U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Jenifer Powell of Ravalli County for her dedication to sharing Montana’s rich and vibrant history with her seventh grade students in the Bitterroot Valley.
Through his “Montanan of the Month” initiative, Daines each month highlights a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress.
Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Month” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE.
The following is the tribute Daines submitted to the Congressional Record to honor Jenifer Powell:
TRIBUTE TO JENIFER POWELL OF RAVALLI COUNTY
Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Jenifer Powell of Ravalli County for her dedication to sharing Montana’s rich and vibrant history with her seventh grade students in the Bitterroot Valley.
Powell has taught at Corvallis Middle School for five years, and it is clear the impact she made in that time is profound. Her innovative teaching methods covering Montana’s history brings the past to life in her classroom. At the end of the school year, Jenifer’s students walk away from her class with a comprehensive and enthusiastic perspective on the culture and heritage that shaped the Treasure State into the Last Best Place.
Recently named the “Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year,” Jenifer and her class of seventh graders will ring the Centennial Bell in the State Capitol in Helena on November 8th, 2024, at 10:29am, paying homage to the exact date and time that Montana became a state in 1889. Having its statehood for 135 years, Montana has a wealth of history to uncover and I am glad to see Jenifer’s commitment to preserving each piece of our state’s unique cultural tapestry in a way that is accessible and exciting to some of our youngest Montanans.
It is my distinct honor to recognize Jenifer Powell for her passion for education and her work to inspire Montana’s youth to learn more about the formation of the state they call home. I am confident Jenifer has sparked a lifelong curiosity for Montana history among her students. Keep up the great work Jenifer, you make Montana proud!