Federal Programs- Meet the Team

Zach Hawkins

406-444-3083
Title I and Federal Programs Director,
Private School Ombudsman

Work-Related Duties:

1. Oversight and Coordination of Title 1 and Federal Programs, Allocations, Administration, and Monitoring
2. Legislative Audits and U.S. Department of Ed. Communications
3. Provides Consultation and Technical Assistance to Districts and School Administrators
4. Coordinates National Distinguished Schools Program in MT

Zach Hawkins has worked at the OPI since 2018. He served as the Indian Education for All Director before assuming the role of Title I/Federal Programs Director and Private School Ombudsman. Prior to joining the OPI, he worked in Federal college access programs for 12 years, most notably as the Director of the Montana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program for 5 years. At the beginning of his career, he taught middle and high school social studies in Hays Lodgepole and Heart Butte.

His professional accomplishments include guiding the Hays Lodgepole Thunderbirds football team to their first victory in 5 years, receiving the Helena Education Foundation’s Distinguished Educator Award, and co-leading the National Council for Community Educational Partnerships’ College and Career Readiness Evaluation Project.

Zach and his wife have two sons aged 12 and 15. In his free time, he attends his sons’ mountain bike races and hockey games, skis, and explores Montana with his family.

 Angela Branz-Spall

406-444-2423
Migrant Education Director
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. Supervises IDR/Data Collection MIS 2000 /MSIX
2. Subgrating/Allocations to LEA/LOA
3. Supervises Comprehensive Needs Assessment Process
4. Supervises Service Delivery Plan/Evaluation

Angela Branz-Spall is the Title I Part C Migrant Education Program State Director. In this capacity she oversees the implementation of all aspects of the Migrant Education Program which is a state administered and operated program. This includes all administrative activities that are unique to the MEP, such as the identification and recruitment of all eligible migratory children located in the state, interstate and intrastate coordination of the Montana MEP and its local projects with other relevant programs and local projects in the state and in other states, as well as procedures for providing for educational continuity for migratory children through the timely transfer of educational and health records. She is responsible for collecting and using information for accurate distribution of subgrant funds through the E grant management system and the development of a statewide needs assessment, service delivery plan and evaluation. Angela has spent her career in public education as a classroom teacher, local program administrator and federal grants manager. She is a past-president of the National Association of State Directors of Migrant Educators (NASDME) and currently serves as the Western Stream representative of NASDME and the Chair of the NASDME Scholarship Committee.

Kimberly Rebich

406-410-4578
Federal Grants Coordinator

Work-Related Duties:

1. Coordinates ESEA Consolidated Title Program Monitoring
2. Title I, Part A Program Specialist

Prior to joining the OPI in 2023, Kimberly spent over 18 years teaching within Title I schools across Montana. In her role at the OPI she provides program support and technical assistance to Montana's school districts and administrators with ESEA Federal Education Title Programs, specializing in Title I, Part A programs. Additionally, she coordinates ESEA Consolidated Title Program Monitoring for the OPI.

Kimberly holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science in Teaching and Learning, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. 

Justine Guthrie

406-444-2036
Instructional Coordinator    

Work-Related Duties:

1. State Coordinator of Homeless Education
2. Title I Specialist
3. Family Engagement Coordinator

Justine has spent over 15 years in public education as a Teacher, Behavior Specialist and School Principal in all grade levels K-12. She holds a BA from the University of Montana in History- Political Science and Secondary Education, a Master’s of Education in Alternative Education and Graduate Certificate in School Principals. In her career she has been drawn to positions of support and has enjoyed working with at-risk youth. She enjoys supporting school staff to provide quality and engaging learning for all students. At OPI she is excited to serve Montana Schools!

She is a mother of two and finds her greatest life pleasures in spending time with her children. In her spare time she can be found attending her kids’ basketball games or following them around the great outdoors. She is an avid gardener.

 Marisa Britton-Bostwick

406-444-0794
Federal Programs Coordinator

Work-Related Duties:

1. Title I Part D Specialist
2. Title II Specialist
3. Title V Specialist
4. Foster Care Point of Contact
5. Title III Specialist

Marisa has spent over 25 years in Education as a teacher and an administrator. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Montana State University-Billings, a Masters in School Administration from Chapman University and a specialized graduate credential in Literacy from University of California-Los Angeles. In her career, she has focused on assisting English language learners, at risk youth and students involved in the justice system to have supports in place to be successful in school and in the community. She also strives to work with all parties associated with children in foster care and how to best support them in Montana schools. It is also important to her, to work with stakeholders, schools and families to help schools and students achieve their educational goals.

Amber Buchanan

 406-444-2736
Title & School Support Analyst

Work-Related Duties:

1. Serve as a data research analyst within ESEA programs, specifically Title I Part C; Title I Part A; and Title I School Support/Improvement.
2. Update and maintain Foster Care and Title I, Part C (MEP) student data in Infinite Campus for districts.
3. Perform quality assurance and quality control on Federal program student data, evaluating the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of source information.

Amber graduated with honors from the University of Montana in 2005 where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a concentration in Secondary Education, along with a minor in Business and Information Technology. She began working at Office of Public Instruction in 2015.

Richard Hanley

406-444-xxxx
Program Manager

Work-Related Duties:

1. Title IV-A Specialist
2. Title IV-A Monitoring Specialist

Richard has spent the past 11 years at the Montana Department of Corrections working in various educational positions with incarcerated students at various correctional facilities within the state. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources and Management. In his career at the Montana DOC, he focused on assisting students affected by the justice system with reentry services to ensure success in both school and the community. During his tenure at Montana DOC he was the coordinator for the Second Chance Pell program, which allows incarcerated individuals to attend online college courses within the Montana University System prior to release from Montana DOC. During his time at Montana DOC Richard worked to make the educational setting safe for all and provided well rounded education while facilitating technology and career readiness courses. He has spent his educational career striving to ensure academic success for all students in diverse educational settings to have equitable access to educational programming.