Michelle McCarthy

 Michelle McCarthy

406-444-3537
Science Instructional Coordinator

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Works with teachers and other science education leaders to support science instruction in Montana schools.
  2. Keeps apprised of the Montana’s needs in science instruction.
  3. Updates disciplinary standards as needed, and processes Professional Development Certificates and maintains the PD unit Provider System.

Michelle has been with the Office of Public Instruction since August 2015. She was a middle school science, social studies, and math teacher at Bridger Schools. She also served as their RtI and Test Coordinator. She has also been a ½ time principal/teacher in a three-room schoolhouse.

As an adjunct faculty instructor at MSU-Billings and MSU Bozeman she taught undergraduate and graduate K-8 & 5-12 Science Methods and Ed Tech courses and was involved as a teacher leader in the Partnership to Reform Inquiry Science in Montana (PRISM) grant for six years. She earned her Bachelor of Science Education, SPED minor, and Master of Education at MSU-Billings. She completed the coursework for her doctorate at MSU Bozeman but never started the dissertation, so she ended up with an ABD.

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 Katrina Engeldrum

406-444-0706
Math Instructional Coordinator

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Collaborates with teachers and mathematics education professionals to support math instruction, in Montana Schools. This work includes but is not limited to, partnering on the Mathematics Innovation Zones (MIZ) and Montana Alternative Student Test (MAST)
  2. Supports the update and creation of Mathematics-related Professional Development.
  3. Partners with all teams tasked with the revision of the Mathematics Content Standards. This includes supporting educators and schools through the implementation of these revised standards and partnering with OPI staff to provide meaningful and actionable professional development during this process.

Prior to joining the Office of Public Instruction, Katrina taught 7-12 mathematics in Montana schools. Since 2014, she has worked in the classroom setting, served on RTI teams, coached, and been involved with many volunteer pursuits.

Currently, Katrina is working on her Educational Leadership Master’s Degree at the University of Montana, participates in the Flathead Reservation Educator Support Hub, volunteers locally, and is passionately developing a mathematics instructional support program in her community.

She loves to read and recently has become fascinated by the relationship between mathematics and philosophy. She is reading through the works of great philosophers and mathematicians alike in an effort to better understand the history and development of Mathematics through the ages. In her free time, Katrina likes to work in her wood shop, or spend time outdoors with her family and friends.

 

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Claire Mikeson

406-438-0278
ELA & Literacy Instructional Coordinator

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Collaborates with teachers and English education leaders and professionals to support ELA instruction in Montana Schools.
  2. Supports the continuous update and creation of ELA-related professional learning.
  3. Facilitates revision of ELA Content Standards, including supporting task force teams and supporting educators and schools with implementation by partnering with OPI staff to provide meaningful professional learning.

Claire joined the Office of Public Instruction on the School Improvement team in 2023 and has been supporting ELA educators and students in her current role as ELA Instructional Coordinator since 2024. Prior to working for OPI, Claire taught secondary English Language Arts for eight years, both abroad and in several schools across Montana. She’s licensed in ELA and K-12 library media and has an M.A. in English and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. Claire has also worked as an adjunct college instructor and freelance curriculum developer and is particularly enthusiastic about literature, media literacy, and writing instruction. She lives on a ranch in central Montana, and enjoys reading, writing, running, baking, and spending time with her husband, dog, and cats.