Professional Development
Professional Development News
Applications for the new Professional Development Unit Provider System (PDUPS) are now open!
Schools are encouraged to be Professional Development Unit Providers as the bulk of educator professional learning occurs in the school setting.
Hosts and instructors are encouraged to apply to become approved in the new system.
Reminder:
-
Instructor: The individual(s) who design and deliver professional development to educators.
-
Host: Any organization, entity, or institution that creates opportunities for educators to engage in professional development, such as a school or school district.
-
User: The authorized person or persons who act as the host account user. They input the event and participant data and act as an account administrator on behalf of the host.
Please note: This first phase of the new system includes applications only. Event entry and certificate issuance will continue through the current system as usual until Phase 2 – Events launches in early 2027 (anticipated). More information about event entry will be shared in early fall.
All events scheduled for fall and early winter should continue to be reported through the current system, as they have been.
Applications are available at the following links:
We strongly encourage applicants to review the guidance documents before beginning an application. If you have all required materials prepared in advance, the instructor application should take less than 15 minutes to complete, and the host application should take less than 20 minutes.
We also recommend saving all written responses and uploaded documents in a folder or document on your computer before submitting. That way, if additional information or clarification is needed during the review process, you will have easy access to the materials you previously submitted.
We encourage early submission to allow adequate time for review and any necessary follow-up.
We are also hosting customer service hours on Teams every Monday from 4-5 pm. Feel free to come with questions. We are happy to support you!
Additional information and resources will be shared regularly to support this transition. To join the mailing list, email OPIPDUPS@mt.gov with your name, email address, and organization.
Professional Learning Opportunities
Satchel Professional Learning
From Exploration to Implementation: Montana Satchel Professional Learning Series 2026
Join the Montana Office of Public Instruction for a four-part virtual professional learning series designed to help Montana educators move from exploring Satchel to intentionally using it to strengthen teaching and learning.
Satchel helps educators make connections among Montana content standards, skill progressions, instruction, assessment, and professional learning. Participants will explore practical ways to use the platform to understand learning progressions, plan instruction, identify evidence-based resources, collaborate with colleagues, and make learning more responsive to student needs.
This is not a sit-and-get webinar series. Each session will provide opportunities to explore, practice, collaborate, and apply what you learn to your own classroom, school, or district. Between sessions, participants will be encouraged to try new strategies and bring their experiences and questions back to the group, creating an ongoing community of practice.
You do not need to be a Satchel expert to participate. Whether you are just getting started or are ready to deepen your use of the platform, this series will help you connect Satchel to the work you are already doing.
Series Information
- Where: Microsoft Teams
- Time: 4:00–5:00 PM Mountain Time
Dates:
- October 22, 2026 Getting started with Satchel
- December 15, 2026 Aligning your district/school goals to what is happening in your classroom
- February 16, 2027 How to analyze data from assessments to drive instruction
- April 13, 2027 How to utilize the resource for minimize planning time for educators
Register here: Satchel PD Series
MAST Virtual Teacher Cohort
The MAST Virtual Teacher Cohort is an opportunity for Montana educators to learn, connect, and deepen their understanding of effective instructional practice through a collaborative professional learning experience.
Throughout the cohort, participants will build relationships with educators from across the state, explore key mindsets that support strategic curriculum design, engage in interactive learning workshops, and apply new ideas through ongoing learning cycles. Participants will also have opportunities to reflect on their practice, examine challenges and misconceptions from the MAST score reports, set intentions for their learning, and share feedback and celebrations with colleagues.
A central focus of the cohort will be strengthening the connection between standards, instruction, and assessment. Effective lesson design begins with a clear understanding of what students are expected to know and be able to do. Participants will consider how standards establish the learning destination, how intentional instructional decisions help students move toward that destination, and how assessments like MAST provide evidence of student understanding that can be used to adjust instruction and determine next steps.
Rather than viewing standards, instruction, and assessment as separate components, educators will explore how they work together as a coherent cycle of teaching and learning. Through collaborative learning and application, participants will strengthen their ability to make purposeful decisions about what they teach, how they teach it, how they know what students have learned, and how they respond to that evidence.
The cohort is designed as a connected learning experience rather than a series of stand-alone sessions. Participants will build on previous learning, revisit their goals, and continue refining their thinking and practice over time.
Join us to connect with Montana educators, strengthen the alignment between standards, instruction, and assessment, and build lessons that support meaningful learning for every student.
Fill out the interest survey here before September 30, 2026.
Questions? Contact Aimee Konzen at Aimee.Konzen@mt.gov
Adult Learning Theory Series
*Note: this series is not eligible for PDUS
Designing Professional Learning That Actually Sticks: From Awareness to Implementation
Join the Montana Office of Public Instruction for a three-part professional learning series designed for individuals who provide or support professional learning for Montana educators.
High-quality professional learning is more than sharing information. It should be intentionally designed around how adults learn, grounded in evidence, connected to local priorities, and structured so educators can apply what they learn to their practice. Throughout this series, participants will experience, examine, redesign, and apply effective professional learning strategies while strengthening their understanding of adult learning theory and ARM 10.55.714.
Whether you are developing professional learning for the first time or looking to strengthen what you already provide, you will leave with practical strategies and tools you can use in the sessions you lead.
Series Dates:
- Session 1 — Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 4:00–5:00 PM
- Session 2 — Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 4:00–5:00 PM
- Session 3 — Thursday, December 3, 2026 | 4:00–5:00 PM
Register here: Adult Learning Theory Series
MentorMT Program
The MentorMT program addresses Montana's critical rural teacher shortage by providing expert mentoring for new or underprepared rural teachers.
They recruit and train experienced and engaged Montana teachers to provide one-on-one mentoring that includes instructional guidance, curricular support, reflection and goal-setting, and productive problem solving of issues related to students, schools, and communities. The program is no cost to schools and features a $500 incentive stipend for participating teachers!
Enroll by September 30th, 2026.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Luebeck, MentorMT Director. Email jennifer.luebeck@montana.edu or call (406) 994-5341.
Math & ELA Standards Road Show
Montana’s Content Specialists will be conducting regional PD to support educators in their work to implement new Math and ELA content standards.
Each location district has graciously opened their doors to any regional educators seeking this support. Register today for our two locations in the spring:
→Power, MT (March 6th, 2027)
→Malta, MT (April 23rd, 2027)
Professional Development Requests
Fill out the PD Request Form to request specialized professional development from the Standards, Instruction, and Professional Learning Team at OPI (expected time: 10-12 minutes). This request form serves as an opportunity for school districts to communicate their needs for additional professional development opportunities in the area of K-12 Education.
Once a request is submitted, OPI's Standards, Instruction, and Professional Learning Team will review the request and consider the next steps. Follow-up communication will be had directly with the party submitting this form unless otherwise indicated. If this request is being made less than thirty days from the requested professional development day, please understand that there is a small chance our specialists will be available.
|
