From the Deputy's Desk: Jule Walker is Montana's Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction
January 14, 2020
Happy New Year and welcome back to the new semester! The OPI is kicking off the new year with a variety of conferences and legislative meetings designed to engage lawmakers and partners in some of the most important topics to education in Montana. Below is an overview.
Legislative Week:
Montana Legislators are gathering in Helena to discuss the idea of moving to annual sessions, attend interim committee meetings, and receive training. The OPI's Health & Safety, Career & Technical Education, and Assessment Divisions are presenting information to legislators throughout the week on topics related to school safety, mental health, workforce development, individualized learning, and testing. The OPI is also meeting with several interim committees on topics related to education which will be important in the 2021 legislative session.
Data and Assessment Conference:
The OPI's annual Data & Assessment conference is bringing together around 250 educators from around the state for professional development and peer-to-peer engagement as Montana's schools prepare for the upcoming assessment window. The security and integrity of student assessment data are critical to utilizing the data for effective instruction and for protecting student privacy.
Business Days:
The Montana Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Business Days in Helena which brought together Montana industry leaders, legislators, and state agencies. A major topic was workforce development and the needs of Montana's economy moving into the future. The OPI led discussions regarding career & technical education, innovating learning, and education-industry partnerships as part of its Montana Ready initiative. The OPI's Digital Communications team produced a video to promote these partnerships.