Learn about the instructors

Richard Seitz is currently a high school teacher at Helena High School. He spent two summer's teaching gifted and talented Chinese students in Hong Kong and one summer teaching math teachers in Shanghai China. In the last few years he has traveled extensively across the USA putting on workshops for mathematics teachers. He has been a writer for a middle school mathematics text and is currently on the Board of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He has received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching of Mathematics as well as holding National Board Certification in Mathematics of Adolescents and Young Adults. This summer he is spending some time exploring mathematics in Italy, remodeling a 1888 house, hosting his daughter's wedding, and working at the Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake.

Beth Thomas has been teaching for thirteen years, twelve of those at the middle school level. Currently, she teaches environmental education to first through twelvth graders in the Great Falls Public Schools. Her Master's degree in education is from Northern Montana College. She won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2003 in Montana. Being selected as one of twelve teachers in the nation to work with scientists with the Spitzer Space Telescope has been a highlight of her career as the research is currently underway. Beth has had the privilege of traveling to on educational fieldtrips toFlorida or Hawaii with students for the last ten years. 

Jody Brown was born and raised in north central Montana. Jody attended Montana State University and received a double major in physics and mathematics, both with teaching options. Jody has spent the last three years teaching in Augusta, Montana. He has taught all math classes from 8th grade pre-algebra to 12th grade advanced math. He has also taught physics and chemistry while there. He has spent the last two summers working as a counselor at the learning center for the Innovations camp. Jody spends most of his free time camping, hiking, fly fishing, and mountain biking. Jody can usually be found at his family’s property west of Wolf Creek or in his wood shop making furniture from the bark beetle killed trees from the property.

 

Tami Jendro is a 3rd grade teacher at Jim Darcy School, Helena School District. She is a Havre native who has taught for over 15 years in various Montana towns: Havre, Libby, Darby, and Helena. (Moved a lot due to husband's job.)  She is pursuing a Masters degree in Science Education at MSU-Bozeman.  Tami was selected to participate in the Mathematics and Science Inquiry in Classrooms (SILC) program, a Title II grant awarded by the MT Office of Public Instruction to MLC.  Because of her outstanding work, she has been invited to make presentations at state conferences and meeting.  Tami's interests include spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, camping, gardening and playing outdoors in our beautiful state.