Article and photo by Mentoring Coordinator, David Charpentier

“To have a teacher who once sat in the desks I’m currently sitting in is kind of crazy. She just walked these halls not that long ago! To have a teacher who is a St. Labre alumni teaching high school social studies is an inspiration for us. It shows us we can do anything we put our minds to.”
 – Tahtanna, St. Labre senior

For the first time in recent memory, (since I arrived at St. Labre in 1990, at least) a St. Labre graduate is teaching or co subject at St. Labre High School. “I really love being here as a teacher,” Chloe Headswift told me. “There was a time in my college career where I thought I wouldn’t make it to this point. I’m here, though! This was all I ever wanted to do, and St. Labre was able to make it happen.” Chloe graduated from St. Labre High School in 2020.

I visited Chloe’s classroom several times this fall and winter. I enjoyed witnessing the warm interactions Chloe has fostered with the students in her first year.

The smiles on the students’ faces said it all. And they were quick to share their positive thoughts about Ms. Headswift with me.

“A few things that I absolutely adore about Ms. Headswift are her humor, her contagious laugh, and her ability to take a joke, especially since our Native communities use teasing as endearment,” Isobel, who is senior in Ms. Headswift's tribal government class, said to me. Isobel went on to add, “I feel as if our Ms. Headswift has a better understanding of how we kids think, especially being a Native American. She understands how Native households work and the struggles we go through.”

The excitement goes both ways—Chloe is thrilled to be back at St. Labre. ‘What I enjoy most about being a teacher at St. Labre is connecting with the students, the small interactions throughout the day and seeing their real personalities shine through the hustle and bustle. It makes my day!’”

Chloe Headswift is now the second St. Labre alum to participate in our St. Labre Teacher Scholarship Program. Chloe received a full-ride scholarship for her last two years at Rocky Mountain College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Social Studies Education. A requirement for receiving the Teacher Scholarship is that the recipient must teach at St. Labre for each year she receives the scholarship.

With a shortage of teachers impacting schools across Montana, St. Labre is delighted to be establishing a pipeline of teachers from our own graduates. Molly Joyce, St. Labre High School principal, had this to say about Chloe: “As a member of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Tribes, Chloe provides a unique lens on the inner workings of government and history of this region. We consider ourselves fortunate that Chloe has decided to return ‘home.’”

At the end of my visit, Chloe shared her gratitude for St. Labre: “St. Labre prepared me by supporting me throughout my college career. I don’t think I would’ve been able to get my college education without the support of St. Labre. Their compassion and pride got me through college and to the life of my dreams.”

Before I left her classroom, Chloe told me that she plans to stay much longer than her two-year payback requirement. I couldn’t be more pleased than to hear that statement.