Last spring, Lewistown Public Schools adopted a new music curriculum that would allow younger students to spend more time singing and playing instruments. This year, the district has two new music teachers, Rebecca Speranza and Noelle (Allerdings) Jensen, who are helping put that new curriculum in action.

Speranza teaches music classes at Highland Park and Lewis and Clark Elementary for students in fourth through sixth grade and leads both beginning band and beginning choir. She also leads jazz band at Lewistown Junior High School. Originally from Helena, Speranza graduated from the University of Montana in December 2019 and started teaching as a substitute before landing a permanent job as a 5th-8th grade music teacher in Livingston Public Schools.