Sara Tempel, M.A., M.Ed. – Director/School Psychologist

stempel@bpc.k12.mt.us

Well, here’s my story…I was born and raised in Missoula, Montana.  A die-hard Griz football fan, I graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Psychology and later, a master’s in School Psychology.  I began my career as a school psychologist for Great Falls Public Schools, and, after marrying my Farmer Husband Ron, I was transplanted to northcentral Montana and joined the Bear Paw Cooperative family.  From 1994 to 2016, I worked part-time for the Co-op while my kids were growing up and, after a second master’s, this time in Counselor Education from MSU-Northern, I also worked part-time concurrently as a school counselor for Chester-Joplin-Inverness Public Schools for several years.  I went full-time with the Co-op in 2016 as a school psychologist and, in the fall of 2019, assumed the position of Director.  On a family note, my husband, Ron, farms and ranches on our family farm and our son, Ryan, after graduating from Montana State University (I know…where did I go wrong to have raised a Bobcat?), has become the 4th generation to be a steward of our little piece of the Earth.  Our second son, Bruce, is a Loadmaster for the Montana Air National Guard, and is a Deputy Sheriff in Liberty County.  Our youngest, Ellyssa, graduated from Carroll College in May 2023 and is now in a Nurse Residency program at the Mayo Clinic Emergency Department/Trauma Center in Rochester, MN.

Looking back at the sequence of events that have led me to where I am today, I am astounded and humbled at the guiding hand of Divine Providence.  I would never have guessed or even hoped to be where I am today and the circumstances that have taught me the most beautiful, and sometimes difficult, lessons.  My families (my Whaley Family of origin, my Tempel Family of choice, and my BPC Family) are sources of abundant gut-laughs, comfort and camaraderie on a daily basis.  I am truly blessed.