Good towns for teaching? (Billings, Missoula: home, middle school, teacher salaries)

[rozco]

I live and work as a teacher in the Boston area, and am thinking about a move to Montana. Boston's just way too expensive for anyone not in finance or tech or academia or weapon-building.

I'm curious to hear what towns are thought to have the strongest public school systems, and what are some of the better-paying towns for teachers.

I've lived around NY & Boston my whole life; I've had enough of it, but at the same time I think it would be difficult to go 180 degrees to an extremely rural community. I find myself most drawn to Bozeman & Missoula, maybe because they seem to have more cosmopolitan reputations, or maybe because they're just more talked about in the media. Looking through the posts here many people stress how overpriced those two towns are. Can a working professional couple (ie, two teachers) find success (ie, own a nice home & raise a family) in Bozeman or Missoula, or have those places become strictly for the rich?

Thanks a lot in advance for your replies to these questions.

[NYMTman]

Montana's average teacher salary (not just starting) is something like $38k, one of the five lowest in the country. It will be difficult around Bozeman and Missoula for this reason.

[GEORGIAINMT]

I'm in my 2nd year teaching in Laurel (about 15 miles W. of Billings). In my opinion, it's the best district I've taught in. I understand your concern about wages being able to cover your cost of living. As posted before, Montana's teacher salaries are low, but I feel that a responsible couple can live nicely in a nice home in our area on a 2-teacher family income. The support of administration and fellow teachers in Laurel is tremendous! Some info for ya...we just opened a brand new 5-8 middle school, which is absolutely spectacular, with the strong support of the community. I haven't seen this kind of support in some other Montana towns.....some folks are more worried about their taxes than they are about the education of our children. Also, Laurel went to a grade-leveling model this year. We now have all K students in one building, 1-2 in another, 3-4 in another, and 5-8 in the middle school (separage wings for each grade level which nicely separates the younger kids from the older ones). The high school is the only building that grades stayed as they were. Also, FYI, there are approx. 130 students or so per grade level. The district includes these 5 schools only, all within town. I could go on & on with more info, but will call this good for now! If you would like to know more let me know and I'll direct you to the right people. Best of luck in your search for a new "home"!!!