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 | Middle School Principal | Middle School Principal | St. John School District |
| Archuleta, Nick | North Dakota United | NDU President | North Dakota United |
| Arness, Amy | Parent Teacher Association | Member | North Dakota Parent Teacher Association |
| Bachmeier, Levi | School District Business Manager | Business Manager | West Fargo Public Schools |
| Baesler, Kirsten | State Superintendent | State Superintendent | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Baxley, Alexis | North Dakota School Boards Association | Executive Director | North Dakota School Boards Association |
| Brandt, Jessica | North Dakota Schoolwide Program | Title I Teacher | Central Cass School District |
| Cieslik, Amber | TSI/CSI Schools | HS/MS Principal | Parshall High School |
| Clooten, Ned | Administrator - Midsize District | Superintendent | Devils Lake Public Schools |
| Copas, Aimee | North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders | Executive Director | North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders |
| Daschendorf, Nicolette | Military | NDARNG Recruiting and Retention Battalion Commander | North Dakota Army National Guard |
| Davis, Nathan | North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission | Executive Director | North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission |
| Ekart, Kayla | North Dakota English Language Representative | English Learners/EL Program Staff | Bismarck Public Schools |
| Eldredge-Sandbo, Mary | North Dakota High School Teacher | 2010 ND STOY, NDSTOY Chapter President | North Dakota State Teacher of the Year |
| Fastnacht, Jeff | Administrator - Large District | Superintendent | Bismarck Public Schools |
| Faul, Scott | Administrator - Large District | Assistant Superintendent | Minot Public Schools |
| Friesen, Tracy | Nonpublic School Representative | Vice President of Academic Affairs | Light of Christ Catholic Schools |
| Grosz, Robert | Standards and Assessment | Associate Superintendent | Fargo Public Schools |
| Hagar, Cheryl | North Dakota Targeted Assistance Program | Title I Coordinator | Minot Public Schools |
| Johnson, Lisa | North Dakota University System | Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs | North Dakota University System |
| Jonas, Rod | North Dakota Association for Colleges of Teacher Education | Dean at University of Mary | University of Mary |
| Jordan, Andrew | Administrator - Small District | Superintendent | Wilton Public Schools |
| Joyce, Tabatha | Elementary School Principal | Elementary Principal | L.E. Berger Elementary School, West Fargo |
| Kathrein, Melanie | Curriculum Coordinator | Director of Instruction | Dickinson Public Schools |
| Korsmo, Tracy | North Dakota Information Technology | Business Intelligence Specialist | Information Technology Department |
| Lech, Robert | Administrator - Midsize District | Superintendent | Jamestown Public School District |
| Lewton, Marcus | Administrator - Midsize District | Superintendent | Dickinson Public Schools |
| McHugh, Mike | Parent Group | Member | Parent Group |
| McPherson, Susan | North Dakota Middle School Teacher | Teacher | Northern Cass Public School |
| Medalen, Sara | North Dakota Elementary School Teacher | Elementary teacher, specialist/interventionist | Sunnyside Elementary School, Minot |
| Nappe, Lori | North Dakota English Language Teacher | Dean of Students | Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation |
| Neset, Maria | Office of the Governor | Policy Advisor | North Dakota Governor's Office |
| Pitkin, Rebecca | North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board | Executive Director | Education Standards and Practices Board |
| Ralston Howe, Katie | Workforce Ready | Workforce Development Division Director | North Dakota Department of Commerce |
| Riehl, Russ | Middle School Principal | Principal | Bismarck Public Schools |
| Schaefer, Luke | North Dakota Regional Education Association | Executive Director | Central Regional Education Association |
| Sick, Wayde | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education | State Director | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education |
| Vermillion, Laurel | Tribal College | President | Sitting Bull Tribal College |
| Name | Committee Role | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlson, Greg | Ex Officio Member | NDUS Institutional Researcher - Special Projects | NDUS |
| Ellefson, Ann | Ex Officio Member | Academic Support Director | NDDPI |
| Fishbeck, Donna | Ex Officio Member | Chief of Staff | NDDPI |
| Fredericks, Lucy | Ex Officio Member | Indian/Multicultural Education Director | NDDPI |
| Hovda, Jane | Ex Officio Member | Student Information System Specialist | NDIT |
| Kolosky, Joe | Ex Officio Member | School Approval & Opportunity Director | NDDPI |
| Matzke, Laurie | Ex Officio Member | Assistant Superintendent | NDDPI |
| McCarvel-O'Connor, Mary | Ex Officio Member | Specially Designed Services Director | NDDPI |
| Peterson, Amanda | Ex Officio Member | Educational Improvement & Support Director | NDDPI |
| Roemmich, Ross | Ex Officio Member | Management Information Systems Director | NDDPI |
| Schauer, Stan | Ex Officio Member | Assessment Director | NDDPI |
| Snow, Steve | Ex Officio Member | School Approval & Opportunity Assistant Director | NDDPI |
| Tescher, Adam | Ex Officio Member | School Finance Officer | NDDPI |
| Upgren, Jim | Ex Officio Member | School Approval & Opportunity Assistant Director | NDDPI |
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.
3/12/2024 Meeting
12/21/2023 Meeting
10/5/2023 Meeting
3/29/2023 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 which 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, research options, and come up with recommendations to the full ESSA committee to continuously enhance this indicator.
2/18/2021 Subcommittee Meeting
7/8/2020 Subcommittee Meeting
| Committee Member | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Baesler, Kirsten | 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 |
| Daschendorf, Nicolette | NDARNG Recruiting and Retention Battalion Commander | North Dakota Army National Guard |
| 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 |
| Hovda, Jane | Student Information System Specialist | Information Technology Department |
| Kathrein, Melanie | Director of Instruction | Dickinson Public Schools |
| Kolosky, Joe | School Approval & Opportunity Director | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Korsmo, Tracy | Business Intelligence Specialist | Information Technology Department |
| Kugel, Lea | Special Education Regional Coordinator | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Matzke, Laurie | Assistant Superintendent | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Neset, Maria | Policy Advisor | North Dakota Governor's Office |
| Pierce, Kelly | Supervisor, Career Development & Career Advisors | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education |
| 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 |
| Upgren, Jim | School Approval & Opportunity Assistant Director | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| Van Vleet, Greg | Product Owner | Information Technology Department |
| Wagner, Mark | Assistant State Director | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education |