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Designing Safe and Engaging Lab Spaces
Date: November 18, 2025
Time: 4:30–5:30 p.m. (MT)
Credit: 1 OPI Renewal Unit
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Join Dr. Amanda Bastoni, former CTE teacher and CTE Director, and Abraham Ewing CTE High School and Middle School teacher in MT, for an interactive one-hour session focused on creating safe, accessible, and engaging lab environments for all learners. Participants will explore strategies for developing effective lab safety contracts, designing inclusive and universally accessible lab spaces, and fostering student engagement through thoughtful space design. The webinar will include discussion time so that participants can learn from and with each other as well.
All Industrial Arts, Career and Technical Education instructors, and any other educators designing hands-on learning/real world learning spaces are invited to join.
This webinar is hosted by the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), with support from Salish Kootenai College (SKC) and the Headwaters Tech Hub.
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Coming this Spring: Virtual Photonics Training Series
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Keep an eye out for two upcoming virtual training sessions focused on the exciting and fast-growing field of photonics—the science of light and its applications in technologies like lasers, fiber optics, imaging, and communications.
Photonics is an emerging industry in Montana, creating new opportunities for students to connect science, technology, and industry innovation. Each 1.5-hour webinar will feature ready-to-use lesson plans to help educators introduce photonics concepts in their classrooms and will include guest speakers from the photonics industry.
Educators who attend both sessions will earn 5 OPI renewal units. Dates: TBD — stay tuned for registration details!
Business Professionals of America, Montana Association held their Fall Leadership Summit 2025 on October 5 and 6 at Fairmont Hot Springs.
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Three hundred and thirty-two students and advisors from throughout Montana attended this year's conference. The theme of this year’s event was Lead Loud. Conference highlights included members from business and industry who provided leadership development for the student members and offered engaging sessions for Montana BPA advisors in attendance.
Workshops presenters included: Idaho BPA State Officer Team; Marcie Reuer and Jake Lile, MSU; Dax Schieffer, Montana Council on Economic Education; James Easton, Montana Chamber Foundation; Beth Petro, Reach Higher Montana; Ethan Igo, OPI; Mark Branger MTACTE and the Montana BPA State Officer Team.
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During the conference, students were encouraged to participate in Shark Tank BPA Edition. BPA Students who entered and how they placed:
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First Place: Flathead High School: Colton Crandall and Logan Meyers 2nd place: Simms High School: Kenna Brooks, Grace Standley, Bailey Anderson, Honor Carrier and Ella Fryberger; 3rd Place: C.M. Russell High School: Mia Martin and Delaney Youngers.
Other Shark Tank presenters were from Fergus High School, Ronan High School, Glasgow High School, Sentinel High School, Plentywood High School and Joliet High School. Shark Tank Judges were Beth Petro, Reach Higher Montana; Dax Schieffer, MCEE; Ethan Igo, OPI; Marcie Reuer and Jake Lile, MSU;
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Eric Swenson, UM Western Mark Branger, Montana ACTE and Cameron Roth, Idaho BPA. Scholarship money was awarded to winners.
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BPA also held its annual Biz Bowl. This year’s winner was Hellgate High School. Team members included: Petra Serban, Keiran Alviar, Lucy Schoenen and Jasper Alviar.
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of BPA, the officer team also conducted a Minute Blitz and a Peace, Love and Pie drive to raise $406 for Special Olympics Montana.
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This year’s Fall Leadership Summit activities were sponsored in part by Montana Financial Education Coalition MFEC and Reach Higher Montana.
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The Montana Association for Career and Technical Education is dedicated to providing leadership in developing an educated, prepared, adaptable, innovative, and competitive workforce for the state.
This highly anticipated gathering serves as an essential opportunity for CTAE professionals including, new teachers, counselors, administrators, and program directors to connect, recharge, and celebrate the direction of Career and Technical Education in Montana.
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Attendees are encouraged to utilize their time to network with colleagues from across the state, connect with tremendous sponsors and partners to leverage their resources, and leave feeling inspired by the collective effort to change students’ lives.
The event provides a dynamic two-day professional development experience, with organizers expressing high excitement over the quality of the planned workshops and tours. Key focus areas and features include:
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Keynote Speaker: Renowned author and workplace strategist Jeff Butler will delivered the address, "Building an Effective Multi-Generational Workplace." Backed by psychological research, his program offers actionable strategies to manage cross-generational challenges and turn a diverse workforce into a competitive advantage.
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OPI CTAE Workshop: The OPI team shared their work on adopting the New Career Cluster Framework and Montana Career Pathways. Discussion topics will center on facilitating conversations around pathways, local needs, work-based learning, dual credit, industry credentials, and teacher recruitment/retention.
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New Track Offered: For the first time, the Institute featured a dedicated Health Science track, a long-standing goal achieved through collaboration with the National Consortium for Health Science Education.
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Networking and Celebration: Attendees had the opportunities to network with CTE professionals from across the state, attend division-specific breakout sessions, and connect informally during the Networking Social and the Awards Banquet.
2025 Montana ACTE Awards Banquet
The Awards Banquet recognizes outstanding CTE professionals who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and dedication to the field across various roles and career stages.
Recognizing Career and Technical Education (CTAE) educators at the annual MACTE banquet is crucial for validating the impact of their work in preparing Montana's future workforce. These awards highlight professionals who demonstrate exceptional innovation, dedication, and leadership in creating effective, career-focused programs.
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By honoring excellence in CTAE ranging from new teachers who inject fresh ideas to veteran professionals making long-term contributions.
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The banquet not only provides well-deserved appreciation but also raises the profile of CTE, inspires best practices across districts, and reinforces the vital role these educators play in developing students who are educated, prepared, adaptable, innovative, and competitive.
The awards presented include:
Montana ACTE Award - Recognizes CTE professionals for leadership on behalf of ACTE, innovations in CTE, and significant contributions to the field over an extended period of time.
David Strong Professional Leadership Award - Honors a CTE professional who exhibits professionalism, passion, dedication, and a desire to build relationships throughout the CTE community, striving for betterment at the chapter, state, and national levels.
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Teacher of the Year - Recognizes the finest CTE teachers at the middle/secondary level who show innovation in the classroom, commitment to students, and dedication to improving CTE in their institutions and communities.
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Postsecondary Professional of the Year - Recognizes the finest CTE teachers at the postsecondary level demonstrating innovation, commitment to students, and dedication to improving CTE in their institutions and communities.
New Teacher of the Year - Recognizes CTE teachers with 3–5 years’ experience (middle, secondary, or postsecondary) who have made significant contributions toward innovation and shown a professional commitment early in their careers.
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Administrator of the Year - Recognizes administrative CTE professionals (school, district, county, state, or federal) who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher/student success and made contributions to innovative, unique, and effective CTE programs.
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Teacher Educator of the Year Award - Recognizes teacher educators (secondary or postsecondary) committed to preparing teachers to deliver high-quality CTE programs, demonstrated innovation in teacher education, and leadership in improving CTE.
Carl Perkins Community Service Award - Recognizes individuals who have used CTE to make a significant impact on their community and demonstrated leadership in programs that promote student involvement in community service.
The connections made and the excellence celebrated in Bozeman ensure that Montana's Career and Technical Education professionals remain at the forefront of innovation, continuously empowering students to become the educated, adaptable, and competitive leaders the state needs.
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The Adult Education Unit at the OPI provides support for non-traditional learners with the Montana Options Program for high schools, high school equivalency for out of school individuals, and Adult Community Education. Have questions? Interested in learning more? Connect with us - complete this brief survey to let us know how we may support you!
Montana Options programs are intended to:
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incorporate the traditional high school curriculum.
provide an alternative pathway for credit-deficient seniors promote college and career readiness activities.
allow at-risk students to graduate on time and obtain a high school diploma.
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Montana High School Equivalency (HSE) exams are:
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designed to measure academic skills compared to a traditional high school graduate.
offered at state approved GED® and HiSET® test
centers.result in a HSE credential equivalent to a high school diploma, if passed.
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Adult Community Education (ACE) programs may assist individuals to:
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improve overall academic skills and prepare for the HSE exam.
explore workforce readiness and training opportunities.
acquire English language proficiency and citizenship.
engage in creative hobbies or enrich health and wellbeing.
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Have questions? Interested in learning more? Connect with us!
Katie Madsen
- High School Equivalency Administrator and Lifelong Learning Director
- katie.madsen@mt.gov
- 406-465-1341
Emily Fuller
- High School Equivalency, Community Outreach, and Lifelong Learning Coordinator
- efuller@mt.gov
- 406-594-3750
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Montana Digital Academy's
Frontier Learning Lab explores what’s next in education: artificial intelligence, extended reality, and the tools reshaping teaching and learning. To cut through the noise, we’re launching the nation’s first AI Help Desk for educators, based in Montana. It’s run by K-12 professionals who work with teachers every day.
The Frontier Learning Lab Flyer
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The Frontier Learning Lab is Montana Digital Academy’s new statewide learning lab for cutting-edge learning tools a place where teachers and students can explore artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and other emerging tech without leaving Big Sky Country. Anchored in the values of expanded access, strong privacy, and solid learning science, the Lab serves as a central hub that curates tools, surfaces best practices, and sparks practical innovation in every corner of the state, from bustling city schools to the most remote one-room classrooms.
We help with real questions, real tools, and real classrooms. Email your question to ai.help@montanadigitalacademy.org.
We’ll reply as quickly as we can. Subscribe to Frontier Learning Lab Field Notes [frontierlearninglab.substack.com] for updates and practical guides.
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LEAs who have been in good standing with their local application funds for two years prior to the current application year. This includes adhering to grant application and reporting deadlines, submitting accurate data reports, appropriate fiscal supporting documents, adherence to all Perkins V and Civil Rights monitoring.
Districts are only eligible for a total of $5,000 in awards, must have completed the Perkins Grant Application for Fiscal year 26 and receive an allocation of less than $15,000.
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Vision for Perkins Reserve Funding:
- Foster innovation through the identification and promotion of promising and proven career and technical education programs, practices, and strategies, which may include programs, practices, and strategies that prepare individuals for nontraditional fields; or
- To create career awareness, recruit students to a CTE Secondary Program of Study or promote the development, implementation, and adoption of programs of study or career pathways aligned with state-identified high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations or industries in the middle grades.
Schools could use the funds to help:
- establish foundational elements for work-based learning
- improve transitions from middle grades into secondary CTE programs of study.
- establish innovative delivery methods for career exploration
- expose students to employability skills earlier
Resources
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Help your students graduate with the skills employers are looking for. Through PERC’s HVAC Technical School Grant Program, your school can receive funding to add propane-specific training to existing HVAC, plumbing, or technical classes.
Available grants:
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$5,000 for high schools offering the 8-hour propane overview program
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$10,000 for post-secondary schools offering the 80-hour propane HVAC curriculum
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All grant recipients gain access to Train the Trainer sessions designed to equip instructors with the tools they need to succeed.
Don’t wait — funding is limited, and applications close December 19.
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In addition to medals, Montana students earned 29 Skill Point Certificates, awarded to competitors who meet or exceed national industry-defined standards in their contest areas. These certificates are a recognized symbol of technical excellence and are endorsed by leading companies.
The Office of Public Instruction’s Career, Technical, & Adult Education unit invites all new Montana Career & Technical Education (CTE) professionals to participate in a FREE hybrid professional learning experience. Who benefits from the New CTE Professionals Hybrid Workshop?
- New to the CTE classroom or with five years or less of experience in Montana.
- Local administrators, counselors, and CTE or WBL coordinators
- Individuals who have participated in the past are also invited to participate again.
What are the benefits of attending the workshops?
- Discover leadership and professional growth opportunities
- The fundamentals of Career & Technical Education, federal and state funding programs, professional organizations, curriculum resources, program standards and guidelines,
- Marketing and advising Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs),
- Advanced learning opportunities for CTE students through dual enrollment and work-based learning.
Registration here!
Selected as one of eight states to participate in the Early Adopter Cohort OPI will be working with OCHE and other partners to review our Career Clusters and Montana Career Pathways. Click the image to find out more.
The CTE Specialists have been assigned regionally to schools. The regions are Eastern, Northcentral, Northwest, Southcentral, and Southwest. These assignments will be used to review the 2025- 2026 Perkins Grant application and any remaining 2024-2025 amendments.
If you have any questions or need assistance, our team of specialists is available to support you. Map Key can be found here.
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Below you can find information related to CTE Funding, Montana Career Pathways, Carl Perkins Grant and Data, State CTE Data, Work Based Learning and related topics. If you would like all of this information in one document you can reference that here. |
The information is also split into three different resources for more specific guidance. The linked documents are broken into three different categories; CTE Funding Guidance, CTE Montana Career Pathways, Montana Work Based Learning.
For questions, please contact:
OPI CTE Unit General Questions
Shannon Boswell, Career Technical and Adult Education Director
Eric Tilleman, Agriculture Education Specialist
Open, Health Sciences Education Specialist
Kaitlin Trutzel, Industrial Technology Education Specialist
Ethan Igo, Business Education Specialist
Gayla Randel, Family & Consumer Sciences Education Specialist
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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