Check out the Calendar of Events for our Unit's Weekly Office Hours, trainings, important deadlines, and more!

For OPI Unit updates please click here.

 Superintendent's Message

My first month as Superintendent has been both busy and productive, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve Montana’s students, educators, and families. I’ve focused on building strong relationships with education stakeholders and OPI staff. This month, I had the opportunity to testify in support of several key bills aimed at providing additional resources and funding to strengthen our schools. I will continue to advocate for policies that support our students, teachers, and administrators, and uphold local control in education. I’ve also been engaged in important discussions on school funding, teacher recruitment, and ensuring accountability as well as strengthening support in our education system.

• We will look forward to your input on the best ways to communicate with you in the future and want to note that we are moving away from this format of messaging and office hours in the future.  We are working to ensure staff are available in person, by phone, and email during school hours rather than having set office hours; therefore, some of those links may no longer work. 
• We recognize the incredible work of the assessment and accreditation team to design and improve the MAST Assessment and the accreditation portal; however, we plan to hold more in-depth sessions to support schools and gather input.
• We are also working with our programs, IT/Data, and financial teams to streamline submissions and provide clear instructions and support for multiple systems including E-Grants, PowerSchool, and Infinite Campus.   

Bringing our experience directly from the field to the Superintendent's Office we are dedicated to finding ways to reduce the administrative burden on school districts. As we move forward, I remain committed to supporting Montana’s schools and working together to improve outcomes for all students. 

Legislative Update

As we move through the 2025 legislative session, the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) remains committed to advocating for policies that support our students, educators, and school communities. Our priorities this session focus on strengthening school funding, improving teacher recruitment and retention, expanding student opportunities, and ensuring local control in education.

Several key bills are moving through the Legislature that impact Montana’s schools:

• School Funding & Resources: Proposals aimed at increasing financial support for schools, including adjustments to the funding formula and additional resources for rural and high-need districts, are advancing. These bills seek to provide stability and flexibility for school budgets while ensuring accountability.
• Teacher Recruitment & Retention: Legislative efforts to address the teacher shortage include incentive programs for educators, loan forgiveness opportunities, and strategies to attract and retain high-quality teachers, particularly in rural communities.
• Indian Education for All: Legislation, including SB 181, emphasizes strengthening Indian Education for All by ensuring tribal consultation, expanding cultural and language programs, and enhancing financial accountability for IEFA funds. OPI remains committed to preserving and promoting Montana’s rich tribal heritage in our schools.
• Human Trafficking & School Safety: OPI has been actively engaged in meetings focused on increasing awareness and education around human trafficking prevention in schools. Ensuring students and educators are equipped with the knowledge and resources to recognize and prevent trafficking remains a priority.

Throughout this session, OPI is working closely with legislators, education leaders, and stakeholders to ensure Montana’s education system continues to serve students effectively. We appreciate the hard work of our teachers, administrators, and school staff and will keep you updated on important developments as the session progresses.

If you have questions or input on legislative matters, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your voices are essential in shaping the future of education in Montana.

Meet the New Executive Staff

• Ron Whitmoyer  is serving as Interim Deputy Superintendent. With nearly two decades of service as the district superintendent of East Helena Public Schools and extensive involvement on state education boards, Ron brings unmatched leadership and a deep understanding of Montana’s education landscape. His expertise and connections will be instrumental during this transition period.
• Tyler Capece has been appointed Deputy Chief of Staff. Tyler is a professional educator who most recently taught high school social studies in Missoula. Her passion for education and fresh perspective will be invaluable.
• Katie Bloodgood continues her tenure at OPI, retaining her role in legislative affairs. Katie joined the office in 2024 and previously held senior policy positions for several Members of Congress. Her experience will play a key role in shaping policy initiatives and fostering collaboration with lawmakers.
• McKenna Gregg joins the office as Communications and Policy Advisor. McKenna most recently worked for Congressman Ryan Zinke in his Montana offices and will focus on enhancing communication efforts and advancing policy priorities for OPI.
• Lucas Rowsey is a recent computer science graduate from Montana State University with a strong background in computer programming and data management. He has joined us as the Data and IT Special Projects Coordinator, where he will contribute his technical expertise to drive innovation, security and efficiency in our data systems.

Click the links below for important updates from OPI's units.

Accreditation & Educator Preparation

Achievement in Montana (AIM)

Assessment

Career, Technical and Adult Education

Coordinated School Health

Educator Licensure

Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER)

Gifted and Talented

Indian Education for All

Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST)

Montana Autism Education Project

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

School Finance

School Nutrition

Special Education

Standards, Instruction & Professional Learning

Title & Federal Programs

Traffic Education

Questions? Contact: 

McKenna Gregg, Communications Director

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.