POLICYMAKER EXCELLENCE AWARD - STATE AND LOCAL

THE HONORABLE BRIAN SCHWEITZER
Governor
State of Montana

Governor Brian Schweitzer's commitment to education cannot be fully understood without considering his background: his grandparents were homesteaders who immigrated from Ireland and Germany, and his parents were ranchers who never completed high school. After completing his education, Governor Schweitzer worked as an irrigation developer on projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. In 1986 he returned to Montana, where he still considers himself a "rancher who just happened to be elected Governor."

Since his first legislative session, the Governor has worked with the legislature to increase funding for K-12 education. He has also improved access to and affordability of Montana's colleges, hosted a Governor's School Readiness Summit to build a stronger and more accountable early childhood education system and launched a Governor and First Lady's K-12 science and math initiative to help spark an interest in science and nurture a generation that will be globally competitive.

Governor Schweitzer is committed to internet saftey for children and has been an active champion of online safety education and awareness throughout the state. Overall, he aspires to build an education system in Montana that helps fulfill the hopes and dreams of children, parents and grandparents from urban areas like Helena and Billings, the furthest reaches of rural Montana and the diverse Native Nations.

The Governor's programs owe their innovative nature to his practical ranching background. He approaches his challenges not by what will get a sound bite, or by what is trendy in the education community, but by what will work in a state as diverse and challenging as Montana. His programs are designed to stand the test of time and become part of the bedrock of Montana state policy.

"Education is at the heart of strengthening the future for Montana families and their economic vitality. The world is rapidly changing and schools need to be responsive, regardless of where you live in this big state. There is a connection between quality education and economic success. The best paying jobs today and in the future require ever-increasing skills and knowledge; we need to help our Montana kids become students for life." Brian Schweitzer