Meet the Indian Education for All Team

Zach Hawkins
Director of Indian Education for All
Zach Hawkins has been Director of Indian Education for All at the Montana Office of Public Instruction since December, 2018. Prior to joining the OPI, he worked with American Indian students and school communities as a classroom teacher and Federal college access program administrator for 18 years. In previous positions, he led the Hays-Lodgepole Thunderbirds to their first football victory in five years, was chosen as a Helena Education Foundation Distinguished Educator, and co-led the National Council for Community Educational Partnerships' College and Career Readiness Evaluation Project.

As the IEFA team leader, he stresses the importance of Indigenous contributions to the Treasure State's rich history and integration of the Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians into curriculum and lesson planning. He relishes any and all opportunities to work with teachers, schools, and stakeholders in their efforts to realize Montana's constitutionally mandated IEFA implementation requirement.

Zach and his wife have two boys ages 9 and 13. In his free time, he attends his boys' sporting events, skis, and explores Montana with his family.

406.444.0708
zachariah.hawkins@mt.gov
Joan Franke
Administrative Assistant
Joan Franke has worked in OPI ‘s Indian Education office as an administrative assistant for over 20 years. Her rich experiences include supporting the development of curriculum and materials, coordinating professional development events, and distribution of materials. She provides invaluable support for Indian Student Achievement efforts as well as the implementation of Indian Education For All. She actively participates in Irish cultural activities and celebrations and is an avid reader.

406.444.3694
jfranke@mt.gov
Jennifer Stadum
Indian Education Specialist
Jennifer Stadum is an Indian Education Specialist at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Over the past ten years Jennifer has worked with every tribe in Montana on culturally relevant materials and tribally specific resources for implementation across all disciplines in K-12 public education. She is currently working on virtual professional development for PK-20 Teachers across Montana that is supportive of authentic and meaningful IEFA implementation.

Prior to joining the OPI, Jennifer published her Master of Science in Science Education thesis on her landscape level research on long-billed curlews and sandhill cranes at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Being able to combine her love of science with Indian Education makes her job very exciting. Outside of work Jennifer loves Montana’s seasons, gardening, and hiking.

406.444.0725
jstadum@mt.gov
Stephen Morsette
Indian Education Specialist
Stephen Morsette is an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree tribe of Rocky Boy. He is an Indian Education Specialist at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Stephen has been in his current role for the past six years and in that time, has offered professional development across the state, worked with IEFA grants, wrote and edited curriculum, and was lead in creating the Making Montana Proud poster series. Prior to OPI, Stephen taught at Box Elder Public Schools for nine years. There he served as an elementary reading/math specialist for five years, before teaching sixth grade his remaining time there.

Stephen and his wife have one son, age five and one daughter, age one, they also have two cats. In his free time, he loves hanging out with the family, watching Griz football, hiking, and traveling.

406.444.0754
smorsette@mt.gov
Mike Jetty
Indian Education Specialist
Mike Jetty is an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation and a Turtle Mountain Chippewa descendant. Mike is currently working at the Montana Office of Public Instruction as an Indian Education Specialist. He has been working with Indian Education issues for the past 28 years and has teaching experience at both the K-12 and University level. He has a B.S. in History Education, a Master’s in School Administration and an Education Specialist Degree. Mike is currently working on updating model social studies lesson plans to incorporate the recently adopted Social Studies Standards and adding new classroom activities and links to online resources. Please contact Mike if you are looking for ideas and resources to support your Indian Education for All instructional efforts. In addition to his work with K-12 education, he is an active member of the American Indian and Minority Achievement Council for the Montana University System.

406.444.0720
mjetty@mt.gov