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Kirsten Baesler Retiring As ND State Superintendent
North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced today that she has submitted her letter of retirement to Gov. Kelly Armstrong, effective at 8 a.m. Central time Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, as she prepares to assume the role of Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education.
During the past 13 years, Baesler has led an era of transformation in North Dakota’s public education system, marked by innovation, accountability, and a renewed focus on serving students, their families, and their educators.
“I’m deeply proud of the team we built and the culture we created,” Baesler said. “We shifted from being a regulatory agency to a customer-service organization that puts students and their families at the center. Our educators know we’re here to support their success, and lawmakers and the public trust us because we’ve earned that credibility through results.”
As a former vice principal, library media specialist, elementary teacher, and local school board president, Baesler brought a lifelong educator’s perspective to her role as superintendent of public instruction.
“North Dakota has always believed in empowering people closest to students -- the families, teachers, and local leaders,” Baesler said. “Our work over the last decade has shown what’s possible when we combine that trust with innovation, accountability, and a belief that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in whatever future path they choose.”
Armstrong has appointed Levi Bachmeier to succeed Baesler. Bachmeier has served as business manager for the West Fargo school district and as an education policy aide to former Gov. Doug Burgum.
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Infinite Campus Implementation: REA Participation and Training Access
A recording of the Infinite Campus Learning Experience Preview webinar is now available on NDDPI’s BRIDGE site. The session offers an overview of what districts can expect during the upcoming implementation phases of North Dakota’s K-12 Data Modernization initiative.
District implementation activities are well underway. More than 90% of districts have completed their Introduction to Implementation Call, where they first meet their project manager, and 70% have scheduled or completed their Implementation Plan Meeting, where they meet their full project team and set their implementation milestones. If you are unsure whether your district has been contacted or scheduled, you can check the status here: North Dakota District Implementation List
As Regional Education Association (REA) team members prepare to support districts, please keep the following in mind when participating in Infinite Campus Fundamentals Training:
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Get added to a district implementation team: To participate, reach out to one of the districts you plan to support. The district must add you to their implementation team list and provide Infinite Campus with your contact information.
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One district is enough: Even if you plan to support multiple districts, you only need to be added to one district’s implementation team list to obtain access.
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Campus Community access: Once the district has submitted your information, you will receive access to Campus Community, Infinite Campus’s training platform, allowing you to register for and complete the Fundamentals modules.
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Email and login consistency: Infinite Campus recommends using a consistent email domain (preferably your district or REA domain) to help streamline setup between Campus Community and Single Sign-On (SSO). However, to clarify conflicting guidance: REA staff may use their existing email credentials if that is what districts request. This is technically supported. Districts can submit an REA staff member’s current email address in their staff upload file to provide access through Campus Passport.
Upcoming BRIDGE Office Hours
Join the BRIDGE team for live discussions and Q&A sessions.
October Office Hours Recordings
Catch up on the latest project updates and discussions from October’s sessions.
For more information and updates, visit the BRIDGE webpage or email BRIDGE@nd.gov with any questions.
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Title I Schoolwide Reporting Training Dates
Please review the dates below and mark your calendars! We would love to see you there!
Reminder: Schools that are in a schoolwide planning year are required to attend the following trainings.
Links for these upcoming meetings will be sent closer to the event. All webinars will be held from 3-4 p.m. CST.
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Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 – TA/SW Record-Keeping/Monitoring webinar. To join the meeting, click here.
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Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 – Midyear Schoolwide Title I Reporting Review.
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Thursday, March 26, 2026 – Requirements for Annual Schoolwide Title I Reporting.
Resources:
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Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 – SW Comprehensive Needs Assessment and What Comes Next. To view the recording, click here. To view the PowerPoint slide deck, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Siegfried at (701) 328-3544.
Federal Title Programs Monitoring Webinar — Nov. 25
On Nov. 12, NDDPI notified superintendents, business managers, school board presidents, Title I coordinators, homeless and foster care liaisons, and English Learner directors in districts selected for 2025–26 monitoring. To support these districts, and anyone interested in the process, NDDPI will host an informational webinar on federal Title programs monitoring.
When: Nov. 25, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. CST
Questions: Contact Melanie Pudwill
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"Be Legendary School Board Leadership Institute” Transitions to “Students First Governance”
The Be Legendary School Board Leadership Program, previously administered by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI), is now called Students First Governance and is administered by the North Dakota School Boards Association (NDSBA).
Students First Governance continues the same mission of strengthening school board effectiveness through student outcome-focused leadership. The program provides dedicated coaching, in-person experiences, and an online platform to help boards maximize their effectiveness in driving student achievement.
To learn more or to register your governance team, visit www.studentsfirst.online or contact the NDSBA at (701) 255-4127.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES |
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Secondary Transition Talks
Join NDDPI’s Secondary Transition Talks series for practical strategies and collaborative discussions focused on improving outcomes for students with disabilities. Each monthly session highlights secondary transition IEP tips, outside agency resources, and ways to strengthen interagency collaboration.
Educators who attend all six sessions will earn 3 hours toward a credit on the ND Educational Hub.
Dates:
- Dec. 9, 2025
- Jan. 13, 2026
- Feb. 10, 2026
- March 10, 2026
- April 14, 2026
- May 12, 2026
Time: 3-4 p.m. Central tim
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS |
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Explore 60+ Classroom-Ready AI Activities
The Hour of AI activity catalog is now live, offering more than 60 creative, student-friendly ways to bring artificial intelligence to life in the classroom. These hands-on activities are designed for all grade levels and subject areas, helping educators introduce AI concepts through interactive, accessible, and engaging experiences.
Educators can start exploring the full catalog at hourofAI.org and join a growing national movement to build AI literacy for all learners.
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Two Schools Win October Tray of the Month
Congratulations to Surrey Public School and West Fargo Public Schools, winners of October’s Tray of the Month! This optional challenge celebrates the creativity and dedication of North Dakota’s school nutrition professionals.
October included two themes:
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North Dakota Farm to School Month—highlighting local foods, school gardens, and hands-on food education.
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“Taste of the World: School Lunch Passport”—the 2025 National School Lunch Week theme from the School Nutrition Association.
Surrey Public School earned top honors for the Farm to School theme with a baked potato entrée featuring locally sourced potatoes from Schultz and Sons in Crystal, North Dakota.
West Fargo Public Schools won the “Taste of the World” theme with their Italian-inspired pasta and meat sauce entrée.
Congratulations to both food service teams for showcasing excellence in school nutrition!
November Tray of the Month: Tomatoes!
In celebration of November’s Harvest of the Month, we’re featuring tomatoes. Serve them any way you like—fresh on the salad bar, roasted, blended into salsa, or incorporated into your favorite entrée. Local tomatoes are not required.
How to participate:
We look forward to seeing your tomato-inspired creations!
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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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