Powell has demonstrated “an extraordinary commitment to teaching and a deep passion for imparting knowledge of Montana history to her students,” the Montana Historical Society said in a written statement.

In an interview Friday, Powell said there is value in teaching history.

“Children need to study history and culture so they know their roots,” she said. “I want them to know where we all come from and the path we all took to get here. We study history to learn from our mistakes so we don't make the same mistakes. I want them to know their heritage, their background, how we became who we are.”

Powell said she doesn't force her students to learn exact dates, but they do need to know a basic timeline of important events in Montana and around the world. She wants her students to know how the past influences the present and the future.

Powell grew up in the Bitterroot Valley and said that's where her love for Montana began. She has been teaching history in Corvallis for five years and says she loves teaching her students about how Montana came to be.

In her nomination letter for the award, her colleague Darci Herbstritt said one of Powell's strengths is “her ability to create a dynamic and exciting learning environment that encourages critical thinking, curiosity and a love of history in her students.”

“She has a remarkable talent for bringing history to life and making it relevant to the lives of her students,” Herbstritt said.

Powell said she believes in immersive teaching, which includes an annual trip with 40 students to Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming, where students confront the consequences of war.

“In my classes, I encourage a lot of conversations about how different we all are, that we come from different backgrounds and have different beliefs, but still have the same needs and desires for acceptance, friendship, and love,” Powell wrote to the Montana History Society. “I try to make my classes interactive. We do a lot of hands-on learning. I love taking the kids to see our state and get to know the people who make it what it is.”

This year, Powell took interested seventh-graders from Corvallis to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls and the First People Buffalo Jump, the State Capitol and First Governor's Mansion in Helena, and the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge. She took seventh-graders on educational trips to Butte and Bozeman, to the Pictograph Caves near Billings, and to sites in Livingston, Mission Valley, and Bannock.

“We live in Montana, they should be there, this is in their backyard,” Powell said. “We travel and see our state.”

Norma Ashby-Smith, trustee of the Montana Historical Society, established the Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year Award in 1989 to honor Montana's centennial as a state. Each year, the Montana Historical Society selects and honors a teacher who “preserves Montana's past, shares our stories and inspires discovery to create meaning for the present and a vision for the future.”

Powell has been a teacher for 29 years and says she cares about children's education.

“[It has been] my love of teaching, my love of students and my love of education and knowledge,” she said. “I've had a very varied career. I've tried to stay fresh as I've navigated my path with multiple grade and subject changes. I've stayed current with my education. I love learning and being a teacher has fostered that throughout my life.”

She said that when she teaches something new, she learns it much earlier than her students.

“I learn and present it and I think that makes me a stronger person, it gives me a wealth of knowledge,” Powell said. “It's my love for the kids and my desire for them to have incredibly successful lives and know that they are loved. I want them to feel safe and heard. What has kept me in this profession is that I want to be the safe haven for the students. It's been wonderful; I've loved it.”

Powell taught all grades and all subjects except math in grades 6 through 8—not because she couldn't, but because she was busy with other subjects.

“My journey has been wonderful,” Powell said. “I have loved students of all ages that I have taught.”

Powell is retiring from teaching this year, but says she “still loves her job.”

Powell will receive $3,250 from event sponsors Montana Television Network, the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers, the Montana Historical Society and the 1889 Coffeehouse in Helena.

Powell said the money will benefit Corvallis Middle School for classroom materials, guest speakers, field trips and anything that helps enhance student learning.

Another honor that comes with winning the award is ringing the Centennial Bell on Nov. 8 at 10:29 a.m., the exact minute Montana became the 41st state in 1889. Powell said ringing the bell is an honor she doesn't want to miss and she will “work toward it.”

As for her future, Powell plans to remain involved in education – possibly as a field director planning historical tours for young people in Montana, or perhaps writing a book about Montana history.

“[I’d write a] “A history book about Montana that tells stories rather than just facts makes it fun to read,” Powell said. “That's how I like history – when it's told in the form of a story. That's how I remember it.”