From left - Literacy Coaching Team in Billings Public Schools - Jami Humphrey, Janelle Clark, Hillary Gnerer, Kristie Martin, Angie Paris
Building Brighter Futures for Every Student
August 2025
Article by Hannah Olson | Photo courtesy of Billings Public Schools
Billings Public Schools is home to countless stories of growth, thanks to passionate educators and programs working behind the scenes. The Reading Intervention and Quest programs are powerful examples of how dedicated staff and innovative support are helping every student thrive.
HELPING YOUNG READERS FIND THEIR PATH
In Billings’ 21 elementary schools, a dedicated team of literacy coaches, such as Kristie Martin and Janelle Clark, rotates weekly, offering teacher support that enhances reading and writing instruction, creating a lasting impact well beyond their brief visits.
“This year’s been a little different,” Kristie explains. “There are five of us, and we each rotate between four or five schools. We focus on supporting teachers, modeling lessons, providing professional development, and analyzing data to understand how students are progressing.”
Reading interventionists work with K–5 teachers to ensure literacy instruction is effective and evidence-based. Trained in the science of reading, they help teachers understand how students learn best and guide intervention strategies through collaborative data analysis.
“After a training, say, on vocabulary and comprehension, we send out a sign-up sheet for teachers to invite us in,” Kristie says. “We don’t want to just give a lesson and walk away. Real change happens when we work side by side.”
The team emphasizes consistency across schools, ensuring that students experience the same approach regardless of their location. “When a kid moves schools, it doesn’t feel like starting over,” Janelle explains. “Same approach, same tools, same focus.”
Beyond lesson planning, coaches assist with student assessments and collaborate closely with Instructional Improvement Specialists to ensure teachers are equipped with the right tools. “The demands on teachers are greater than ever,” Kristie reflects. “We’re here to make sure they feel supported every step of the way.”
CHALLENGING YOUNG MINDS THROUGH QUEST
While literacy interventions help students master foundational skills, another initiative within Billings Public Schools aims to support students at the top of the learning curve. The Quest program offers gifted and talented learners a space to explore, imagine, and delve deeply into their passions. “We bus students from across the district one day a week to the Quest Center,” says Jennifer Williams, Quest Liaison. “These are students who often feel like they’re waiting for the rest of the class to catch up. At Quest, they’re surrounded by like-minded peers. They have a chance to work at their level, grapple with challenging ideas, and build resilience when things aren’t easy.”
Each year, approximately 500 students participate in Quest, representing about 5 percent of the district's total student population. The program is expanding from second to sixth grade, encompassing K–7 students starting next year.
More than an enrichment program, Quest emphasizes “learning with a purpose.” Students work on projects with a genuine global or community impact, creating pollinator gardens in partnership with the Parks and Recreation department, developing enrichment activities for the animals at ZooMontana, or learning about AI ethics with help from NASA and other expert mentors.
Each unit culminates in an authentic presentation, allowing students to showcase their work for the very people who inspired it. “That’s what makes it special,” Jennifer explains. “The students have an audience, a purpose, and a sense of belonging. They learn how to work through frustration, build resilience, and stretch themselves creatively and intellectually.”
More than anything, Quest provides a space where students can find belonging. “These kids are used to being ‘the one at the top’ in their classrooms,” Jennifer adds. “Here, they’re surrounded by peers who understand them. They can have conversations that feel enriching and challenging. They can be themselves.”
HELPING ALL STUDENTS REACH THEIR POTENTIAL
The efforts of literacy coaches and Quest staff underscore a central theme across Billings Public Schools: every child deserves to be challenged, supported, and celebrated for who they are and how they learn best.
“Teaching reading and writing well is the backbone of everything students do,” Kristie says. “We want every teacher to have the tools and knowledge to do it effectively, so every child can walk into any classroom and have an amazing teacher ready to help.”
For Jennifer and the Quest team, it’s about providing a space where gifted learners can flourish. “We want them to experience struggle, to learn how to overcome it, and to understand that with hard work and resilience, anything is possible.”
At the core is a shared belief: strong schools are built not just on curriculum and test scores, but on dedicated educators guiding every child toward success.
Originally printed in the August 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine
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