Each year Alberton students in grades K-11 participate in standardized testing, along with every other school in the U.S. They utilize the Measures of Academic Progress, or MAPS test, from Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA).

Students in grades K-11 take an assessment in math and reading, while students in grades 2-11 also take one in language usage. Students are tested in the fall, winter and spring each year to measure growth and needs.

“One of the things we found out after Covid is that kids were just blowing through these tests. Not really caring. It didn’t really matter,” explained Alberton School Superintendent, Jeff Crews. “So, we said, ‘Let’s try to incentivize it a little bit’ and Mr. Whiteman (TK-12 Principal) went to each class and told them the importance of always doing your best. Some personal motivation. We also challenged some individual kids. Some individual classes and the whole school,” he said.

Well, it clicked and the entire study body became energized and the scores went off the charts.

“All of our students have either increased in all of their tests and subject areas, or at least one of them,” he grins. “We’ve got some bowling parties coming up. We’re going to do a ski trip up to Lookout Pass with some of our older kids and then pizza parties in individual classrooms. Chris (Whiteman) was really, really influential in making that happen.”

Whiteman took charge in June of last year after 12 years in the Missoula County Public School teaching, coaching basketball and track, the pep band at Big Sky High School and his last year as the vice principal at Meadow Hill Middle School.

“Our MAPS coordinator, Kristi Ray, and our Intervention Specialist, Betsi Wood, have been instrumental in making this happen. They spent countless hours in test prep, test administration, and data compiling that really gave us specific areas to target”, shared Whiteman. “Our music, art, PE, and library teachers helped administer tests, paraeducators provided support and every grade level and content specific teacher helped students prepare for the tests and take the tests. Our cooks made snacks for students to help fuel their brains, custodians helped create safe testing areas, and Superintendent Jeff Crews and Business Clerk Arra Rausch helped secure funding for training and incentives.”

Whiteman continues, “Substitute teachers came in and provided breaks and support and our bus drivers helped motivate students each morning. This unprecedented success and growth has the fingerprints of every Alberton School employee on it. It just goes to show that there is literally nothing that Alberton School staff, students, and families can't achieve when they rally together.”

When businesses heard of the students’ hard work, they met the school with generosity that really showed the students how much everyone is behind them. Scheels Sporting Goods in Missoula donated 12 $50 gift cards to be used for students who demonstrated the most significant growth. Local McDonalds donated 200 coupons for free burgers and ice creams.

Alberton will take the third installment of the MAPS tests later in the spring, along with the Montana State SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment System) test which all Montana students in grades 3-8 take. Whiteman believes that one of the reasons that they have been so successful is that Alberton School is able to offer a variety of activities inside and outside of the classroom that support students and their interests.

“Our 3rd and 4th grades and 5th and 6th grade Battle of the Books teams competed at the state competition and did extremely well with librarian, Kerry Zahn, hosting practices over several lunches each week. Our resident math gurus, Jake Sedahl and Nathan Morris, accompanied students in grades 7-12 to a math competition at the University of Montana where once again, Alberton did very well. Our Business Professionals of America (BPA) high school team is sending seven students to the state competition in Billings, being chaperoned and supported by one of our bus drivers Mike Briscoe, and one of our famous cooks Resa Briscoe.”

Whiteman beams as he continues with the accolades.

“Science teacher Marty Maddalena, Art teacher Andrea Jenko, and Project Based Learning (PBL) Director Nick Ehlers have created a 7th and 8th grade STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program and 9th-12th grade STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) program that is being recognized state-wide for their emphasis on student driven learning and outcomes. Our special education teachers, Erin Bloom and Murray Hughes, work with our students in the Special Olympics program and vocational education program. We just wrapped up our two seasons of Alberton-only High School Varsity Athletics led by Alberton teachers Brad Odell and Alli High (Volleyball), and Erik Johnson (Boys Basketball) as well as coaches from within the community.”

Whiteman catches his breath and continues smiling.

“Our 1st grade teacher, Maureen Hoff-Pruss, and 2nd grade teacher, Sierra Legare, have been working with the Missoula Children's Theater (MCT) to present a special musical adaptation of The Jungle Book to be performed for our school and families in April. 3rd and 4th grade teacher, Lisa Bergman, heads up a ski club that takes students into the outdoors and skiing several times each month during the winter. Teachers Katy Cannon, 5th grade, and Jon Trotter, 6th grade, have partnered with several business and organizations from Lolo and Missoula to offer special STEM and science related field trips that get our students out of the classroom and into real world learning experiences. High school social studies teacher and Alberton High School graduate Rachael Clevenger just hosted an incredible Prom where our very own Superintendent Jeff Crews was the DJ! These are just some of the activities our students have been participating in during the past month alone. I know I have left activities and people out unintentionally, but again, it just goes to show what we do and how we do things in Alberton.”

Whiteman said that they know and understand that standardized tests are important and helpful in tracking progress, but the real meat of education is in the joy of learning powered by educators and a community who put students first.