Brooke Gondara Headshot

Dr. Brooke Gondara

406-422-6958
Director of Indian Education

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Tribal Inclusion, Consultation and diversity teachings
  2. Indian Student Achievement efforts and student holistic support
  3. Facilitate youth and knowledge keepers for inclusion and guidance

Dr. Brooke Gondara is a citizen of the Tsitsistas/Suhtaio Nation of southeastern Montana and an Oglala Dakota descendent. Dr. Gondara recently left a 25+ year career in higher education administration, primarily in community and tribal colleges in the roles of dean, associate dean, and president in the states of Montana, Oregon, Alaska, and New Mexico. She currently resides on the traditional lands of the Apsáalooke Nation in Huntley with her husband. She is the mother of three adult daughters and the geh'et (grandmother) of three amazing grandchildren. Brooke is a crazy dog lady who is passionately involved in the Rez dog rescue and working with her own pack of rescue Catahoula leopard hounds and pittbulls. She enjoys precious time with family, traveling, cooking, ethnobotany and traditional foods, berry picking, indigenous research and data, and is an avid trivia player who rarely misses Jeopardy or the local Monday night games in Huntley.

Indian Education For All

 

Mike Jetty Headshot

 Mike Jetty

406-444-0720
Indian Education Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Updates IEFA lesson plans and collaborates with teachers and other educational entities to facilitate the development of culturally relevant resources.
  2. Provides on-site and in-person IEFA presentations and professional development as requested.
  3. Ongoing work to institutionalize IEFA through accreditation, content standards, and policies.

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.

Mike has been working with Indian Education issues for the past 34 years and has teaching experience at both the K-12 and University levels. He has a B.S. in History Education, a Master’s in School Administration, and an Education Specialist Degree. 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 was an active member of the American Indian and Minority Achievement Council for the Montana University System and worked to infuse IEFA throughout the MUS.  "IEFA is a historic endeavor and it is an honor to be a part of this important work." 

Carie McNab Headshot

Carrie McNab

406-444-0251
Indian Education Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Indian Education for All Implementation Resource Development and Professional Development Provider
  2. Resource development and dissemination.
  3. Ongoing work to institutionalize IEFA through accreditation, content standards, and policies.

Carrie McNab a proud Saulteux-Cree from the George Gordon First Nation has extensive knowledge and education as a life-long learner. Carrie has an Associate Degree in Computer Software, an Associate Degree in Elementary Education, A Bachelor’s degree with a Reading Minor in Elementary Education, a Master of Science Degree in Learning Development, and she is currently completing her Master of Leadership in administrative with the Montana State University-Bozeman.

Carrie is most fond and proud of her four beautiful children; Elijah, Jarrell, Jaynah and Kendra and her five amazing grandchildren; Regan, Myley Kaye, Laikyn Aero, Sorren J. and Kaia Hope of Rocky Boy, MT.

Carrie has an extensive teaching background. She has taught all levels of school - elementary, middle, high school and post-secondary level. She has been an elementary, family and consumer science, driver’s education, secondary math teacher and ELA teacher with the Rocky Boy School District, in addition to post-secondary mathematics.

Carrie has also served as an assistant athletic director, volleyball coach, and Native Youth Communities Project Coordinator for the Stone Child College of Rocky Boy, MT. Carrie has also served in a leadership role as a Dean of Students of the Rocky Boy Jr/Sr High School.

Carrie has served as the Director of the American Indian Student Achievement Unit with the Montana Office of Public Instruction, She has a strong desire to support the education of First Nation students across the nation.

Carrie has also served at the post-secondary level as the Director of Student Success Services with the First Nations University of Regina, Saskatchewan.

 

Julie Jeffers Headshot

 Julie Jeffers

406-438-2505
Indian Education Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Indian Education for All implementation resource development and professional development provider.
  2. Resource development and dissemination.
  3. Ongoing work to institutionalize IEFA through accreditation, content standards, and policies.

Julie Jeffers is a descendent of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana. She is a recent graduate of Salish Kootenai College with a bachelor's degree in Tribal Historic Preservation. Julie is currently working at the Montana Office of Public Instruction as an Indian Education Specialist. Julie has decades of knowledge working with children and schools as a preschool teacher, special education aid, and in IEFA. Her most recent work was as an Indian Education Home to School Coordinator for School District 2 (Billings) before moving to the Flathead Reservation to finish her degree. Julie is excited to bring her talents and experience to OPI. Outside of work, she loves the outdoors and spending time with her family and dogs.

Tribal Student Achievement and Relations

 

Michele Henson Headshot

 Michele Henson

406-595-1058
Indian Achievement Specialist 
 

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Engage in consultation with Tribes. 
  2. Collaborate with students, schools, caregivers, Tribes, and community members to ensure all students feel safe and supported at school.
  3. Strive to create the conditions necessary to close the American Indian student achievement gap and create pathways for all students, to meet their academic and lifelong goals.
  4. Support the implementation of evidence-based and indigenous, whole-child strategies for teaching and learning.

Michele Henson is an American Indian Student Achievement Specialist at the Office of Public Instruction. In her current role, Michele is dedicated to assuring all students feel safe and supported in school and have the resources they need to meet their academic and lifelong goals. Raised in Corvallis, Montana, Michele graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Community Health from Montana State University and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Arizona. Michele has worked in the field of health promotion since 2011 and is passionate about supporting local, strength-based solutions to help schools and communities thrive. Michele believes all Montana students stand to benefit from the creation and implementation of Indigenous, whole child supports. 

Crystal Hickman Headshot

 Crystal Hickman

406-839-6734
American Indian 
Student Achievement Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Provide support to students and schools to receive fair and equitable treatment to close the achievement gap including work in climate, social and emotional supports, student voice, and family/community engagement.
  2. Support the implementation of evidence-based and indigenous strategies for teaching and learning.
  3. Support efforts to integrate culture, language, and identity into learning environments.

Crystal Rondeaux Hickman is an enrolled member of the Apsaalooke Tribe and of Northern Cheyenne descent. She is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and daughter. She values spending time with her family above all else. Crystal has worked in the human services and community organizing fields for 20 years. She is passionate about working with the resilience of tribal people, youth empowerment, and giving voice to those who have none.

NO HEADSHOT

Emily Kallenberger

 
Tribal Student Achievement Specialist
 

Matthew Bell Headshot

 Matthew Bell

406-431-6626
Language and Culture Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Technical Assistance/Grant Management for MILP and ILIP Language grants
  2. Class 7 Language and Culture point of contact
  3. Language and Culture Curriculum Research and Development point of contact

Matt is Nakoda and Aaniiih from the Fort Belknap community. He is a University of Montana graduate with degrees in English Teaching and Native American Studies. He taught in Missoula, Montana for several years before joining the Office of Public Instruction as the Language and Culture Specialist. Matt is working to consult with tribal education entities and infuse the collaborative work in to more public education settings for all Montana students. Matt is also working in collaboration the Tribal Student Achievement, Relations and Resiliency unit to promote indigenous student voice and success. Pinamaya

NO HEADSHOT

Vacant

 
Administrative Assistant

Work-Related Duties:

  1. Conference work
  2. Publications Requests Fulfillment
  3. MACIE meetings