Career and Technical Education- Meet the Team

 Shannon Boswell

406-444-7915
Career Technical and
Adult Education Director

Work-Related Duties:

1. Carl D. Perkins Grant
2. State CTE Funding
3. Oversee Career, Technical and Adult Education Programs and Projects

Ms. Boswell spent the first 13 years of her career teaching high school Agriculture in rural West Virginia. While there she grew the program from 30 students to 90 students, 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 is currently serving as the Career, Technical, and Adult Education Unit Director.

 Gayla Randel

406-431-2117
Family and Consumer
Sciences Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) state and federal statute monitoring and compliance.
2. Family and Consumer Sciences Education program technical assistance and teacher support.
3. Workforce development K-12 strategic guidance for the people-centered careers including Education and Teaching, Hospitality, Food, and Tourism, Human and Early Child Services, and Apparel, Textiles , and Interior Design Services.

Gayla Randel, CFCS has 20 years classroom experiences at the middle, secondary and post-secondary levels across various content areas of Family and Consumer Sciences Education and teacher preparation. She was previously the FCS Education Consultant at the Kansas State Department of Education where her work focused on creating strong partnerships at the local, state and national levels for the Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism, Education and Training and Visual Arts—Fashion, Apparel, and Interior Design career clusters. This work also supported FCS Education through life literacy instruction and prevention education to address youth wellness, leadership and personal growth. She holds two degrees from Kansas State University—Vocational Home Economics Education and Adult, Continuing and Occupational Education and is certified by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

 Eric Tilleman

406-438-6636
Agricultural Education Specialist
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provide Assistance to schools with Perkins, State, and Advancing Agricultural Education Funding
2. Assist Schools in maintaining or building quality Agriculture programs by providing guidance with curriculum, pathways and teacher supports
3. Assist Teachers by maintaining the Montana Agricultural Network, provide professional development workshops, and communicating on a regular basis with each of the teachers in the state

Eric is the current Agriculture Education Specialist at OPI. He has taught agriculture at Cascade High School, in Cascade, Montana for 16 years where his classes were Ag I, Ag II, Building Construction, Welding, Independent Agriculture, and junior high ag. He has had the opportunity to serve as an officer in the Montana Association of Agriculture Educators (2010-15) as well as the Region I secretary of the NAAE (2016-19) and the Regional Vice President (2019-22). Eric and his wife, Roberta, have been active members in their communities serving as committee members of their local rodeos, and educational scholarship programs as well as officers in their local fire department.

 Ian Beagles

406-444-9019
Data Control Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Manage CTAE Data Collections
2. Carl D. Perkins and State CTE Reporting
3. State CTE Funding

Ian Beagles has been at the OPI since 2019 as the Data Specialist for the Career, Technical, & Adult Education Unit. Ian has a Bachelor’s Degree in Astrophysics from Northern Arizona University and completed two years of advanced schooling at The University of Toledo. He was born and raised in the Helena area and returned to the area after completing school.

 Eric Swenson

406-444-7991
Business Education Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Foster the development of Business and Marketing Education to support professional development, curriculum development, teaching methods, integrated workplace activities, and assessment that are based on current research in effective educational practices and trends in instructional technology that are appropriate and applicable to all students.
2. Provide technical assistance to schools in the selection of education programs, professional resources, and instructional systems related to Business and Marketing Education.
3. Assist Business Professionals of America, Montana Association (Montana BPA), and Montana DECA, Inc. State Directors in the development and implementation of leadership and workplace skill development opportunities for both students and local chapter advisors.

Eric Swenson has been involved in the Career & Technical Education/Business Education profession for over 20 years, including 13 years teaching at Denton High School, 12 years as the OPI’s Business Education Specialist, and 10 years on faculty with the University of Montana Western. Eric is a Past President of the Montana Business Education Association and the Montana Association for Career and Technical Education; served five years on the Business Professionals of America’s National Board of Trustees, and is currently on the Western Business Education Association’s Executive Committee as Secretary of the Executive Board. A three-time graduate of the University of Idaho (BS Business Education, BS Secondary Education-Social Sciences, & MEd Business Education). Eric has received many accolades for his classroom and professional experiences including being named the Secondary Business Educator of the Year by both the Montana Business Education Association and the Western Business Education Association, was presented with the Western Business Education Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2010 and was inducted into the Business Professionals of America Hall of Fame in 2016.

 Jamie Corley

406-437-2434
Health Science Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Work closely with Montana health science teachers to achieve established outcomes for health professions career pathway programs.
2. Monitor Carl D. Perkins funding and provide school/district support during the Carl D. Perkins E-grant application period.
3. Design professional development courses/workshops for health science teachers.

Jamie joined the OPI as the Health Science Education and Public Safety Specialist in 2022. Jamie has more than 10 years of teaching experience in Kinesiology, Health Sciences, and Physical Education. She has taught at high schools in California and Montana, community colleges in Fresno and Philadelphia, and at several medium and maximum security prisons in California. Additionally, Jamie served as a Health and Human Performance Lecturer at Montana State University Billings. Having served as a US Navy Corpsman, Jamie has experience providing advanced medical care both in the hospital setting and in the field as a combat medic. Rescuing patients and delivering emergency care to critically injured Sailors and Marines was a massive part of her military service. With all of these various experiences, Jamie hopes to serve as a significant asset to the OPI, HOSA, Montana administrators, teachers, and all students.

 Kaitlin Trutzel

406-438-0523
Industrial Technology
Education Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) state and federal statute monitoring and compliance.
2. Assist Schools in maintaining or building quality Industrial Technology Education programs by providing guidance with curriculum, pathways and teacher supports.
3. Assist Teachers by maintaining the Montana Industrial Technology Education Network, provide professional development workshops, and communicating on a regular basis with each of the teachers in the state.

Ms. Trutzel is the current Industrial Technology Education Specialist. She is a graduate of Montana State University with Teaching endorsements in Technology Education and Agricultural Education. She comes to OPI after teaching Agricultural Education in Kalispell Montana for the last 5 years. During her time with Kalispell Public Schools she had the opportunity to teach many different subjects including Wood Working, Drafting, Ag 2, Ag 1, Ag 4, Ag Economics, Natural Resources & Dual Credit Welding with Flathead Valley Community College. She has experience working closely with Montana SkillsUSA and Montana FFA. She is passionate about offering students opportunities to engage in Career and Technical Student Organizations in order to help make the high school experience more engaging.

 Sheri Harlow

406-444-5660
Teaching & Learning
Administrative Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Development and monitoring of project budgets and accounts to ensure projects are completed within projections and that expenditures are appropriate.
2. Routinely updates the division’s website to align to the Professional Learning Strategic Plan.
3. Provide technical program support functions.

Sheri Harlow is the Administrative Assistant for the Federal Programs team. Working at the Office of Public Instruction for the last 10+ years within the Innovation and Improvement Division. Prior to that, she was an Eligibility Specialist/Coordinator with the Department of Health and Human Service at the Lewis and Clark County Welfare office. Sheri's favorite part of working is helping to make a difference in people’s lives. Born, raised, and has lived in the Helena valley all her life. She and her husband Brad have four grown children, 5 grandkids, and two dogs. When I am not at the office you can find me at The Last Chance Chapel & Lodge giving thanks and worshiping my savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Suzanne Michalski

406-444-4428
Regional Career Coach

Region:

White Sulpher Springs, up to Helena, down to Boulder/Butte, and also over to Drummond/Anaconda/Phillipsburg, and down to Wisdom/Jackson area.

Suzie has lived in Montana for five years in the Gallatin and Broadwater counties. She accomplished a BS degree in Health Education at CSU Chico and an AS in Social and Behavioral Science and Fire Science. The last ten years have been spent working in EMS as an EMT/ Paramedic with some focus in wildland and structural firefighting. Prior experience in developing customer service skills in the food and beverage industry. Suzie enjoys spending time with friends and family by a campfire or body of water. She is a mother to one daughter and supports a busy farmer. Physical fitness, traveling, concerts and reading are some favorite pass times.

 Jillian Bellah

406-444-0730
Regional Career Coach

Region:

Lewistown to Winnett, west to Stanford and Judith Gap area, north to Winifred and possibly up to Turner/Chinook area.

Jillian Bellah, Regional Career Coach, recently moved to Montana after working with Dallas Independent School District for 5 years as a secondary math teacher. She earned a BS in Political Science from Texas A&M University and an MS in Educational Studies from Johns Hopkins University. After graduating from Texas A&M, she joined the Peace Corps, where she spent about a year in Mongolia teaching English as a foreign language. Jillian brings experience in being able to effectively communicate and inform across many cultures and environments from her variety of experiences that she brings with her to OPI.

 Celeste (Andrea) Miller

406-444-0751
Regional Career Coach

Region:

Bozeman to Dillon, over to Livingston, the Bozeman-to-Three Forks area and up to Wilsall.

Celeste Miller is new to OPI serving as a Regional Career Coach in the Bozeman area. She earned her BA in Psychology from Saint Leo University, teaching credential in Elementary Education from CSU, Chico, and MA in Educational Administration from Concordia University, Irvine. Celeste brings experience as a High School CTE teacher and CTSO advisor. Most recently she taught Family and Consumers Sciences and served as an FCCLA advisor in a rural high school in Northern California. While her passion is education, Celeste also enjoys camping, traveling, and spending time with her husband and three children.

 Rachael Hagen

406-444-0742
Regional Career Coach

Region:

Flathead Reservation to Troy, and throughout the Whitefish/ Kalispell/ Columbia Falls area.

Rachael Hagen attended the University of Montana during her undergraduate education. She attained two bachelor’s degrees—one in English education and one in history education—and has been certified by the State of Montana to teach both subject areas. Currently, Rachael is working on attaining her master’s degree in English with an emphasis on education through Grand Canyon University. Rachael Hagen taught at Polson High School, where she attended high school. While teaching, she noticed a need for programs emphasizing alternative educational paths for students after high school. So, Rachael became a regional career coach to help students across the state discover what they might want to do after high school graduation and work to close the experience gap within Montana. Rachael hopes to reframe individuals’ understanding of post-secondary education and illuminate understated educational and training options.

 Julissa Benica-Hensel

406-444-0758
Regional Career Coach

Region:

Missoula area, up to St. Regis and all the way down to Darby in the Bitterroot Valley.

Julissa grew up in Missoula and graduated in Elementary Education at Montana State University. She taught at Hellgate Elementary middle school for several years. In her last position, Julissa worked for Department of Labor and Industry as a Workforce Consultant at Job Service Missoula for 13 years. In this role, she assisted job seekers with resume writing, interview techniques, job searching, unemployment filing, training opportunities, and labor market information. She also worked with businesses discussing qualifications and skills needed for each opened position, created job postings, recruited workers, and providing best HR practices. She realized her niche was connecting teachers with companies by providing job readiness workshops to their students, so they are more confident and prepared in the workplace.

She also is active with outreach in her local community by attending Leadership Missoula, networking with the Chamber of Missoula, Missoula Downtown Association, and high school advisory boards. Julissa enjoys being active with her boyfriend, Tony. They participate in golf, volleyball, hiking, cornhole and cribbage tournaments. She has 2 children – Ellie and Miller.

 Kelsey Brown

406-444-4414
Regional Career Coach

Region:

Falls to Belt, down to Centerville, up to Shelby/Cut Bank, north to Fort Benton and up to Havre.

Kelsey Brown is serving in the role of Regional Career Coach in the greater-Great Falls area. Kelsey’s career in education began with teaching Science at the Jr/HS levels for three years before earning her Master’s in School Counseling from Lewis and Clark University in Portland, Oregon. As a school counselor, Kelsey worked for four years at the high school level, two years at the middle school level, and 1 year at the elementary school level. In addition to school counseling Kelsey worked for one year as a Career and Academic Planning Coach for the Department of Engineering at George Fox University. With her combined experience at the post-secondary and k-12 levels, Kelsey has a unique perspective on preparing students for their future and deep appreciation for the work of all educators in equipping students with the career readiness skills they need to navigate the work force. After living in Oregon for ten years, Kelsey moved back to her hometown of Great Falls, Montana in the summer of 2022 and enjoys that she now gets to raise her family in the same community that she grew up in.

 Crystal Wright

406-444-0769
Regional Career Coach

Region:

Red Lodge and Belfry area, over to Absarokee/Columbus/Big Timber, up to Harlowton and over to Roundup, Laurel, Lockwood, Shepherd and Huntley Project area and over to Hysham.

Justin Kendhammer

406-594-5561
Regional Career Coach

Region:

Missoula and Mineral counties, plus Lincoln, Ovando, Thompson Falls, and Plains.

As a graduate of Northern Arizona University with degrees in Psychology and Educational Studies, Justin has taught social studies, physical education, and health across grade levels. Other accomplishments in education include cofounding an experiential learning school in Flagstaff, AZ, guiding students on a virtual polar exploration of Antarctica, and coaching soccer. Justin has served in the US Army and has provided Veteran employment and benefits services in Montana from 2018 to 2023. As a resident of Missoula Montana, Justin enjoys snow sports, mountain biking, and spending time outside with his wife and 1-year-old puppy.

 Courtney George

406-444-XXXX
Career Coach

 Katie Madsen

406-465-1341
Adult Education State Director/
HiSET State Administrator

Work-Related Duties:

1. Manage statewide administration of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) - Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) federal grant program.
2. Provide leadership and technical assistance to WIOA Adult Education grantees.
3. Oversee compliance of high school equivalency (HiSET) test centers, test administrators, and HiSET Options programs.

Ms. Katie Madsen joined the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) in January 2017 as the Adult Education State Director/HiSET State Administrator. She came to the OPI from the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) where she served in the Academic and Student Affairs Division. Katie has previously worked as a classroom teacher, Sylvan Learning Center administrator, and corporate trainer for a large financial institution. Ms. Madsen holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Montana and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education from Carroll College.

 Emily Fuller

406-594-3750
Adult Education Program Specialist
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. WIOA Adult Education Program Specialist – monitor for grant reporting compliance, manage data for federal reporting, and provide technical assistance and training to grantees.
2. HiSET Coordinator - monitor for standardized test administration compliance, manage high school equivalency data, and provide technical assistance to the public and training to HiSET Examiners.
3. HiSET Options Coordinator - monitor for compliance and provide technical assistance and training to HiSET Options Coordinators.

Emily Fuller is the Adult Education (AE) Program Specialist and HiSET Coordinator in the Career, Technical, and Adult Education Unit at the Office of Public Instruction (OPI). Emily assists the State Director/State HiSET Administrator in developing best practices and training for AE and HiSET programs. Her position also monitors compliance with Federal, State, and Vendor policies. Emily joined the OPI in 2016 and moved into her current position in 2018. Prior to her position at the OPI, Emily was the general manager at a busy restaurant where she developed her strong customer service skills. In 2014, Emily earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology (MSU Bozeman) and also holds an Associate Degree in Mental Health Direct Care (UM Helena). These areas of study have given her insight into human behavior as well as a good understanding of statistics.

 Wanda Arlint

406-444-4151
HiSET Administrative Assistant
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. Provide customer service for the OPI High School Equivalency (HSE) Helpline.
2. Process HSE transcripts and diplomas.
3. Complete education verifications for HSE examinees.

Mrs. Wanda Arlint is the HiSET Administrative Assistant in the Career, Technical and Adult Education (CTAE) Unit at the Office of Public Instruction (OPI). She joined the OPI in July 2015 as an Administrative Assistant for the Content and Standards Unit, and then transitioned to the CTAE Unit, part-time, in October 2019. Wanda enjoys working part-time so she can spend time with her husband, two children, and three grandchildren.