As Rabbi Bruk lit the Menorah for the fourth day of Hanukkah, blessings were said to all those serving our Montana students and families.
Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!
The OPI welcomes our new OPI team members:
Matthew Bell will be joining the OPI on January 4th as the Native Language Immersion and Culture Specialist. Matthew will be overseeing the implementation of the Indian Language and Immersion Program and the Montana Language Preservation Program. Matthew has taught English and Native Language Studies for over 11 years. He has also studied Native American Studies in his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He has a strong knowledge of language instruction, including second language instruction. He has a desire to make a positive impact and increase native culture and improve language preservation opportunities. We look forward to Matthew joining the team and making a positive impact on Native Youth through native language and culture.
Carrie Gopher will be joining the OPI in the new year on January 4th as the American Indian Student Achievement Director. Carrie has an extensive teaching background. She has taught all levels of school - Elementary, Middle, and High School. She has been an elementary, family and consumer science, driver’s education, and secondary math teacher in Rocky Boy School District. Carrie has also served as an assistant athletic director and native youth communities project coordinator. Most recently, she has served in a leadership role as a Dean of Students. She has a strong desire to support the education of Native American students across the state of Montana. She is currently completing her administrative degree and desires to take on leadership roles. She is willing to do whatever it takes to complete the job. We are excited to have Carrie joining the team and advocating for native youth achievement.
Jamie Corley comes to the OPI with a depth of experience in Health Science Education and Public Safety that spans high school, post-secondary, correctional settings, as well as being a US Navy Corpsman. She will join the CTE team with great connections and relationships with Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), post-secondary programs, and work-based learning entities. Ms. Corley is a self-starter, comfortable with technology tools, and has extensive experience with online teaching.
We are pleased to introduce Ellery Bresler as the new Accreditation Data Specialist for the OPI. Ellery grew up in the small town of Havre on the Hi-Line. She spent her first two years of college at a community college in Casper, Wyoming, graduating with her associate’s degree. She then transferred to Carroll College, here in Helena, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Anthrozoology. After graduation, she decided to stay in Helena because she fell in love with the community. She has been working as an account specialist for the last three years. She lives here with her boyfriend and their two dogs, Douglas and Finlee. Talking about her dogs is one of her favorite activities.
We are excited for Ellery to begin her work Monday, December 6, under the leadership of Nathan Miller, the Accreditation Program Manager.
Rahul Cheriyala is an experienced IT systems technical specialist that is joining OPI’s Data and Technology Services on Monday, December 6th. Rahul has extensive experience in analyzing business requirements into functional and technical design specifications. He also has hands-on experience in handling large volumes of data in multiple environments. Rahul joins OPI from the Maryland Longitudinal Data Systems Center (MLDSC).
The Office of Public Instruction is pleased to welcome our new Broadband Management Liaison, Lindsey Murolo. Lindsey is from Great Falls and has lived in Helena for many years. She will support our Montana schools by helping them utilize current and future broadband funding. Lindsey is excited to work with our public, private, and homeschooled students to further their education now and in the future.
Lindsey can be contacted at lindsey.murolo@mt.gov
Retirement:
Join us in thanks as we celebrate Nica Merala and Tom Antonick’s retirement and wish them well. Both will be sincerely missed!
E-Rate State Matching Funds Competitive Grant:
The E-Rate Competitive Grant applications are now available on our website. These grants provide funds to schools for broadband connectivity. The total available funds are $750,000, which will keep our Montana students connected now and in the future. Public and private K-12 schools are eligible to receive these funds. Funding covers Telecommunications, Telecommunications Services, Internet Access, Internal Connections, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections.
For more information, please contact Tristen Loveridge at tristen.belnap@mt.gov
ARPA Water and Sewer Grant:
Montana school districts may consider applying for an ARPA grant if they are eligible for water/sewer projects. The ARPA competitive grant deadline is January 14th for the second round of applications. Qualifying districts have until the deadline to submit grant applications for projects. This grant is through the DNRC with the aid of the Department of Commerce.
Language Revitalization Class:
Representative Windy Boy is hosting a Language Revitalization Class in Billings and via Zoom on December 10 and 11. To register, please visit the registration link. Additional contact info is in the flyer.
“Please join us for a Tribally Driven Class 7 Professional Development Training. This training is designed to empower all attendees who are interested in providing their students culturally responsive pedagogy. Our training features many tribal and non-tribal professionals who are dedicated to advancing the Language, Culture, and History of all native nations across the continent. Please see the flyer and feel free to join us as we begin to shift the tribal educational landscape in this land we call home.”
-Jonathan Eagleman
Ojibwe Neyio Language Instructor
Scholarships for Art & Writing on Grief and Loss:
Do you know a creative teen in grades 7–12 who has experienced grief or loss? The New York Life Award offers $1,000 scholarships to six students whose works explore personal grief and loss. State scholarships of $500 are available to two Montana students. All students in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) are eligible to participate and should apply through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The deadline is December 6, 2021.
Visit artandwriting.org/nylife to apply.
Click the links below to see updates from OPI's units.
Achievement in Montana (AIM)
Assessment
Career, Technical and Adult Education
Coordinated School Health
Educator Licensure
Emergency Authorization for Non-Public Schools (EANS)
Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER)
Montana Autism Education Project
School Finance
School Nutrition
Special Education
Standards, Instruction & Professional Learning
Transformational Learning & Advanced Opportunities
Questions? Contact:
Brian.O'Leary, Deputy Communications Director
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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