 MT Ready Team visits Great Falls Schools
& Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
The MT Ready team at the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) had the opportunity to meet with various educators from the Great Falls Public School District who will have thirteen students participating in work-based learning under the MT Ready initiative.
The MT Ready team thanks...
- Mark Yeager - Career Pathway Advisor at Great Falls Public Schools for organizing and touring the event.
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Educators at Paris Gibson Education Center (PGEC)
- Joe Wilkins - IT Automotive Program
- Janice Sagen - FCS Childcare Development and Culinary
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Educators at Great Falls High School
- Kathy Goodman - FCS Culinary and Apparel
- Laurie Kessner - FCS Culinary and Apparel
- Everett Pate - IT Electrical Education
- Landon Stubbs - IT Woods and Preconstruction
- Ken Vanlieshout - IT Automotive and SkillsUSA
- Zane Vanlieshout - IT Welding
- Pete Pace - IT Construction & High School House
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Educators at C.M. Russell High School
- Christi Virts - Health Sciences (CNA, EMT)
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Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
- Shane Etzwiler - President/CEO
- Scott Wolff - Director of Workforce Education, Executive Director of Central Montana Works
- Alyssa Larkey - Workforce Development, Program Coordinator for Central Montana Works
Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
 OPI, Great Falls Public Schools, and Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce discussing
Central Montana Works.
Central Montana Works is a Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce lead initiative that brings business and industry to the forefront of education. Through their career fair and hiring event known as "Worlds of Work" (WOW) - 2,100 students in 8th and 10th grade from four Montana counties got to participate in the event and get real-world exposure to career opportunities in the central Montana area. Students participated in activities from various industry vendors that granted them hands-on applications to experience career fields first-hand.
Central Montana Works supports the MT Ready Initiative in partnering with the Great Falls Public School District for work-based learning opportunities.
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Paris Gibson Education Center - Automotive Program
 From left to right, Instructor Joe Wilkins - Great Falls High School Automotive Program, Mary Heller - MT Ready Coordinator, and Gene Dudley - CTAE Consultant.
At Paris Gibson Education Center's Automotive Program, students participate in more advanced learning opportunities under the hood of vehicles. Students earn credit hours towards their Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification through The Department of Labor and Industry.
The program is funded through business and industry partners where businesses can "Buy a Bay" by sponsoring a vehicle maintenance bay. The program also services and maintains drivers education vehicles for a fee, that in turn, reciprocates back to the classroom equipment.
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Paris Gibson Education Center - Childcare and Culinary Programs
 Instructor Janice Sagen (pictured left) explains PGEC childcare pathway and culinary program.
Students and young parents at PGEC can participate in the Young Parents Education Center (YPEC), a program designed to help young parents with child care while they remain in school to further their education. The program also provides learning opportunities in early childcare development pathways and certifications through The Department of Labor and Industry.
The culinary program provides students with the "Serve Safe" credential to learn food safety and handling skills in high school before employment at restaurants and local businesses.
Dual credit opportunities are also available to students with University of Montana Western, where students can earn college credits towards their post-secondary goals.
Great Falls High School - Automotive Program & SkillsUSA
 Instructor Ken Vanlieshout (pictured right) explaining the Automotive and SkillsUSA program at Great Falls High School.
City Chevrolet of Great Falls has been a very generous and involved business and industry partner with the high school, contributing $500,000 in donations for the schools automotive equipment and tools. A very big thank you goes out to City Chevrolet for their amazing contributions.
Students also have the opportunity to become employed with business and industry partners, like City Chevrolet, straight out of high school. Ken is very involved with building, networking, and partnering with the Great Falls community to provide employment opportunities to his students.
Students participating in the Automotive Pathway at Great Falls High School start learning the basics of automotive maintenance and get to participate in SkillsUSA. Ken and his students won the SkillsUSA State Championship for Automotive Service and Technology in 2021. A big congratulations to Ken and his students on the win!
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Great Falls High School - Welding Pathway
 Instructor Zane Vanlieshout (pictured left) showcasing the Welding Program at Great Falls High School.
Zane teaches five classes at Great Falls High School Industry Technology program, from basic curriculum to advance learning.
Business and industry partner - Awe Dragon's Forge (ADF) - has played a pivotal role in the program, donating steel, welding instructor hours, providing tours of their facility, and providing hiring events for seniors.
Through dual enrollment, students can earn college credit "welding 101 foundations" while in high school through Great Falls MSU. Students can also earn a one-year certificate upon graduation before entering college or the workforce.
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Great Falls High School - Woods & Preconstruction
 Instructor Landon Stubbs (pictured right) talks about the Woods and Preconstruction program at Great Falls High School.
Students participating in the Woods and Preconstruction program at Great Falls High School are taught the basics of woodworking in residential housing (framing, roofing, siding, concrete, and more).
Business and industry partner Dick Anderson Construction has partnered with the school to provide a one-year pre-apprenticeship program to students before graduation.
MT Ready seeks to strengthen educator and student credentials through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) which provides students and educators with industry training that is nationally recognized.
Students in the program helped construct the "Safety Village" (pictured below) - a mini town designated to help young kids learn about driving cars and the rules of the road.
Great Falls High School - Electrical Pathway
 Instructor Everett Pate (pictured right) discussing the Electrical Pathway at Great Falls High School to Mary Heller - MT Ready Coordinator (center) and Gene Dudley (left).
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In Mr. Pate's Electrical Pathway, students learn to work on a real residential housing model (pictured left). Students are then prepared for real-world applications of electrical work on residential housing and more in Montana. |
Great Falls High School - Culinary and Bison Barista
 Bison Barista (pictured above) coffee shop is operated by the students of the Culinary Arts Pathway at Great Falls High School. Proceeds generated are returned to the classroom.
Instructor Kathy Goodman (pictured left) shares information on the Culinary Arts Pathway at Great Falls High School. Students have many opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, such as operating the Bison Barista coffee shop at the high school, catering events like the Russell Auction, cooking employee dinners at Benefis Hospital, providing culinary services for the Great Falls Public School Foundation at sporting events and tailgates, and much more.
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Great Falls High School - Fashion and Apparel Pathway
 Instructor Laurie Kessner (pictured left) talks about the fashion and apparel program at Great Falls High School.
Students enrolled in the apparel pathway at Great Falls High School learn the basics of fashion, interior design, apparel creation, sewing and textiles, and so much more. Pictured left are t-shirts made by the students that are sold at the school, sporting events, various business and industry partners in the Great Falls area, and more. Proceeds from the sales are then reciprocated back into the classroom for materials and equipment.
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Students in the pathway also work with a laser engraving and cutting machine to create plaques, figurines, and awards for various athletic programs at Great Falls High School. |
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Great Falls High School House - Construction
 Instructor Pete Pace (left) showcases the 45th "High School House" project - a new house built each year by the students of Great Falls High School.
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The 45th edition of the "High School House" is currently being built by the students enrolled in the construction pathway at Great Falls High School. Sponsored by Neighbor Works, students have a fantastic opportunity to earn 300 pre-apprenticeship hours though The Department of Labor and Industry before graduating high school.
Business and industry partners such as Dick Anderson Construction, the Carpenters Union, Sletten Construction, and Central Plumbing, Heating and Excavation, and more are also sponsoring the project.
Students have the opportunity for employment at the mentioned business directly out of high school, furthering their education and career readiness for Montana's workforce.
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C.M. Russell High School - Health Sciences Program
 Instructor Christi Virts (right) explaining the benefits of Health Science programs at C.M. Russell High School.
Students enrolled in the Health Sciences Pathways at C.M. Russell High School have the opportunity to obtain credentials as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Basic Life Support/CPR (BLS).
Partnering with Great Falls MSU, students are able to earn college credit through dual enrollment courses at the high school. Credits include EMT and Medical Terminology.
Benefis Hospital offers students an internship with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Benefis also participates in "Health Care Hero Day," the second Tuesday of each month at C.M. Russell, where students talk with industry professionals to learn skills like resume building and interview skills for future careers in health care.
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OPI - CTE Team Says Farewell to
Mike Houghton - Industrial Technology Specialist
Mike joined the OPI as the Industrial Technology Education Specialist and State Advisor for TSA and SkillsUSA in 2019, bringing with him a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology Education, a Minor in Traffic Education, an AWS Certified Welding Educator credential, and 15 years of teaching, most of that time in Manhattan, MT.
With a background in Sales, Customer Service, and Independent Contracting, Mike strove to champion the cause of Career and Technical Education to industry, schools, and beyond, as well as build greater opportunities for students.
We wish Mike nothing but the best moving forward in his future endeavors, and we thank him for his many years of service to Montana's students. Thank you, Mike!
If you are interested in exploring a career at OPI as The CTE Industrial Technology Specialist, stayed tuned for the position posting in the coming days.
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Montana Business Educator Receives Montana ACTE's 2022 David Strong Award
During this year’s Fall Institute, the Montana ACTE David Strong Professional Leadership Award was presented to Carol Perlinski. A graduate of Montana State University, Carol began her career as an instructor and adjunct professor at MSU. In 1978, she started teaching in the Bozeman High School Business Education department, where she spent the next 28 years shaping directions and lives. She was a trail blazer in the design and implementation of Hawks Enterprises, a company concept, which became a template for other Montana schools. She also coordinated and assisted with a National Company Conference held at Big Sky Resort.
She chartered the Bozeman High School Business Professionals of America Chapter and served as advisor from 1990 until her retirement in 2007. As a BPA advisor, she served on the Montana State Executive Board of Directors as the Region V representative for 13 years, and on the BPA National Board of Trustees for eight years, where among other duties, she was the National Treasurer.
Carol was instrumental in professional organizations including the Montana Business Education Association and Montana ACTE, serving on many committees, and holding officer positions in both. She assisted the state of Montana on curriculum advisory boards including the Montana Standards Revision for Workplace Skills, Perkins advisory boards and task forces, as a legislative advocate in Helena and Washington, D.C., and served on CTE hiring committees for both OPI and OCHE.
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Montana ACTE Survey Request
Dear CTE Educator
The Montana ACTE board continually strives to provide effective leadership to its membership. One way is to conduct a yearly survey of its membership as well as survey the participants of the recent Fall Institute. For those who complete the survey and submit your name, you will be entered in to a drawing for a membership for ACTE.
We ask that you take the approximately five minutes to complete this to help provide data to better guide your leadership team in planning for the future. Best regards.
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MT FCCLA Seeking ProStart Coordinator
MT FCCLA is seeking a person to coordinate activities and events as part of the ProStart program across the state. This person will work directly with the MT FCCLA Interim State Director and is projected to require approximately 7 hours a week.
Tracey Eatherton
Interim MT FCCLA/ProStart Director
director@mtfccla.org
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Montana's CTE Educators Participate in the
New CTE Professionals Hybrid Workshop 2022
The OPI’s Career, Technical, and Adult Education units’ CTE program specialists and staff hosted the New Career and Technical Education (CTE) Professionals Hybrid Workshop 2022 via two virtual sessions and an in-person session in Billings at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, October 19, 2022.
Secondary career and technical education pre-professionals, classroom teachers, school administrators, school counselors, representatives from business/industry partners, as well as Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) state directors and local chapter advisors from around the state participated in the free hybrid workshop to gain information on the many hot topics of career and technical education at the state and national levels. The 50 professionals taking part in the three-session event represented the various career and technical education areas including agriculture education, business and marketing education, family and consumer sciences education, health science education, and industrial technology education. This year also saw participation from business/industry partners seeking to learn more about Montana’s CTE programming and to connect with CTE educators.
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The Prospects 2023 is Now Open—A High School & Middle School Business Plan & Pitch Competition
The Montana Chamber Foundation is excited to again be hosting this competition and cannot wait to see what ideas are submitted. There are thousands of dollars in cash, scholarships, and experiences available. Last year there was over $75,000 in cash and prizes awarded. This is a great opportunity to get your students ideas exposed to business leaders in Montana.
Tiana Yates (tiana@montanachamber.com), the Montana Chamber Empowered Coordinator, will be your main contact for this year’s competition. You do not have to be teaching Empowered to participate in the contest.
The Prospects includes both a high school and a middle school division. The Fall competition is open now with first submissions due January 6, 2023. Spring, or final submissions, are due March 10, 2023. The Awards Show will be held virtually, April 20.
Key Dates for The Prospects 2023
January 6: First Submission Date
January 12: Advancements Announced
March 10: Final Submission Date
March 24: Final Advancements Announced
April 20: Virtual Awards Show
May 21-23: In-person competition in Bozeman for the Grand Champion prize
Eligibility: Any of Montana's high school and middle school students are encouraged to submit their innovative ideas and solutions or enter their existing businesses.
Submissions: Pitch Video (2 minutes or less), Business Summary (1,000 words max.), a Waiver Form signed by an Educator and/or Parent or Guardian, and a completed W-9 Form.
Complete contest and submission details can be found on The Prospects page of the Montana Chamber Foundation website.
For questions, please contact Tiana Yates at tiana@montanachamber.com.
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Montana Business Educators Recognized During
the 2022 MBEA Business Meeting
The Montana Business Education Association (MBEA) 2022 Business Meeting was held Friday, October 21, during the Montana ACTE Fall Institute 2022 in Billings. MBEA President Mandy Wichman (Hobson) presided over the meeting that included the presentation of MBEA’s First-time Montana ACTE Fall Institute Attendee stipends, the MBEA Awards, and the election of MBEA officers.
This year, Jesse Dever (Billings Senior), Jessica Oehmcke (Three Forks), and Michelle Tade (Frazer) were the recipients of MBEA’s $50 First-time Montana ACTE Fall Institute Attendee stipends. Individuals interested in applying for one of the stipends must be registered for the Montana ACTE Fall Institute and must attended the MBEA Business Meeting.
MBEA Past President Calie Wineinger (Froid) presented the MBEA awards for 2022. The Outstanding New Business Teacher for 2022 was awarded to Cameron Rozell of Glacier High School in Kalispell. Cameron was recognized for building a successful technology program in two years and bringing new classes which introduce students to various technologies including drones, tablets, robotics, and video game design. Over the past two years, Cameron has completed over 250 hours of professional development to gain the resources for the new courses and to provide students with the crucial skills necessary for the evolving business environment. Additionally, Cameron has been serving as an assistant DECA advisor for 10 years.
The MBEA Outstanding Business Teacher of the Year was awarded to Jessica Goosen of Charles M. Russell High School in Great Falls. Jessica has been teaching at Charles M. Russell High School for 15 years and currently serves as department chair. Her courses include accounting, financial tech skills, introduction to business, and personal finance. Currently, Jessica is serving as the MBEA President-elect and the Montana BPA Region 3 co-coordinator. Jessica hosts the Montana BPA Region 3 Leadership Conference at Charles M. Russell High School each year and this past school year, took 15 students to the Business Professionals of America 2022 National Leadership Conference with students earning first place in both team and individual events.
Also, during the MBEA 2022 Business Meeting, the slate of officers for 2023 were announced with Jessica Goosen moving up to MBEA President and David Powell (Bainville) moving up to MBEA President-elect. The other officers for 2023 include Past President Mandy Wichman, Secretary Jamie Toivonen (Capital High School, Helena), Treasurer Terri Norman (Capital High School, Helena), Membership Director Calie Wineinger, and Webmaster Scott Anderson (Baker).
Montana Harvest of the Month Showcase:
Park County
10 am – 3:30 pm on December 2, 2022
Gardiner Public Schools, 510 Stone Street, Gardiner, Montana 59030
Registration is currently open for the Montana Harvest of the Month Showcase: Park County! Anyone interested in farm to cafeteria is invited to attend the Harvest of the Month Showcase. This includes school staff, CACFP providers, farmers, ranchers, food businesses, organizations, and community members.
The event will highlight Park County’s farm to school activities, provide training on Harvest of the Month taste tests, activities, recipes, promotion, team-building strategies, and offer opportunities for networking. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of Montana Harvest of the Month and how they can use it to further their farm to cafeteria program! Lunch and snacks made with local foods will be provided.
Montana BPA Update:
CONGRATULATIONS.
The BPA State Officer Team has selected this year's pin design. Congrats to Alyssa Emineth of Red Lodge High School for submitting the winning design. Alyssa's design will be used for this year's trading pins at NLC in Anaheim, CA.
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In addition, congrats to Peyton Njos of Red Lodge High School for her submission. Montana BPA will be using Peyton's design for promotional stickers this year!
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The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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