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CTE Month may be the 28 days of February that we purposefully celebrate Career and Technical Education, but it creates an impact in students’ lives 365 days a year. Our CTE teachers are taking the academic principles that students learn in class and creating a real-world environment to apply them.
Often students don’t see the reading, math, science, and art that is happening all around them. Through rigorous CTE courses and programs, students can gain workforce competencies, industry recognized credentials, leadership development, and life-ready skills that they will carry with them no matter what field or industry they end up in.
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CTE is helping to prepare students for the rapidly changing workforce. Our team at the Office of Public Instruction is happy to celebrate and support the 600 plus Career and Technical Education Teachers, Career and Technical Student Organization Advisors, and programs across Montana.
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Educator Externships are a unique professional development opportunity where teachers are immersed in a company to learn about the skills and competencies needed to succeed in that industry or career path. |
The experience strengthens an educator’s teaching abilities and brings relevant, real-world context into the classroom. Externships are often transformative for educators, students, and industry partners. Impacting just one teacher allows a company to reach between 20-150 students each year.
Learn more here: WBLC Teacher Externship Brochure
Please provide the below information to pre-register for the 2026 Teacher Externship Program. Pre-registration does not guarantee you an externship since there are limited spots available. You must pre-register through this site and complete registration to be considered for the externship. Upon completion of the externship, you will be eligible to receive a stipend paid by the Montana Work-Based Learning Collaborative and up to 30 renewal units.
Stipends are available.
Deadline March 1, 2026
Link: https://forms.gle/9c6UAwySz4UTbWdb7
CTE Presidential Scholar Nominations are Open Through January 30th.
The U.S. Department of Education announced on January 9th the U.S. Presidential CTE Scholar program is accepting nominations for 2026 recognition.
CTE scholars’ qualifications include demonstrated high proficiency on State academic standards, technical skill mastery, professionalism and demonstrated employability skills, and creativity in solving real-world problems in the areas of Healthcare, IT, Advanced Manufacturing, STEM and Transportation.
Nominees will be accepted from any Montana public, private and home schools before the end of day on January 30th. More information will be coming from the Office of Public Instruction through Superintendent Hedalen.
Nominations are being accepted in the following three categories:
- General
- Arts
- Career and Technical Education (CTE)
If you have questions regarding CTE nominations or would like to submit a CTE nomination, please contact: gayla.randel@mt.gov
The deadline to submit nominations is End of Day January 30th.
CTE Scholar-- 2026 Montana CTE Presidential Scholars Nomination Form.pdf
CTE Criteria 2026 from US Dept of Education
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Perkins Grant Cash Draw Downs should be started districts need to submit requests by 25th of each month. This should be done a minimum of quarterly.
Once your final allocation amendments have been made schools should be purchasing items and submitting cash requests.
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Educators from across Montana and the region participated in a two-day Animal and Human Veterinary Science (AHVS) professional learning workshop focused on strengthening veterinary science and animal health instruction.
The workshop was hosted by the Montana Office of Public Instruction in partnership with the Billings Career Center and provided hands-on training in inquiry-based learning and technical skill development.
AHVS is a semester-long course emphasizing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment techniques related to animal health. Participants engaged in applied learning activities and case studies designed to build practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and real-world classroom applications.
Educators attending represented schools and institutions from across Montana, including Lockwood, Glendive, Three Forks, Culbertson, Simms, Columbus, Billings, Fromberg, Stevensville, Lame Deer, Park City, Bridger, Fairview, Gardiner, Red Lodge, Sidney, Stanford, Park, Conrad, and Montana State University, as well as a participant from North Dakota.
The training supports Montana’s ongoing efforts to expand high-quality career and technical education opportunities and prepare students for careers in veterinary science, animal health, and agriculture-related fields.
April 7-10, 2026- State Leadership and Skills Conference: Great Falls, MT
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We currently have a few contests that require Technical Chairs, as they are more involved and need someone who can help plan and manage contest logistics. We also have several other contests that only need a Lead Judge. These lead judges do not need to plan the contest; they simply act as my main point of contact and help make sure contest-day operations run smoothly. |
This helps tremendously, as it keeps me from trying to be in 15 places at once and ensures each contest has a dependable leader on-site.
If you know anyone—industry partners, community members, retired professionals, a teacher wanting to check out SkillsUSA or even colleagues—who might be a great fit for one of these roles, please pass along my contact information and ask them to reach out to me directly. I would truly appreciate the support.
Advisors, you are also welcome to serve as a lead judge or technical chair, even if you have students competing. The Professional Development Test levels the playing field so that your involvement will not affect scoring or the final placement of contestants. |
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Perks of Being a Lead Judge for SkillsUSA Montana:
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Complimentary vendor table at our Industry Expo $200 value
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Free lunch, dinner, or both depending on your contest schedule
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Volunteer hour certificate available upon request
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Free judges’ gift as a thank-you for your time and expertise
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Meaningful impact by giving back and helping Montana close the skills gap
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If you are an advisor- Complimentary Registration fee $75 value
Technical Chair needed:
- Chapter business Procedure
- Opening & Closing Ceremonies contest
- Job Interview
- Quiz Bowl
Lead Judges needed:
- Chapter Display
- Job Skills Demo
- Medical Math
- Outstanding Chapter
- Pin Design
- Wood Furniture
- Promotional Bulletin Board
- Related Technical Math
- T-shirt Design
- Welding Sculpture
- Wood Sculpture
If interested Contact: Roberta Tilleman - statedirector@skillsusamontana.org
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Coming this Spring: Virtual Photonics Training Series
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Virtual Photonics Training Series
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Date: February 17th, 2026 Time: 4:30–6:00 p.m. (MT) Credit: 1.5 OPI Renewal Unit
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Date: March 3rd, 2026 Time: 4:30–6:00 p.m. (MT) Credit: 1.5 OPI Renewal Unit
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 3 OPI renewal units.
Montana BPA's eight regions have successfully completed their regional competitions this past month. Top competitors in the over 100 competitive events will now advance to SLC 2026 in Billings on March 8-10.
BPA has long had a relationship with the Special Olympics. Since 2012, our organization has raised tens of thousands of dollars for them. One such fundraiser, which Montana partakes in at the State level, is the Special Dots fundraiser. Rather than direct a specific, large-scale endeavor, we ask each chapter to choose their own fundraising route for Special Olympics. |
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Whether you do a bake sale or 50/50 raffles at basketball games, all that matters is the amount of cash your chapter raises by the State Leadership Conference. Alongside the money, we encourage every chapter to make a dot themed poster to bring to the conference. Typically this poster indicates the amount raised, but that is not a requirement. The more money we raise, the better. Even if your chapter fails to raise much, every dollar truly does count! Whether you do a miracle minute at a school assembly or a large-scale raffle that brings in hundreds of dollars, we at BPA and at the Special Olympics appreciate every contribution, which will be recognized at State. Please make your best efforts; all results are meaningful.
We look forward to presenting to the Montana Special Olympics during our State Leadership Conference on March 9th.
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The Montana Financial Education Coalition (MFEC) is recognizing an outstanding Montana personal finance educator for the 2025–2026 academic year. |
Financial education equips students with the tools they need for future success, and we want to honor a teacher who has made a lasting impact in the lives of his/her students.
Please share this short nomination form at the link below with students who have taken a personal finance class from you. Nominations are due March 1, 2026.
Nomination Link: https://bit.ly/448cvR4 [bit.ly]
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Montana FFA Members recently returned from participation at the National FFA Convention and Expo held in Indianapolis, IN. Approximately six hundred Montana students attended the convention where they engaged in competitions, leadership workshops, tours and educational seminars. This annual event attracted over 73,000 members from across the nation.
In the National Marketing Plan Competition, the fourth-place team in the nation comes from the Corvallis FFA Chapter.
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Team members were Morgan Bisel, Jackson Pliley, and Beauden Therrien. The marketing plan event equips students with practical marketing skills by guiding them to create and present a marketing plan for an agricultural product, supply, or service. This event fosters a client-consultant relationship, enhancing students’ connection to their community and preparing them for future careers in marketing.
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Participants will demonstrate their understanding of the marketing process, explore potential marketing careers, and develop partnerships between industry, local FFA chapters, and the public.
Pictured (L to R) Corvallis Marketing Team
Beauden Therrien, Morgan Bisel, and Jackson Pliley
The event includes a written marketing plan and a live presentation, with participants working collaboratively to research, analyze, and deliver marketing solutions tailored to a real-world agribusiness client.
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Through this experience, students gain valuable insights and employability skills essential for success in the marketing field. Other Montana teams placing in the top ten were the Big Timber Farm and Agribusinsess CDE team who placed 7th, Missoula’s Food Science who placed 9th and Missoula’s Floriculture who placed 10th.
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Connely Hoagland from Glendive was identified as a national proficiency finalist. Proficiency awards recognize students who excel in their work-based learning experiences. Another individual member that rose to the top in his competition was Missoula’s Collin Yoshimura who placed 10th in the National Floriculture competition. Additional individuals from Montana that were selected for national participation were Zoe Larson from Roberts, Rowdy Mattison from Dillon who participated in the National Band and Cassidy Schelvan from Missoula who participated in the National Talent program. |
The following are the results of how Montana chapters placed* during this year’s national convention: Floriculture – Missoula – Gold, Marketing Plan – Corvallis – Gold, Conduct of Meetings – Miles City – Bronze, Parliamentary Procedure – Kalispell - Silver, Creed Speaking – Chelise Stone – Geraldine - Silver, Extemporaneous Speaking – Johanna DeMars - Winifred - Silver, Employment Skills – Kennedy Lyson – Baker – Silver, Forestry – Fergus – Silver, Meats – Missoula – Silver, Ag Issues – Roundup - Silver Vet Science – Beaverhead - Gold, Ag Communication – Corvallis – Silver, Horse – Beaverhead - Silver, Ag Mechanics – Havre – Silver, Livestock – Kalispell – Silver, Poultry – Whitehall – Silver, ENR – Corvallis - Silver, Farm Business Management – Big Timber – Gold, Food Science – Missoula – Gold, and Ag Sales – Belgrade – Gold,
*Note – Gold, Silver and Bronze ratings represent roughly the top, the middle, and the lower third of teams participating.
In addition to the contest placings, 26 members received the American FFA Degree. They are as follows: Madison Butori – Baker, Justiz Dericek-Johnson – Corvallis, Calla Donnelly – Three Forks, |
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Patsea Farrow – Beaverhead, Bradley Fields – Kalispell, Carly Friedrich – Plentywood, Cadence Hess – Park City, Rom Hiner – Wheatland, Tel Holland – Beaverhead, Katie Jackson – Corvallis, Dillon Jewett – Kalispell, Reagan Long – Shields Valley, Sierra Mauland – Big Timber, Grace Mosher – Shepherd, Wyatt Murphy – Fairfield, Jon Peterson – Beaverhead, Lino Ponce-Juarez – Corvallis, Payne Reilly – Forsyth, Echo Saunders – Gardiner, Emelia Schairer – Corvallis, Emma Lou Slivka – Winifred, Weston Sondeno – Big Timber, Josi Ward – Beaverhead, Piper Ward – Wheatland, Joel Warneke – Winifred and Lawren Weidow – Corvallis.
*The American FFA Degree is the highest degree that can be bestowed upon a member and represents at least five years of dedicated participation in the FFA organization.*
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Three individuals received the Honorary American FFA Degrees for their support of Montana FFA. They are: -Kari Hanson who serves on the Montana FFA Association board of directors and is the Ag teacher in Park City
-Hugh Braaten from Townsend – longtime supporter
-Brian Bay who recently retired as the Ag teacher in Kalispell
Photo: Chelise Stone from Geraldine placed in the Silver division in the National Creed Speaking Competition.
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Montana State University (MSU) will offer a FREE Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE) course for Montana teachers, “Computer Science in the Classroom: Joy and Beauty of Data,” in a hybrid online/in-person format through MSU-Bozeman this summer. The course will begin on June 15, 2026 and end on July 10th, 2026. |
June 15-19th will be online and asynchronous with reading assignments. June 22 - 26th will be in person on the MSU - Bozeman campus with on-campus housing that is free for Montana teachers. June 29th - July 10th will be online and asynchronous reading and homework assignments.
The 2-credit course is intended for 7-12th grade teachers who want to learn how to incorporate computational thinking concepts into their classrooms. In addition, teachers who take the course will be introduced to the broad area of data science and will extend their knowledge of the Python programming language. High school teachers who complete the course can potentially teach the following two dual enrollment courses: CSCI 107, The Joy and Beauty of Computing and CSCI 127, The Joy and Beauty of Data.
The Joy and Beauty of Data, CSCI 582, will be taught by Hunter Lloyd, Professor in the Gianforte School of Computing, Montana State University.
Montana teachers can receive a tuition waiver and free housing for the in-person portion of this class. For more information and how to apply, please contact the MSSE Program at msse@montana.edu.
Along with our partners at the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, we have hosted regional meetings to prepare for the FY 27 Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment for the 2026-2027 Perkins Grant cycle.
The meeting was required for those schools receiving Perkins in 2025-2026 or want to receive in 2026-2027 but all districts with CTE programs were invited. It was great to work with schools across the state in the process of starting their CLNA. Below are the resources provided for the regional meetings.
A few notes to help in this completing the CLNA process:
- Please review past CLNA information to help inform this year's process. You can access your previous CLNAs in EGrants.
- Use advisory committee meeting notes from the past year, use information you can easily find online (like the MT Labor Market Information site), use emails, conversations, and other meetings you have been to over the past year.
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 below.
 Map Key
Shannon Boswell (Purple) - Career Technical and Adult Education Director
Gayla Randel- South West (Orange) -Family and Consumer Sciences Specialist
Eric Tilleman - North Central (Green) - Agricultural Education Specialist
Tammie Ellington - South Central (Gray) - Health Science Specialist
Kaitlin Trutzel - North West (Blue) - Industrial Technology Education Specialist
Ethan Igo - Eastern (Magenta) - Business Education Specialist
Montana Colleges & Universities (Gold Stars)
For questions, please contact:
OPI CTE Unit General Questions
Shannon Boswell, Career Technical and Adult Education Director
Eric Tilleman, Agriculture Education Specialist
Tammie Ellington, Health Sciences Education Specialist
Kaitlin Trutzel, Industrial Technology Education Specialist
Ethan Igo, Business Education Specialist
Gayla Randel, Family & Consumer Sciences Education Specialist
Katie Madsen, Adult Education Director/ High School Equivalency Administrator
Emily Fuller, Adult Education Program 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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