Superintendent Arntzen Welcomes the Public to Attend Graduate Profile During Teacher Leader Academy in Billings

• Brian O'Leary
• April 13 2023

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is welcoming the public to attend a summit on developing and implementing a graduate profile. This new graduate profile is housed with the Board of Public Instruction in Chapter 55 of the Administrative Rules of Montana, which outline school accreditation. The public summit will take place during the Teacher Leader Academy on April 14, 2023, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM in room 152 of the Education Building at Montana State University Billings. John Clements and Mary Anne Moran, Co-Principals, Nipmuc Regional High School, Mendon-Upton Regional School District, Massachusetts will host the graduate profile summit. The graduate profile includes a:

• statement of the skills, knowledge, and dispositions our students need to be successful in the modern world
• a framework for designing personalized learning experiences, which cater to the unique needs, interests, and strengths of each student
• locally developed plan that is responsive to each community
• plan for ongoing student growth

“I recommended that a graduate profile be added to our revised accreditation rules to focus on students’ academic success,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Every student learns in their own unique way. Community and parental engagement in creating a graduate profile that reflects personalized learning for our students fulfills our Montana Constitutional promise of developing the full educational potential of each student.”

The  Public Summit Friday morning is followed by  Montana Teacher Leaders and Executive Leaders working together Friday evening and Saturday on emerging factors as to why the graduate profile is necessary. 

• Personalized learning is a priority of the 2023 legislature as evidenced in different bills.  The profile of a graduate provides a framework for designing personalized learning experiences, which cater to the unique needs, interests, and strengths of each student. This approach enables students to develop at their own pace, ultimately fostering a more engaged and motivated learning environment.
• A well-defined profile of a graduate provides an accountability benchmark against which schools and educators can measure their effectiveness in preparing students for success. This drives continuous improvement in teaching and learning, as well as promotes accountability within each school district.

Mary Anne Moran began her career 23 years ago as an elementary educator and quickly made her way to the secondary level. In her current work as a co-principal of the Nipmuc Regional High School, she has spent time in Washington D.C. as a representative of one of six schools across the nation to share strategies for reimagining the school day as well as co-authoring whitepapers about the reimagining American education for the U.S. Department of Education.

John Clements is a dedicated and experienced educator who is a strong advocate for collaboration, creating a sense of community in the school, and personalizing student learning experiences. Mary Anne and John are national leaders in coaching the what, why, and how of developing and implementing The Graduate Profile.

To attend the public summit, please contact Krystal.smith@mt.gov for more information and access options.