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North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Monday that Jodi Erickstad, a teacher in the Starkweather school district, will receive the Department of Public Instruction’s first teacher innovation grant.

Erickstad proposed establishing a snowshoeing education program for Starkweather students and their families. The $5,708 grant will buy snowshoe kits, including shoes, walking poles, and portable equipment storage bags.

In North Dakota, there are seven Regional Education Associations (REAs) that support school districts in many ways. These REAs were established by state law in 2005 to increase efficiencies at the school level, allowing districts to pool funding and resources for professional development and services.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced that eight rural school districts across North Dakota have been awarded grants of up to $500,000 each to strengthen reading programs for their students and professional development for their teachers.

What if schools didn't have to worry about making up snow days? That would be a good thing, especially in North Dakota.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler invites North Dakotans to apply for two potential openings on the Board of Higher Education, the panel that oversees the state university system.

Afterschool programs provide endless opportunities for learning experiences, exposure to the arts, physical activity, and even internships for older students. Families benefit from their children's increased engagement and the ability for parents to remain in the workforce.

In North Dakota, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program serves up to 10,000 students per year at over 100 sites. Federal funding was first made available in 1998 as a means to reduce at-risk behaviors for kids between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 p.m.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is encouraging North Dakotans to nominate outstanding teachers as candidates for the State Teacher of the Year Award, which is the most prestigious honors program to focus public attention on teaching excellence.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Thursday that Lyndsi Engstrom, a member of Westhope’s school board, has been appointed to the North Dakota Board of Public School Education.

Engstrom succeeds Maria Effertz Hanson, of Velva, who resigned last month. Gov. Doug Burgum appointed Engstrom to complete Effertz Hanson’s six-year term, which ends June 30, 2024. Engstrom will represent Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Rolette, Towner, and Walsh counties.

As it oversees the education of over 120,000 students across the state, NDDPI partners with many educational and noneducational entities to carry out its mission. Most people may not realize NDDPI is in a unique position compared to its counterparts in other states. 

“In North Dakota, NDDPI doesn’t oversee everything that has to do with education,” said North Dakota Assistant Superintendent Laurie Matzke. “There are many departments and organizations working together. Superintendent Baesler has, over the past eleven years, worked hard to create and strengthen partnerships so we can collaborate on projects.”

The need for improved screening and intervention for dyslexia led to the creation of HB1461 during the 2019 North Dakota legislative session. The bill was passed and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction received $250,000 to implement the Dyslexia Pilot Program for the 2019-2021 biennium.