a collaboration of local television stations and First Interstate Bank. The grant is presented to different classes for projects, which range from the purchase of school supplies to lab equipment. A project is selected to receive the grant once a week.

According to Kyle Fisher, principal for the Alberton schools, Anderson wanted to incorporate more technology into her lessons. Anderson expects to use the grant money to buy pedometers. Pedometers are aerobic workout trackers to monitor the user’s stride and distance travelled. She will also buy GPS programs so kids will be able to record the pedometer readings on the computer.

Anderson said she applied for the grant with a proposal, which outlined the school’s need for pedometers. Anderson feels the devices will help increase the physical activity and motivation of students.

“[Pedometers] help incorporate technology into a physical education class,” Anderson said. “This grant will help to continue to build the program at Alberton.”

Fisher said the grant was big news for the school and everyone was excited for it. He said the staff and school administration have been working to find extra funds to make improvements and the grant would be beneficial.

Anderson was notified she had been selected for the grant at the end of November. Later this month, KPAX will come to Alberton to present the grant check to her. Anderson said the station would also film one of her P.E. classes. At the time of the interview, Anderson was not sure when either event would take place.

Fisher was excited for the grant and what it would bring to the school. With budget cuts hurting school programs, there is a struggle under way to find more funds. Fisher was grateful to KPAX for giving the grants out.

“We’re very appreciative to KPAX for the grants they give out,” said Fisher. “They’re very beneficial for smaller districts.”

KPAX has presented grants to all levels of schools all around Montana for various projects. Earlier this year, KPAX presented grant checks for a reading-based fluency program, art supplies and a weather station. All of these projects have helped the kids learn while education is made fun and exciting.

Fisher said Anderson is passionate about what she teaches and about the kids at Alberton. She is very knowledgeable about the subject has brought new innovations to the P.E. program. According to Fisher, Anderson has begun to restructure the program and present the health and fitness lessons in a new way.

Anderson is a first-year teacher at Alberton. Fisher praised Anderson as being ahead of the curve for a new teacher. She said she is very excited both for her position and for her selection for the grant.

“I’m really enjoying teaching at Alberton and I hope to continue to build on the [P.E.] program here,” said Anderson.