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 2026 ND Teacher of the Year Announcement Sept. 26
The 2026 Teacher of the Year will be announced next week! Mark your calendars and join the excitement:
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📅 Announcement: Friday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m.
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📍 Location: Memorial Hall, North Dakota State Capitol
From 48 County Teachers of the Year, four finalists have risen to the top:
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Emily Dawes – First-grade teacher, Lake Agassiz Elementary, Grand Forks
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Hannah Sagvold – Business education teacher, Lisbon Public School
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Frannie Tunseth – 4th-8th-grade teacher, May-Port CG Public School
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Leah Wheeling – Sixth-grade physical education and digital literacy teacher, Simle Middle School, Bismarck
State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and Gov. Kelly Armstrong will jointly announce the winner, underscoring the statewide significance of this honor. Baesler has praised the finalists as “skilled, compassionate educators” who embody the very best of North Dakota teaching.
The 2026 Teacher of the Year will begin a one-year term on Jan. 1, 2026, and will represent North Dakota as the state’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year award.
In the lead-up to the big day, Baesler visited each finalist’s school to capture their classrooms in action and the energy of their communities. A new video featuring highlights from those school visits offers a behind-the-scenes look at their inspiring work and the students whose lives they impact every day.
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Consolidated Application Budgeting Due Sept. 30, 2025
Budget submissions for the 2025–2026 Consolidated Application must be completed by Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Districts will receive an email notification when their budget is created and ready to open in WebGrants.
Steps to Submit Your Budget
Follow these steps to obligate funds and enter program activities:
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Log into WebGrants.
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Select “Grants” in the left menu, then choose your grant.
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Review the awarded amount at the top of the page—this is prepopulated in the “unobligated” category.
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Under “Grant Components,” select “Contract Amendment,” then “Add Amendment.”
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Ensure Status = “Editing” and Amendment Type = “Initial Budget.”
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Enter “Initial Budget” in the Title line and SAVE.
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Select “Edit Amendment.”
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In the “Budget” tab, click “Edit Form” to add the Amendment Justification and input “Initial Budget” in the narrative box.
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Save Form and Mark as Complete.
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Add a row for each program activity within the correct object code section, using consistent, specific descriptions for related activities.
Helpful Resources
Guidance and training materials are available to support your submission:
Additional training resources will be posted on the Consolidated Application webpage. For questions, please contact any of the staff listed in the Consolidated Application Contacts.
Feb. 1 Course Code Approval Deadline
Requests for new course codes for the 2026–2027 school year will be accepted through Feb. 1, 2026. Schools that wish to add new course codes should complete and submit the New Course Code Request Application (SFN 60065).
💡 Important Update: Beginning this year, new course code requests will be processed only once per year.
For questions or assistance, contact Jim Upgren at 701-328-2244.
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Adult Education Crucial to ND Workforce
Gov. Kelly Armstrong has declared Sept. 15-19 as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. The North Dakota Association for Lifelong Learning, which is an association of adult learning centers, is having its annual conference this week in Bismarck.
Adult education refers to instructional programs that help individuals who lack a high school diploma to earn a GED, or general educational development, credential. It shows they have the academic knowledge and skills of a high school graduate and is accepted by colleges and employers across the country.
North Dakota's 12 adult learning centers help participants set career goals and prepare them for the workforce. They offer GED preparation and testing, and free instruction on reading and writing, science, social studies and math. They provide EL, or English language, instruction for individuals who have difficulty speaking or writing English. Many EL students are not native English speakers.
Sara Mitzel, state director of adult education for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, said the centers served 3,590 students across North Dakota during the budget year that ended June 30. A person who completes a GED exam raises his or her annual wages by $9,000 to $10,000 on average each year, she said.
The pass rate for GED exam takers was 84 percent last year, which ranked North Dakota among the top five states for GED performance for the fifth straight year, Mitzel said.
“Our adult education system helps North Dakotans get family-sustaining jobs,” Mitzel said. “We help to advance our learners and get them into the workforce.”
Join us for BRIDGE Office Hours!
An open forum designed for LEA personnel to get real-time answers about the BRIDGE project. These sessions provide a direct opportunity to:
❓ Submit your questions
🔍 Clarify project details
🤝 Engage with the BRIDGE project team
Whether you’re looking for technical guidance, implementation support, or clarity on upcoming milestones, Office Hours are your chance to connect, collaborate, and stay informed.
🗓️ Sept. 24
⏰ 12–1 p.m. CDT
⏰ 4–5 p.m. CDT
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES |
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CREAM: Boost Skills. Get Choice Ready
📅 Date: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2025
⏰ Time: 3:30–4:15 p.m. CDT
Help your high school students strengthen their English and math skills while staying on track for Choice Ready status. Join this quick, information-packed webinar to explore the College Ready English and Math (CREAM) program—a proven approach to college readiness and remediation.
Discover:
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Which students benefit most from CREAM
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How the program improves academic outcomes
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What resources and state support are available for implementation
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How CREAM aligns with North Dakota’s Choice Ready goals
This session is ideal for schools new to CREAM or looking for effective strategies to boost college readiness. Don’t miss your chance to take the first step toward transforming your school’s approach to student success!
2025 English Learner Crash Course
The 2025 English Learner (EL) Crash Course will be held Sept. 29–30 at the North Dakota State Capitol. This professional development event is highly recommended for new EL staff and packed with valuable updates for experienced educators.
Day 1 – Program & Compliance
Designed for administrators and EL coordinators, the first day focuses on EL and Title III regulations and the essentials of creating a high-quality program for English learners.
Day 2 – Classroom Instruction
Open to classroom/content teachers, paraprofessionals, EL teachers, coordinators, and administrators, the second day highlights practical instructional strategies and resources, including implementation of the 2020 English Language Development Standards.
Registration closes at 8 a.m. on Sept. 22. Advanced registration is required in advance—on-site sign-ups will not be accepted.
ND Team Nutrition: Added Sugar Intensive & Culinary Training
ATTENTION SCHOOL COOKS! North Dakota Team Nutrition invites you to a hands-on culinary training focused on reducing added sugars in school meals.
📅 Dates & Locations
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Oct. 22, 2025 – North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton
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Nov. 5, 2025 – United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck
🕒 Time
6-hour in-person training (each session covers the same content; attend one).
Part of the Meal Pattern Modernization for the Dakotas initiative, this workshop builds skills to meet the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Learn scratch-cooking techniques and strategies to cut added sugars in school meals.
💵 Incentives
Enhance your culinary skills, explore updated meal patterns, and bring delicious, lower-sugar recipes to your school cafeteria.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS |
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 Students Invited to Design ND's next "I Voted" Sticker
The North Dakota Secretary of State’s Civic Engagement Initiative is calling on young artists (as well as artists of all ages) to design the state’s next official “I Voted” sticker. Entries are open Sept. 15–Nov. 15, 2025, and the winning design—chosen by public vote—will debut statewide for the June 9, 2026, Primary Election.
Encourage your students to participate by:
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Integrating it into class or club projects—art, civics, or digital design.
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Promoting civic pride—a simple way to connect creativity with real-world democracy.
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Highlighting portfolio value—a standout piece for college or scholarship applications.
Submission details and guidelines are available at sos.nd.gov/civic-engagement-initiative.
Help your students leave their mark on North Dakota’s election history!
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The NDDPI Messenger is sent out on a weekly or as-needed basis. Visit our website to view previous NDDPI Messenger/Weekly Blast bulletins.
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