Montana School Services Foundation enjoys the endorsement of the three most prominent associations in Montana’s education community, the MFPE, MTSBA, and SAM. The leaders of these three organizations serve as directors, overseeing the Foundation’s focus on service and cost savings for plan participants.
Amanda Curtis was a public employee who taught biology at Butte High School. She is now the president of MFPE and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Southwestern Montana Central Labor Council.
Amanda has earned Distinguished Educator awards in Helena and Butte and is a Montana Tech Distinguished Alumna. In 2013, Amanda co-founded the Butte America Foundation (BAmF), a social justice non-profit. Under her leadership, BAmF started a community radio station in Butte, leading to station start-ups in Missoula, Hot Springs, and Helena.
Amanda served in the 2013 and 2015 sessions of the Montana Legislature and was the second woman in Montana’s history to run for United States Senate following a Special Nominating Convention in August 2014.
Rob Watson, Ed.D.
In July 2019, Dr. Watson was selected to serve as the Superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools, a role that he held for Bozeman Public Schools for 7 years. Other leadership experience has included principal of Bozeman High School (2009-2012) and middle and high school principal in Missoula County Public Schools (2001-2009). Rob began his education career as a math and science teacher in Anchorage, Alaska.
Recently, Rob was selected to serve as the next Executive Director at School Administrators of Montana, to start in July 2022. After 29 years in public education, it will be difficult to leave. However, Rob is excited for the opportunity to become an advocate for all Montana educators in his new role.
Rob holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Montana State University, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Alaska, and received his Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Montana in 2009.
Rob served the State of Montana as a member of the Certifications, Standards and Practices Council for the Board of Public Ed. In addition, he served as a practitioner on the Technical Advisory Committee for the assessment division of the Office of Public Instruction. At the local level, Rob served the Missoula community on the board for the Missoula Economic Partnership and the YMCA Board.
In 2015, Rob was in the inaugural group, joining 27 fellow superintendents from around the country, to achieve National Superintendent Certification. In 2016, Rob was recognized by the School Administrators of Montana with the GV Erickson Award – the highest recognition given to a school administrator for notable service and dedication. In 2018, Rob was named as the Superintendent of the Year by his superintendent colleagues from around Montana.
Rob believes in the power of education to change lives, a fact that motivates him each day towards a goal of helping all children experience success.
Lance Melton has been MTSBA’s Executive Director since March 2000. He first began working for MTSBA in 1996 as Director of Governmental Relations and staff attorney and was promoted in 1997 as the Association’s General Counsel. Lance graduated with high honors from the University of Montana with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and received his J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law where he wrote for the Public Land Law Review. Before joining MTSBA, Lance served as an attorney for the Montana Dept. of Commerce.