Superintendent Arntzen Announces the Early Literacy Collaborative Members

• Brian O'Leary
• October 31 2023

HELENA - Superintendent Arntzen is pleased to announce the members of the Office of Public Instruction’s (OPI) Early Literacy Collaborative. Per HB 352, the membership consists of a variety of education stakeholders from across Montana. This Collaborative will foster cooperation between government agencies, schools, families, educators, educator preparation programs, and communities. The focus of the OPI’s Collaborative will be to provide guidance for implementation of the school jumpstart programs, classroom interventions, and home-based literacy intervention programs for eligible students aged four years old and not yet in third grade. In addition, the Collaborative will provide data and feedback to the Board of Public Education’s (BPE) Early Literacy Advisory Council. 

“Reading is the basis of academic success,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “I am focused on getting back to the basics and helping our children build an early foundation in literacy. Improving kindergarten readiness through 3^rd grade is the main emphasis while supporting teachers, parents, and of course our students.”

The members of the Collaborative are:

• Jessie Mitchell - Preschool literacy Coach, Helena
• Whitney Peters - Frenchtown, kindergarten teacher, interventionist
• Katherine Nitcy - Hot Springs School, Title One Teacher
• Joellen Brennan - Arrow Creek Elementary, Pryor, teacher, early literacy, and parent focused support
• Jessica Doherty - Butte- Emerson Elementary, teacher
• Katherine Dawe - former Amsterdam principal (Blue Ribbon School) and now principal in Laurel
• Mona Shortman - Cut Bank- colony, early childhood endorsed, EL expertise
• Amanda Cyr - Superintendent Clinton School District
• Caitlin Hall - Roberts School, Roberts MT, MCLSDP Literacy Grant, 3-8th grade interventionist
• Allison Wilson - Missoula, Associate Professor at UM in early childhood education, also on BPE Early Literacy Council
• Jill Christensen - Early Childhood Specialist
• Wade Sundby – Glasgow, Superintendent
• Christy Mock-Stutz – OPI Assistant Superintendent
• Julie Murgel – OPI Chief Operations Officer
• Marie Judisch – OPI Senior Manager for Teaching and Learning

The Collaborative will meet online monthly. The first meeting will be on November 21, 2023, at 3:30 pm. More information can be found on OPI’s Reading and Early Literacy page.

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