Special Education- Meet the Team

 Danni McCarthy

406-594-3610
State Special Education Director

Work-Related Duties:

1. Oversees Egrants for Part B subgrantees
2. Fiscal and Data Reporting Manager Part B
3. Overseeing Fiscal Part B program allocations

Danni McCarthy is the IDEA Fiscal and Data Reporting Manager. During her time with the OPI, Special Education Unit, she has held many positions. Before coming to the OPI, Danni was a special education teacher for seven years. She currently holds her Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S) in Educational Leadership.

 Kelley Brown

406-444-5661
Administrative Assistant

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provide Administrative Assistance and Support
2. Assist the SPED Unit Team Members
3. Event Coordination and scheduler of events for SPED

Kelley has worked at OPI since December of 2013 and as Administrative Assistant in Special Education since February of 2015. Montana is the 7th state she has lived in and is the longest she has lived in any state having moved here in 1998. She loves to be outdoors communing with nature, she loves her puppies (they aren’t really puppies, just small) and you will never find her without a book to read or a project to knit.

 Ty House

406-444-2504
Administrative Assistant

Work-Related Duties:

1. Processes discretionary grants
2. Processes and monitoring of contracts and requisitions
3. Editing

Ty House is an Administrative Assistant with the Special Education Unit. Ty specializes in Discretionary Grants and Contract Payments. She has been with the OPI since 2019. Ty is an avid trail runner with a passion for serving the students of Montana.

 Annette Gorton

406-594-3004
Special Education Family Liaison

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provide guidance and direction to parents in the procedures and processes of special education.
2. Serve as a neutral facilitator between parents and schools to explore options and resolve disagreements informally.
3. Provide resources to parents and school districts to support parent engagement in the special education process.

Annette earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in Secondary Education from Eastern Montana College in 1992, and a Master of Science in School Psychology from University of Great Falls in 2008. She acquired over 20 years of experience in the field of education while serving eastern Montana’s rural and frontier schools through her work with students ranging in age from preschool through adulthood. The majority of Annette’s professional life has been devoted to serving students with disabilities as a school psychologist and director for a special education cooperative.

Together, Annette and her husband of three decades have raised three fine young men of whom they are very proud. She enjoys fishing, landscape photography, traveling, easy hikes with her husband, and Sunday dinners with “the kids”.

Kimber Emmons

406-444-3124
Fiscal and Reporting Manager

Work-Related Duties:

1. Oversees Egrants for Part B subgrantees
2. Fiscal and Data Reporting Manager Part B
3. Overseeing Fiscal Part B program allocations

Kimber Emmons is the IDEA Fiscal Program Manager. She is new to the OPI Special Education Unit. Prior to joining the OPI she was a teacher working in South Dakota for a short time, Broadus for eight years, and most recently was the special education teacher at Ashland Public School in Ashland, MT. She graduated from MSU Billings with a degree in Education (English/History) and continued her education earning a master’s degree in special education as well.

Kimber and her husband Brett live on their ranch in Southeast Montana where they enjoy the peace and serenity of the hills, the outdoors, and working on the ranch together. They have six kids and two grandsons and thoroughly enjoy the noise and chaos that comes along with having a full house.

 John Gorton

406-459-4281
School Improvement Unit Manager

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provides general supervision of all education programs provided to children with disabilities, including programs administered by other state or local agencies.
2. Monitors programs for children with disabilities to ensure consistency with the state education agency standards.
3. Organize, design and oversee the implementation of the monitoring process of local education agencies (LEAs) providing special education and related services to students with disabilities.

Currently the School Improvement Manager for the Special Education Unit of the Office of Public Instruction. John has served for 30 years in public education ranging from K-12 Special Education to School Administration as a Principal and as a Special Education Director.  He possesses background in 504, Gifted & Talented, and Curriculum. John currently works remotely with the OPI. 

 Mercee Cislo

406-437-2369
School Improvement Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Respond to requests for information and/or services by the OPI staff, state agencies, groups or officials by conducting research and disseminating results, compiling resources, writing reports, and making presentations.
2. Provide advice to local, state, and national organizations on issues of compliance with state and federal regulations and school improvement activities relevant to Montana schools and statewide school improvement efforts.
3. Coordinate performance monitoring activities and school improvement planning with the activities of the CSPD Council, the Paraprofessional Consortium, the Montana Behavioral Initiative, and other appropriate groups. Perform other activities of the division as assigned.

Mercee spent six years as a self-contained life skills teacher. Her expertise falls within the guidelines of working with high incident students, high school transitions, alternative assessments, and community-based instruction.

 Alicia Herman

406-438-1363
School Improvement Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provides special education-related technical assistance and professional development to LEAs and other organizations or agencies to increase understanding of IDEA requirements and strategies leading to improved outcomes for students.
2. Conducts performance monitoring of programs used by local education agencies providing special education and related services to students with disabilities to ensure LEA compliance with federal and state requirements.
3. Provides guidance to local and state organizations on issues of compliance with state and federal regulations and school improvement activities relevant to Montana schools and statewide school improvement efforts.

Alicia Herman is a Special Education School Improvement Specialist with the Montana Office of Public Instruction, where she supports administrators, educators, parents, and students statewide by facilitating the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of special education practices. Committed to enhancing educational outcomes for all students, Alicia advocates for academically engaging learning environments that promote creativity and curiosity. She holds a Master of Education from Montana State University Billings and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Montana State University Bozeman. Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Special Education with a focus on public and nonprofit leadership, Alicia has called Montana home since 2001 and enjoys exploring the Yellowstone River with her husband and three children around their home near Livingston, Montana.

 Desiree Johnson

406-431-1081
School Improvement Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provides special education-related technical assistance and professional development to LEAs and other organizations or agencies to increase understanding of IDEA requirements and strategies leading to improved outcomes for students.
2. Conducts performance monitoring of programs used by local education agencies providing special education and related services to students with disabilities to ensure LEA compliance with federal and state requirements.
3. Provides guidance to local and state organizations on transition planning.

Desiree is a School Improvement Specialist and part of the compliance monitoring team for the Special Education Unit of the Office of Public Instruction. She’s earned a BS in Communications and an MAT in Special Education. Before joining the OPI, she taught special education for 14 years where she developed a strong background in transition planning and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and created a work experience program to serve students with disabilities. She has also enjoyed working as a Community Rehabilitation Provider for Voc Rehab and teaching communications courses as an adjunct professor for Dawson Community College. She looks forward to serving students, families, and educators through the OPI.

Jillian Bellah

406-444-3864
School Improvement Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provides special education-related technical assistance and professional development to LEAs and other organizations or agencies to increase understanding of IDEA requirements and strategies leading to improved outcomes for students.
2. Conducts performance monitoring of programs used by local education agencies providing special education and related services to students with disabilities to ensure LEA compliance with federal and state requirements.
3. Provides guidance to local and state organizations on issues of compliance with state and federal regulations and school improvement activities relevant to Montana schools and statewide school improvement efforts.

Jillian is a Special Education School Improvement Specialist with the Montana Office of Public Instruction where she supports schools, students, and Montana communities by providing technical assistance, monitoring, and guidance to promote high-quality special education services throughout the state. She earned her B.S. in Political Science from Texas A&M University followed by her M.S. in Educational Studies from Johns Hopkins University. She taught high school math with Dallas Independent School District before moving to Montana and working for the OPI. As the general education teacher on the IEP team, her roll focused on helping to develop transition plans for students when they leave the K-12 public education system. Jillian’s passion for creating and fostering educational equity motivated her to join the Special Education team to support our students across Montana.

Crystal Wright

406-202-7920
School Improvement Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Offers technical assistance and professional development focused on special education to local education agencies (LEAs) and other organizations, aiming to enhance understanding of IDEA requirements and improve student outcomes.
2. Conducts performance monitoring of programs used by LEAs to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations for special education services.
3. Provides guidance to local and state entities regarding compliance with these regulations and supports school improvement initiatives relevant to Montana schools and statewide efforts.

Crystal Wright serves as a Special Education School Improvement Specialist at the Montana Office of Public Instruction, where she aids administrators, educators, parents, and students throughout the state by facilitating the implementation, evaluation, and sharing of special education practices. Passionate about improving educational outcomes for all students, Crystal advocates for engaging learning environments that foster creativity and curiosity. She holds an Administrative Principal License from the University of Montana. She also has a Master’s in Special Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary and Special Education, all from Montana State University Billings. With 16 years of experience teaching various age groups in both general and special education, Crystal recognized and believes in providing students with transitional opportunities that lead to success after K-12 experience.

Crystal was born and raised in Eastern Montana. She now lives in Roberts with her husband and their four children, managing a small business, caring for their animals, and exploring the beautiful mountain landscapes of the state.

 Tammy Lysons

406-431-2309
Continuing Education & Technical Assistance Unit Manager

Work-Related Duties:

1. Director of the MT State Personnel Development Grant from OSEP: Montana's Tiered System of Supports
2. Coordinator of the OPI Summer Institute, High School Forum, and Youth Days events
3. Comprehensive System of Professional Development (CSPD) State Coordinator, OPI Higher Education Consortium Lead, and Supervisor over Gifted and Talented State Grant and Programs and Montana Autism Education Project

Tammy Lysons is the Continuing Education and Technical Assistance Manager in the Special Education Unit. While Tammy started this new position in 2022, she has been with the OPI since 2019, previously serving as the Title IV-A SSAE Program Manager in Coordinated School Health. Tammy brings 16 years of experience in Montana schools as a K-8 classroom teacher at every grade level, Title I Director, 504 Coordinator, and K-8 Principal. Tammy has a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, both from the University of Montana.

 Katie Mattingley

406-437-3874
Statewide Coordinator
of the MAEP

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provides leadership and direction for the design and implementation of district special and general education services to students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and significant behavioral challenges.
2. Creates and provides training to educators, administrators, parents and others.
3. Provides and coordinates consultative services to schools serving IDEA-qualified students with autism and/or behavioral difficulties

Katie Mattingley is the Statewide Coordinator for the OPI Montana Autism Education Project (MAEP) of the MT OPI. The MAEP has autism specialists and trainers across MT who provide training and consultation to public schools. Katie has also served as a special education Improvement Specialist for the MT OPI, providing technical assistance and training in compliance with state and federal regulations. Katie earned her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Idaho State University in 2007 and worked as a school-based therapist for 10 years prior to moving into private practice and consulting. Her clinical work primarily focused on coaching families and individuals experiencing difficulties related to autism spectrum disorders, Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder, and ADHD.

 Anne Carpenter

406-465-0922
Program Support Specialist
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. State CSPD Director, managing and approving CSPD grants and providing guidance to CSPD Coordinators. Conduct and facilitate a monthly meeting with the coordinators as well as two in-person meetings per year.
2. Create and provide professional development opportunities to educators, paraeducators, administrators, and parents in the areas of MTSS and Special Education. This includes facilitating a Community of Practice, writing courses for the Montana Learning Hub, and participating in the organization of OPI Summer Institute, MTSS Youth Days, and MTSS High School Forum.
3. Participate in several councils and other OPI initiatives such as the SPDG Evaluation Team, Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council, Montana Safe and Supportive School group, SPDG conferences, Capacity Building Institute, and other groups as assigned.

Anne Carpenter is a new Program Support Specialist for the Special Education Department. Anne holds a Master of Education Degree from the University of Montana- Missoula. Her major area of study was in special education. She also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Peru State College, NE. She has previously worked as an Early Childhood/Elementary Teacher, Inclusion/Program Specialist for the DPHHS Child Care Unit, a Developmental Disability Case Manager and recently as a Pre-ETS Specialist for the Montana Vocational Rehabilitation Program. She brings lots of experience to her current role where she is dedicated in developing training opportunities that will motivate and inspire SPED teachers, families and communities.

 Jenny Jarvis

406-410-1140
Program Support Specialist
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. Oversees the Gifted and Talented State Grant and provides technical assistance and training to school districts and parents to support G/T identification, programming, and ongoing supports for gifted and talented students.
2. Project Coordinator for the MT State Personnel Development Grant from OSEP: Montana’s Tiered System of Supports.
3. Supports continuing education opportunities offered by the Office of Public Instruction including OPI Summer Institute, HS Forum, and courses offered on the Teacher Learning Hub.

Jenny’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a Master’s degree in Education with an English emphasis. She has taught every grade except 1st grade at some point in her career. Blessed with 10 children (most of whom were born in Montana’s Flathead Valley) and a wonderful son-in-law, Jenny and her husband have lived and worked in many states but are happy to call Montana home again.

 Annette Viciedo Young

406-444-0299
Montana SSIP Director
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. Directs the MT State Systemic Improvement Plan
2. Manages the School Psychology, Speech/Language Pathology, and SPED Endorsement stipend programs.
3. Agency contact regarding paraprofessionals

Annette Viciedo Young She has 37 years’ experience in education. Annette has taught all grades K-12 as well as worked in the Montana university system and Embry Riddle Aeronautical Institute as higher education faculty at associates, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Prior experience also includes valuable time as an education consultant. Annette was one of the first 10 people to be hired by the MT Office of Public Instruction (OPI) in school improvement. She is recognized as a skilled facilitator of systems change.

 Lucy Beltz

406-431-4654
Early Learning and
Special Education Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Technical assistance for early childhood education programs for children with and without disabilities.
2. State 619 Coordinator.
3. Additional projects managed include: Hearing Conservation Program (HCP), Training and Assessment Systems for K-12 Educational Interpreters (TASK12) and Braille Transcription Program.

Lucy Beltz is the Early Learning and Special Education Specialist in the Special Education Unit. From Chicago to Vanuatu to Montana, she brings twenty years of experience in education. She has a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Advanced Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor's in Art Education. Her passion lies in coordinating culturally responsive practice in education and health to rejuvenate culture, environment, and climate striving for a community of people appreciated for their value and supported to be active participants; moving away from a culture of helping to a culture of understanding, acceptance, and support.

 Shara Blair

406-444-0685
Research Analyst/Data Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provides support to Montana schools for Special Education records and data collection/reporting in AIM
2. Analyzes education records data for quality assurance and integrity to enable effective agency decisions and reporting
3. Develops and presents documentation or materials as needed to support data collections and reporting systems

Shara joined OPI in January 2023. She holds a Business Administration degree from the University of Montana. She has been connected to K-12 education in some capacity since 2000. She has a passion for learning, collaboration and continual growth. She is proud to serve and support the administrators, educators, and staff that serve Montana schools, students and families. She and her husband, Dave, enjoy life in the Montana sun, waters and starry skies.