Kelley Edwards
Bozeman,MT
Summary
Dedicated and results-oriented educator and program manager with extensive experience leading youth mental health initiatives in rural settings, including managing and coordinating the Youth Aware of Mental Health program in Montana. Adept at fostering partnerships with schools and community organizations to deliver impactful, evidence-based programming. Skilled in program development, stakeholder collaboration, grant writing, and strategic planning. Proven track record of enhancing program delivery, fostering partnerships, and increasing evaluation efficiency to achieve impactful mental health outcomes to address the unique needs of rural schools and communities.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Manager for Youth Aware of Mental Health
Montana State University
09.2018 - Current
- Coordinated with partner schools, community stakeholders, and YAM Instructors and Assistants across Montana to deliver the YAM program to over 3,500 students
- Maintained effective communication with school administration and personnel, YAM trainers, instructors, assistants, interns, and community stakeholders regarding YAM program delivery
- Acted as the primary liaison between YAM's founders at Mental Health in Mind in Stockholm Sweden and the Montana-based program
- Designed and implemented a cost-effective YAM delivery model for larger schools
- Collaborated with MSU researchers to enhance survey functionality by creating a more efficient and secure evaluation processes through electronic tools
- Secured funding through partnerships with Bozeman Health, The Bozeman Health Foundation, Pureview Health, Nate Chute Foundation, Communities that Care, Montana Department of Health and Human Services, and NAMI Montana
- Efficiently managed finances, including budgets, expenditures, sales, and services
- Organized and executed comprehensive training for YAM instructors and assistants across Montana and Idaho, ensuring high-quality preparation for program delivery in schools
- Coordinated all aspects of training logistics, including recruitment, scheduling, venue arrangements, participant communications, and resource distribution
- Earned a YAM Trainer certification by completing all training requirements outlined by the YAM Founders from MHiM
- Directed short-term and long-range strategic planning for program growth and sustainability
Educator, Drop-out Prevention Specialist, Instructional Coach, and Literacy Coordinator
Helena School District
08.2008 - 06.2018
- Facilitated teachers’ expertise with best instructional practices, including differentiated instruction, Understanding by Design, disciplinary literacy, and identifying essential standards
- Oversaw the development and implementation of instructional literacy programs and professional learning communities focused on determining essential standards
- Researched professional literature and field studies to identify best instructional practices to foster high achievement in reading and literacy development
- Collaborated with colleagues in writing the Montana Comprehensive Literacy Project Grant to secure funding to continue the district’s focus on literacy achievement
- Monitored instructional effectiveness and student progress using tools and strategies gained through teachers' professional development
- Taught a wide array of classes to diverse learners, including Advanced Placement American History, American History, Honors World Cultures, World Cultures, Transitions (dropout prevention program), and Psychology
- Developed curricula that reflected the diverse educational and cultural backgrounds of students
- Utilized differentiated instructional strategies and universal design methods to adapt to all learners
- Employed technology and library resources to engage 21st-century learners, such as blogging, website development, and project-based learning
- Communicated clear learning objectives and outcomes for students, parents, and colleagues
- Continually utilized formative and summative assessment to evaluate if students were meeting objectives
- Interpreted and integrated data and best practices to intervene and assist struggling students and/or gifted learners
- Recipient of the 'Distinguished Educator Award' by the Helena School Foundation in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017
Social Studies Educator
Denton School District
08.2006 - 06.2008
- Designed lessons in government that prepared students to be educated citizens by learning about the foundation of democracy, world governments, and political ideologies
- Developed an innovative and interactive curriculum in Montana History that gave students’ appreciation, and knowledge of Montana’s past and present state of affairs
- Implemented and explored varying assessment methods to ensure student comprehension of content material
- Completed Indian Education for All course and able to convey the material into lessons
Education
Ed.D. - Curriculum And Instruction
Montana State University
05-2025
Master of Science - Education
Walden University
01.2013
Bachelor of Art - Secondary Education
Rocky Mountain College
01.2004
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Rocky Mountain College
01.2004
Skills
- Project coordination
- Training and development
- Interpersonal skills
- Data collection & research
- Flexible and adaptable
- Problem-solving
Awards
- Helena Schools Distinguished Educator Award
- 2012
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2018
Selectedgrants
- YAM-Bozeman: Youth Aware of Mental Health, Downey, J., Edwards, K., 2020-25, Bozeman Health Community Health Improvement and Partnerships, $65,935 funded
- Youth Aware of Mental Health Program in Helena, Downey, J., Edwards, K., 2020-25, Helena School District, $24,225 funded
- Rural Resiliency: Expanding Access to Youth Aware of Mental Health, Downey, J., Edwards, K., Schumacher, J., 2021-24, Rural Health and Safety Education-United States Department of Agriculture, $300,000 funded
- YAM-Youth Aware of Mental Health, Downey, J., Edwards, K., 2020-26, National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)-Community Health Improvement and Partnerships, $206,000 funded
- Indigenous Youth Suicide Prevention through Youth Aware of Mental Health Program (YAM), Downey, J., Edwards, K., 2021-22, Steele-Reese Foundation, $30,000 funded
- YAM-Great Falls Implementing the Universal Suicide Prevention Program, Downey, J., Edwards, K., 2020-21, State of Montana Suicide Prevention, $39,268 funded
Certification
Class 1 Professional Teacher License- State of Montana
Timeline
Program Manager for Youth Aware of Mental Health
Montana State University
09.2018 - Current
Educator, Drop-out Prevention Specialist, Instructional Coach, and Literacy Coordinator
Helena School District
08.2008 - 06.2018
Social Studies Educator
Denton School District
08.2006 - 06.2008
Master of Science - Education
Walden University
Bachelor of Art - Secondary Education
Rocky Mountain College
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Rocky Mountain College
Ed.D. - Curriculum And Instruction
Montana State University
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