Meet the Team

Aimee Konzen, Director of School Improvement

Aimee Konzen joined OPI as a School Improvement Specialist and now serves as the Director of the School Innovation and Improvement Team. She is excited to incorporate her seventeen years of classroom experience into this role. Aimee started her teaching career in Billings, and then traveled to New Zealand and worked as a coach integrating new entrants into schools there for eight years. She returned to Montana and received her master’s degree from Rocky Mountain College in Educational Leadership while teaching middle school English. Aimee has created professional learning opportunities for all levels of school leaders. The topics included are standards-based learning and reporting, trauma-informed teaching, restorative justice practices, Professional Learning Communities, and data-informed teaching. Aimee has had numerous educational experiences including visible learning conferences, Building bridges learning summit, formative assessment writing, and equitable learning experiences for all.

Leo Davis, School Improvement Specialist

Leo Davis brings 10 years of coaching and youth development experience to the School Improvement and Innovation team. Born and raised in MT, Leo has always used a community-based mindset to connect our rural and urban school districts. A member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and Blackfeet descendant, Leo also brings a differentiated knowledge of teaching, learning and self-actualization. He aims to provide an authentic approach to dealing with cultural and educational resiliency to our students across the state. Leo enjoys doing all things Montana with his two sons, hunting, sport coaching, riding horses and the Montana State Bobcats.

Yvonne Field, School Improvement Specialist

Yvonne Field is in her tenth year working at the Office of Public Instruction. She has served in two previous roles, first as an assessment specialist working with special population assessments including assessments for English Learners and alternate assessments. Yvonne also worked for the special education department as the assessment and accessibility specialist within the school improvement unit. Her main focus has been on accessibility of statewide assessments and leveraging interim and formative assessment resources from statewide assessments to improve instructional practices and inclusion of students with disabilities. Yvonne has a background in opera and special education. She was the music instruction coordinator at a unique post-secondary program in Massachusetts called Berkshire Hills Music academy where she gained skills as a special education teacher by integrating academics, life skills, social pragmatics, and work skills in musical contexts. Yvonne transitioned to public school teaching through an AmeriCorps program based on a training framework developed by The New Teacher Project. She taught special education at Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School in grades three-five where she helped to implement the co-teaching model in a comprehensive school setting. Yvonne grew up in Missoula, MT and is proud to have a student athlete son who will graduate from the University of Montana, in finance in Spring 2022.

Julie Gavin, School Improvement Specialist

Julie Gavin works as a School Improvement Specialist in the Department of Innovation and Improvement with the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Previously, she taught English Language Arts in public high and middle schools and designed children’s enrichment programming and teacher training in several states. Due to her love of learning, she felt a calling at age 13 to pursue the field of education. Julie is passionate about encouraging people of all ages to uncover their passions and put them into practice within their lives. In her personal life, she enjoys cooking, reading, living an active lifestyle, exploring new ideas and places, and spending time with her family. She is honored and excited to serve Montana school leaders, staff, and students in her role supporting districts.