East Helena Teacher-Librarian Marne Bender Wins Regional Innovation Award

Marne Bender, a teacher-librarian at East Helena schools, received the Northwest Council for Computer Education's 2026 Innovative Teacher Librarian award for the Northwest region on Saturday, recognizing her development of creative teaching practices in the school library.

The NCCE, which represents educators across the Northwest focused on technology and computer education, presents the Innovative Teacher Librarian honor to educators who push the boundaries of how library and technology instruction reaches students. Bender's selection places her among regional peers recognized for building new approaches to teaching rather than relying on conventional methods.

The award adds a notable distinction to East Helena's educational profile, a small district that sits just east of the capital city and operates within Lewis and Clark County. Teacher-librarians in Montana's smaller districts often serve multiple roles, bridging classroom instruction, digital literacy, and resource access for students across grade levels.

No further details about the specific programs or methods that earned Bender the recognition were immediately available, but the NCCE's criteria center on educators who demonstrate measurable innovation in how they connect students to learning through library and technology resources.