Educator Licensure- Meet the Team

 Crystal Andrews

Senior Manager

 Accreditation& Licensure

Work-Related Duties:

1. Oversees three units- Accreditation, Educator Preparation Programs, and Licensure.
2. Ensures all accreditation and licensure policies, rules, and regulations adopted by the State Board of Public Education are duly executed (Chapter 55, Chapter 57, and Chapter 58).
3. Manages the current accreditation and licensure systems while providing technical assistance to the field.

Crystal Andrews is the Senior Manager of Accreditation and Licensure for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. She has been with the OPI since 2017 serving in various roles. Prior to joining the OPI Crystal was an elementary teacher for 12 years, having taught in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Montana. Crystal is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but has called Wolf Creek, Montana home since 2012.

Virginia Sandin

406-444-3150
License Examiner

Work-Related Duties:

1. Evaluates licensure applications to ensure they are complete and meet the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) for Educator Licensure.
2. Helps applicants find available pathways for licensure, or for adding endorsements, through the intricate ARM.
3. Assist applicants in navigating the licensing system, TeachMT.

Virginia has been with the OPI since 2019, serving in various roles. Virginia is a lifelong learner who loves to troubleshoot and find solutions. That is one reason she enjoys helping educators find a pathway to obtain their Montana license.

She has a background in digital marketing, web development, and has worked in higher education as well as in other forms of public service. Fun fact - she earned a cosmetology diploma shortly after graduating high school. Outside of work she enjoys volunteering in the community and spending time with her family, especially exploring the Montana wilderness with her husband.

Lorri Weiss

406-444-3150
License Examiner

Work-Related Duties:

1. Evaluates licensure applications to ensure they are complete and meet the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) for Educator Licensure.
2. Helps applicants find available pathways for licensure, or for adding endorsements, through the intricate ARM.
3. Assist applicants in navigating the licensing system, TeachMT.

Lorri has been with the Office of Public Instruction since 2007. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and her rescue dog - "You can't change a dog's past, but you can rewrite their future".

Heather Thompson

406-444-3150

License Examiner

Work-Related Duties: