Biography:  

Carrie began her education career in the classroom as an elementary teacher and secondary reading teacher. She holds a master’s degree in literacy and is a contributing author for CORE’s Teaching Reading Sourcebook (2nd Edition). She is known for her ability to not only effectively communicate best instructional practices, but also demonstrate how to put the latest research into practice in the “real world” classroom. She is especially passionate about serving children living in poverty. She has worked with and advised state officials, district leaders, school administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers across the country, as well as written and delivered on-site professional development at the state, district, and school levels that is centered around fundamental knowledge in evidence-based literacy practices. Prior to consulting, Ms. Cole was a professional development specialist for the Idaho State Department of Education, adjunct professor in literacy at Idaho State University, regional educational consultant for a major publishing company, and a classroom teacher.

Biography:  Carrie began her education career in the classroom as an elementary teacher and secondary reading teacher. She holds a master’s degree in literacy and is a contributing author for CORE’s Teaching Reading Sourcebook (2nd Edition). She is known for her ability to not only effectively communicate best instructional practices, but also demonstrate how to put the latest research into practice in the “real world” classroom. She is especially passionate about serving children living in poverty. She has worked with and advised state officials, district leaders, school administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers across the country, as well as written and delivered on-site professional development at the state, district, and school levels that is centered around fundamental knowledge in evidence-based literacy practices. Prior to consulting, Ms. Cole was a professional development specialist for the Idaho State Department of Education, adjunct professor in literacy at Idaho State University, regional educational consultant for a major publishing company, and a classroom teacher.

Drea Beale, M. Ed., is an equity-centered educator with over 25 years of experience in public schools.  She is committed to the success of all students through an excellent, evidence-based education. Her experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, principal and superintendent inform her work that supports struggling readers across grades K-12. She facilitates high quality professional development, including instructional coaching, within aligned systems that actualize a shared vision to propel leaders and teachers so that all students thrive. When not in schools, you can find Drea with her dogs and kids in the woods of northwestern Montana. 

Biography: Jared Sliger is a 32-year veteran educator with an emphasis in middle school mathematics. Jared has spent the last several years teaching his own students using the Building Thinking Classrooms approach, witnessing the power of the fourteen practices in his own classroom and working to perfect his implementation. He has seen first-hand the impact of getting students out of their seats, working collaboratively at whiteboards, increasing knowledge mobility and student responsibility, and watching engagement and thinking skyrocket among his students.

Biography: Shawna Heiser, MS BCBA, operates Special Learning 1-ON-1 LLC, a family centered practice assisting clients and families with a wide variety of special needs since 1994. Shawna’s specialty is working with families of children, adolescents, and young adults with behavior, emotional, communication, and developmental disabilities in a private behavioral counseling practice. Shawna has been trained by 5 of the nation’s premier autism programs and methodologies.  She is a board-certified behavior analyst and is federally and state licensed.  She has a private practice in Bozeman, teaches at Montana State University in the Psychology Department, and presents across the Northwest region of the country on positive behavioral supports and interventions. 

Shawna attended Montana State for her undergraduate and graduate degree in the 90s and has been at the college ever since.  Shawna has been a Senior Lecturer of Psychology in the College of Letters and Science at MSU-Bozeman since 2002.  Her motto in helping people is Every Child Deserves an Opportunity for Independence.

Biography: Krystal Smith serves as the Education Innovation Manager for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. She came to the OPI in August 2020 from a women’s basketball coaching position at the University of Providence. Originally from Columbia Falls, MT, Krystal earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Montana and her Master’s degree in Educational, School and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Sports Psychology from the University of Missouri. Krystal taught elementary and middle school in Nevada for 10 years in a proficiency-based classroom, before returning to Montana to grow her experience in higher education, provide digital coaching and personalization support, and expand educational experiences for Montana students interested in post-secondary trades opportunities. 

Biographies: 

Hailee Olson: Hailee Olsen is the Build Montana and Workforce Director for the Montana Contractors Association. She oversees the three current Build Montana programs in Billings, Kalispell, and Great Falls as well as hosts Build Montana PopUp events across the state that allow students to participate in hands-on construction experiences. Hailee focuses on connecting students and schools to the commercial construction industry to highlight the careers and opportunities available within the industry. 

Joe Wilkins:  I’m a native of Great Falls. I have been an Industrial Technology Teacher internationally and locally for the last 34 years. I have taught in the United States as well as Canada. In my tenure as an educator I have been involved in Skills USA since 1982 as well as several years with FAA.  I have been instrumental in developing and implementing several capstone programs in Great Falls. I worked on starting the High School House Program, Automotive Technology ASE, and currently the Build Montana Program. I believe the future of education will rely on connections with the community and offering students career opportunities.  In my spare time I spend time on the ranch in the mountains east of Belt Montana, raising forage crops and tending to cattle. I truly believe that success only comes before work in the dictionary.

Brian Tucker: I work for Great Falls College MSU as a CTE career pathway coach, helping trades students earn their degree and start a career upon graduation. I also taught Welding at CMR high school and was a career coach for Great Falls Public schools. I was on the ground floor of Build Montana being introduced to Great Falls, MT. I grew up in Browning, MT and graduated from GFC- MSU in May 2022 with my associates of applied science from the welding program. I am currently working on getting my bachelors degree in Industrial Technology Education from MSU Northern.

Biography:  Rebecca Hargis, MEd, LCPC, is a survivor of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs),  including sexual abuse.  She witnessed domestic violence firsthand growing up.  Rebecca became a child and family therapist as a direct result of her childhood experiences and her search for answers to why this happened in her family. She desires to help others recognize ACEs to stop them from happening, to mitigate their effects when they do happen or to heal from them.  

Rebecca retired from Youth Homes in Helena, March of 2017 where she worked from 2006 in the Dan Fox Family Care Program as a Clinical Supervisor, Child & Family Therapist, Treatment Manager, Family Support Worker, Birth Mother Counselor and Family Developer.  Rebecca retains her license and is the PACE trainer for Elevate Montana Helena Affiliate.  Because of her personal history and experience in the foster care system she strongly believes that spreading the word about the effects of ACEs and creating real live community actions around Positive Childhood Experiences is one of the most important things she can do to make a difference in children’s lives. Her dream is that humans will awaken to the effects of ACEs and stop passing toxic stress on. While life can be a struggle it is also about joy, hope and beauty; let’s pass that on instead. 

Biography: 

Michele Henson is an American Indian Student Achievement Specialist at the Office of Public Instruction. In her current role, Michele is dedicated to assuring all American Indian students feel safe and supported in school and have the resources they need to meet their academic and lifelong goals. Raised in Corvallis, Montana, Michele graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Community Health from Montana State University and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Arizona. Michele has worked in the field of health promotion since 2011 and is passionate about supporting local, strength-based solutions to help schools and communities thrive.

Crystal Rondeaux Hickman is an enrolled member of the Apsáalooke Tribe and of Northern Cheyenne descent. She is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and daughter. She values spending time with her family above all else. Crystal has worked in the human services and community organizing fields for 20 years. She is passionate about working with the resilience of tribal people, youth empowerment, and giving voice to those who have none.

Biography: Ms. Boswell spent the first 13 years teaching high school Agriculture in rural West Virginia.  While there, she grew the program from 30 students to 90 students and added a 20x 80 Greenhouse lab and a 30x60 animal processing facility for her students to gain real-world skills.  She worked closely with local businesses to provide career-readiness skills for all students.  Upon leaving the classroom in 2017, she moved west to accept the role of Agricultural Education Specialist with the Montana OPI.  She has been the Career, Technical, and Adult Education Unit Director since 2020.

Biography:  Jerry Girard is the Student Health Services Director at Montana State University Billings (MSUB) and the co-owner of Girard Consulting and Education. Jerry is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor as well as a Licensed Addiction Counselor with thirteen years of counseling experience at two Montana universities – MSUB and the University of Montana Western. Prior to becoming a clinical counselor, Jerry was a high school teacher and coach who worked at Outlook Schools, Judith Gap Schools, and Beaverhead County High School. In addition to providing counseling, outreach, and adjunct teaching at MSUB, Jerry is passionate about providing mental health and stigma reduction programming and trainings such as Mental Health First Aid and QPR Gatekeeper Training to all who are interested. Jerry is also available to host empathy-oriented conference presentations, guest lectures, and coalition building workshops. Jerry currently lives in Billings with Sherri, his wife of 34 years, and has three amazing adult children and two wonderful granddaughters.  

Biography: Carrie began her education career in the classroom as an elementary teacher and secondary reading teacher. She holds a master’s degree in literacy and is a contributing author for CORE’s Teaching Reading Sourcebook (2nd Edition). She is known for her ability to not only effectively communicate best instructional practices, but also demonstrate how to put the latest research into practice in the “real world” classroom. She is especially passionate about serving children living in poverty. She has worked with and advised state officials, district leaders, school administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers across the country, as well as written and delivered on-site professional development at the state, district, and school levels that is centered around fundamental knowledge in evidence-based literacy practices. Prior to consulting, Ms. Cole was a professional development specialist for the Idaho State Department of Education, adjunct professor in literacy at Idaho State University, regional educational consultant for a major publishing company, and a classroom teacher.

Biography: Jared Sliger is a 32-year veteran educator with an emphasis in middle school mathematics. Jared has spent the last several years teaching his own students using the Building Thinking Classrooms approach, witnessing the power of the fourteen practices in his own classroom and working to perfect his implementation. He has seen first-hand the impact of getting students out of their seats, working collaboratively at whiteboards, increasing knowledge mobility and student responsibility, and watching engagement and thinking skyrocket among his students.

Biography

Michelle Trafton: Michelle Trafton has been an elementary, junior high, and high school teacher, as well as a school administrator. She is currently teaching at the high school level and an MTSS Systems Coach, MTSS School District Coordinator, and MTSS Facilitator. She has worked with Multi-Tiered System of Supports for numerous years, assisting in the implementation of the MTSS framework and systems.

Keith Hoyer: Keith Hoyer has taught high school students about business for twenty-seven years.  He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Education from the University of Montana-Western and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Montana.  He is an MTSS coach/presenter and co-chairs the MTSS program in the Belt School District.  He is the high school Yearbook/Media/Youth Leadership/Junior class Advisor. Keith is most proud to have successfully started a Youth Leadership group that has prospered at Belt School.  Students have been given an opportunity to succeed with a focus on student voice. Keith is fond of saying “Living the dream,” and truly believes it when working with MTSS and students.

Robin Clausen: Robin Clausen, PhD,  is a fifth generation Montanan who has dedicated his life to education in Montana. He completed graduate studies at Penn State and University of Colorado, Boulder. He works closely with the Statewide Longitudinal Data System as their Stakeholder Liaison and Research Analyst. He is also Principal Investigator for a National Center for Education Research grant.

Biography: 

Allison Nys is the Manager for Statewide and Strategic Partnerships in Montana for Discovery Education. Discovery Education has worked alongside the Office of Public Instruction providing Discovery Education Experience and DreamBox reading and math to all public schools in the state at no expense to the school districts. Allison has 27 years in public education, teaching in the same rural school that she grew up in! She has taught Title I, Gifted, Art, Kindergarten, and fifth/sixth grade combination classrooms. Her earlier years in administration were as an elementary principal and curriculum director. She holds degrees in Art, K-8 teaching, Educational Leadership and Superintendent Licensure. 

Julie Jeffers is an Indian Education Specialist with the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), joining in June 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Tribal Historic Preservation from Salish Kootenai College and brings over a decade of experience in Indigenous Education with Billings Public Schools. Julie is passionate about preserving and promoting Native heritage within education, enriching learning experiences to foster cultural understanding. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors—hiking, camping, and fishing—and treasures time spent with her family and husband.

Biography: Drea Beale, M. Ed., is an equity-centered educator with over 25 years of experience in public schools.  She is committed to the success of all students through an excellent, evidence-based education. Her experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, principal and superintendent inform her work that supports struggling readers across grades K-12. She facilitates high quality professional development, including instructional coaching, within aligned systems that actualize a shared vision to propel leaders and teachers so that all students thrive. When not in schools, you can find Drea with her dogs and kids in the woods of northwestern Montana. 

Biography:  Jerry Girard is the Student Health Services Director at Montana State University Billings (MSUB) and the co-owner of Girard Consulting and Education. Jerry is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor as well as a Licensed Addiction Counselor with thirteen years of counseling experience at two Montana universities – MSUB and the University of Montana Western. Prior to becoming a clinical counselor, Jerry was a high school teacher and coach who worked at Outlook Schools, Judith Gap Schools, and Beaverhead County High School. In addition to providing counseling, outreach, and adjunct teaching at MSUB, Jerry is passionate about providing mental health and stigma reduction programming and trainings such as Mental Health First Aid and QPR Gatekeeper Training to all who are interested. Jerry is also available to host empathy-oriented conference presentations, guest lectures, and coalition building workshops. Jerry currently lives in Billings with Sherri, his wife of 34 years, and has three amazing adult children and two wonderful granddaughters.