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  • Box Elder science teacher travels to DC

Melanie Schwarzbach, a science teacher in Box Elder, is on her way to DC to attend an education conference; she is one of just ten math and science teachers in the nation selected in March for the trip.

The Society for Science and the Public is holding a four-day Fellows program where teachers will design independent research programs to implement at their schools. They will also learn how to develop a strong network of scientific mentors for their students.

Schwarzbach is excited to get back to the classroom and begin implementing her program. She said, "What we're really going to try and focus on during the next year or two is environmental science. Trying to teach my students, who are primarily Native American, more about their own environment and then to make the connections with their culture, so they can understand just how vital their natural resources are on the reservation."

Schwarzbach will also receive $8,500 to use in the classroom, which she said helps take some of the burden off the school for funding science projects and experiments.

Governor Brian Schweitzer took note of her accomplishments, saying, “Innovative teachers like Ms. Schwarzbach are the key to sparking interest in careers in math and science. I thank Ms. Schwarzbach for going above and beyond to bring exciting research opportunities to her students.”

And praise also came from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, a former teacher, who said, “I congratulate Ms. Schwarzbach for her hard work and vision to promote science education in this part of Montana. Inspiring students to be interested in science and math is essential for students to succeed in school.”