The ESSA committees allow the state to gather feedback and support from stakeholders across the state as we move forward to implement the ESSA law.
Committees are comprised of NDDPI personnel and stakeholders who have expertise in each topic or an interest in being part of the committee. These members have agreed to shoulder the responsibility of providing ongoing, two-way feedback with the stakeholder group they represent across the state throughout the implementation process.
The ESSA committees allow the state to gather feedback and support from stakeholders across the state as we move forward to implement the ESSA law.
Committees are comprised of NDDPI personnel and stakeholders who have expertise in each topic or an interest in being part of the committee. These members have agreed to shoulder the responsibility of providing ongoing, two-way feedback with the stakeholder group they represent across the state throughout the implementation process.
| Name | Committee Role | Title | Organization |
| Anderson, Catherine | Administrator - Small District | Superintendent - Rolette Public School | Rolette Public Schools |
| Archuleta, Nick | North Dakota United | President - North Dakota United | North Dakota United |
| Arness, Amy | Parent Teacher Association | Member - Parent Teacher Association | North Dakota Parent Teacher Association |
| Bachmeier, Levi | State Superintendent | State Superintendent - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Bauer, Tracey | Tribal College | Executive Director - ND Tribal College System | ND Tribal College System |
| Brandt, Jessica | North Dakota Schoolwide Program | Title I Teacher - Central Cass | Central Cass |
| Budeau, Heidi | Special Education Representative | Special Education Director - James River Special Education Cooperative | Jamestown and James River Special Education Unit |
| Carlson, Greg | Non-Voting Participant | NDUS Institutional Researcher - Special Projects - NDUS | North Dakota University System |
| Cieslik, Amber | TSI/CSI Schools | High School Principal - Parshall School District | Parshall High School |
| Clooten, Ned | Administrator - Midsize District | Superintendent - Devils Lake Public Schools | Devils Lake Public Schools |
| Copas, Aimee | North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders | Executive Director - NDCEL | North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders |
| DeKok, Amy | North Dakota School Boards Association | Executive Director - ND School Boards Association | North Dakota School Boards Association |
| Eldredge Sandbo, Mary | North Dakota High School Teacher | Teacher - Des Lacs Burlington High School | Des Lacs Burlington High School |
| Ellefson, Ann | Ex Officio Member | Assistant Superintendent - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Erdmann, Levi | Ex Officio Member | Data & Technology Services Director - NDDPI | North Dakota Dept of Public Instruction |
| Faul, Scott | Administrator - Large District | Superintendent - Minot Public Schools | Minot Public Schools |
| Fredericks, Lucy | Ex Officio Member | Indian/Multicultural Education Director - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Friesen, Tracy | Nonpublic School Representative | Vice President of Academic Affairs - Light of Christ Catholic Schools | Light of Christ Catholic Schools |
| Fuller, Michelle | Elementary School Principal | Elementary Principal - Bob Callies Elementary, Garrison | Garrison Public School District |
| Grosz, Robert | Standards and Assessment | Associate Superintendent - Fargo Public Schools | Fargo Public Schools |
| Hagar, Cheryl | North Dakota Targeted Assistance Program | Consultant - Minot Public Schools | Minot Public Schools |
| Hawk, Bradley | North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission | Executive Director - ND Indian Affairs Commission | North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission |
| Jaeger, Julie | North Dakota Association for Gifted Children | NDAGC Officer - ND Association for Gifted Children | North Dakota Association for Gifted Children |
| Johnson, Lisa | North Dakota University System | Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs - NDUS | North Dakota University System |
| Jordan, Andrew | Administrator - Small District | Superintendent - Wilton Public School | Wilton Public Schools |
| Kathrein, Melanie | Curriculum Coordinator | Assistant Superintendent/EL Coordinator - Dickinson Public Schools | Dickinson Public Schools |
| Korsmo, Tracy | North Dakota Information Technology | Business Intelligence Specialist - NDIT | Information Technology Department |
| Kraft, Kerri | Workforce Ready | Work-based Learning Program Coordinator - North Dakota Dept. of Commerce | North Dakota Department of Commerce |
| Lewton, Marcus | Administrator - Midsize District | Superintendent - Dickinson Public Schools | Dickinson Public Schools |
| Lonn, Matthew | ND Association for Colleges of Teacher Education | Associate Dean - School of Education, University of Mary | University of Mary |
| Mackowick, Elizabeth | School District Business Manager | Business Manager - West Fargo Public Schools | West Fargo Public Schools |
| Martin, Alyssa | State Director | State Director - CDE | North Dakota Center for Distance Ed. |
| McCarvel-O'Connor, Mary | Ex Officio Member | Special Education Director - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| McHugh, Mike | Parent Group | Parent Group Member | Parent Group |
| McPherson, Susan | North Dakota Middle School Teacher | Teacher - Northern Cass School | Northern Cass Public School |
| Medalen, Sara | North Dakota Elementary School Teacher | Academic Interventionist & BARR Coordinator - Minot Public Schools, Sunnyside Elementary | Sunnyside Elementary School, Minot |
| Neset, Maria | Office of the Governor | Chief of Staff to Lt. Governor - Office of the Governor | North Dakota Governor's Office |
| Peterson, Amanda | ESSA Planning Committee Leader | Deputy Superintendent - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Pitkin, Rebecca | North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board | Executive Director - ESPB | Education Standards and Practices Board |
| Porter, John | Non-Voting Participant | Executive Director - SEEC | South East Education Cooperative |
| Rice, Randy | High School Principal | Principal - Grafton High School | Grafton Public Schools |
| Richter, Angie | Non-Voting Participant | Educational Opportunity & Support Manager - NDDPI | North Dakota Dept of Public Instruction |
| Riehl, Russ | Middle School Principal | Middle School Principal - Bismarck Public Schools | Bismarck Public Schools |
| Schaefer, Luke | North Dakota Regional Education Association | CEO - CREA (NDREA) | Central Regional Education Association |
| Schauer, Stan | Ex Officio Member | Assistant Superintendent - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Schettler, Sashay | Non-Voting Participant | Manager - Indian/Multicultural Education - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Shockley, Ellie | Non-Voting Participant | NDUS Institutional Researcher - NDUS | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Sick, Wayde | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education | State Director - ND Dept. of CTE | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education |
| Sorenson, Shannon | Ex Officio Member | Director of Educational Opportunity & Support - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Steiner, Cory | Administrator - Large District | Superintendent - Fargo Public Schools | Fargo Public Schools |
| Symens, Lisa | North Dakota English Language Representative | EL Department Coordinator - Bismarck Public Schools | Bismarck Public Schools |
| Tabler, Rachel | Non-Voting Participant | Assessment & Accountability Manager - NDDPI | North Dakota Dept of Public Instruction |
| Teel, Tabitha | Non-Voting Participant | Director - EduTech | EduTech/ NDITD |
| Upgren, Jim | Non-Voting Participant | School Approval & Operations Manager - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Vacant | North Dakota English Language Teacher | ||
| Welk, Kara | Ex Officio Member | Director of Assessment & Accountability - NDDPI | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Willard, Jess | Military | Operations Officer - NDARNG | North Dakota Army National Guard |
| Wolf, Arlene | Ex Officio Member | School Approval & Operations Director - NDDPI | North Dakota Dept Public Instruction |
Superintendent Kirsten Baesler formed the ESSA Implementation Committee to assist in developing North Dakota’s State Plan. Under ESSA, each state educational agency must create a consolidated State Plan to outline how the state intends to implement the new law. The state ESSA Committee continues to meet regularly to provide stakeholder involvement for the implementation of North Dakota's state ESSA plan.
04/20/2026 Meeting
01/29/2026 Meeting
10/14/2025 Meeting
An emerging and exciting addition to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Plan is the innovative focus on a broad, comprehensive set of indicators that truly embraces the ESSA philosophy of “well-rounded” education and state-specific measurements. In a shift from No Child Left Behind (NCLB), North Dakota stakeholders have adopted the framework of Choice Ready as an indicator to measure school growth in high schools. This concept focuses on the culmination of academic growth and gains, in combination with specific indicators of school success for post-secondary, workforce, and military readiness. The positive messaging behind the Choice Ready framework is inclusive of all students and helps students identify career clusters and related skills that will prepare and enhance success in any or multiple areas beyond high school. The Choice Ready indicator supports the NDDPI mission: All students will graduate Choice Ready with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to be successful.
The purpose of the ESSA Subcommittee on Choice Ready is to discuss and research options and make recommendations to the full ESSA committee to continuously enhance this indicator.
| Committee Member | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson, Catherine | Superintendent | Rollette Public School District |
| Bachmeier, Levi | State Superintendent | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Carlson, Greg | NDUS Institutional Researcher - Special Projects | North Dakota University System |
| Clooten, Ned | Superintendent | Devils Lake Public Schools |
| Copas, Aimee | Executive Director | North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders |
| Eldredge, Davonne | Assistant Director | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Ellefson, Ann | Academic Support Director | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Fastnacht, Jeff | Superintendent | Bismarck Public Schools |
| Friesen, Tracy | Vice President of Academic Affairs | Light of Christ Catholic Schools |
| Grosz, Robert | Associate Superintendent | Fargo Public Schools |
| Kathrein, Melanie | Director of Instruction | Dickinson Public Schools |
| Korsmo, Tracy | Business Intelligence Specialist | Information Technology Department |
| Kugel, Lea | Special Education Regional Coordinator | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Martin, Alyssa | State Director | North Dakota Center for Distance Education |
| McHugh, Mike | Parent Group | |
| Neset, Maria | Policy Advisor | North Dakota Governor's Office |
| Pierce, Kelly | Supervisor, Career Development & Career Advisors | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education |
| Rice, Randy | Principal | Grafton High School |
| Roemmich, Ross | MIS Director | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Schauer, Stan | Assessment Director | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Sick, Wayde | State Director | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education |
| Tescher, Adam | School Finance Director | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Updike, Jenifer | Special Education Regional Coordinator | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Upgren, Jim | School Approval & Opportunity Assistant Director | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Wagner, Mark | Assistant State Director | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education |
| Willard, Jess | M CW3 | North Dakota Army National Guard |
| Wilson, Amanda | Student Information Sys Spec | EduTech/NDIT |