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.
ESSA Implementation Committee Members
| Name | Committee Role | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson, Catherine | Administrator - Small District | 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 |
| Brandt, Jessica | North Dakota Schoolwide Program | Title I Teacher | Central Cass School District |
| Budeau, Heidi | Special Education Study Council | Special Education Director | Jamestown and James River Special Education Unit |
| 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 |
| DeKok, Amy | North Dakota School Boards Association | North Dakota School Boards Association | |
| 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 |
| Fuller, Michelle | Elementary Principal | Garrison Public School District | Garrison Public School District |
| Grosz, Robert | Standards and Assessment | Associate Superintendent | Fargo Public Schools |
| Hagar, Cheryl | North Dakota Targeted Assistance Program | Title I Coordinator | Minot Public Schools |
| Hawk, Brad | North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission | Executive Director | North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission |
| Jager, Julie | North Dakota Association for Gifted Children | North Dakota Association for Gifted Children | |
| 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 |
| Kathrein, Melanie | Curriculum Coordinator | Director of Instruction | Dickinson Public Schools |
| Korsmo, Tracy | North Dakota Information Technology | Business Intelligence Specialist | Information Technology Department |
| Lewton, Marcus | Administrator - Midsize District | Superintendent | Dickinson Public Schools |
| Martin, Alyssa | State Director | State Director | North Dakota Center for Distance Education |
| 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 |
| Philips, Tomi Kay | Tribal College | President | Sitting Bull Tribal College |
| 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 |
| Rice, Randy | High School Principal | Principal | Grafton Public Schools |
| 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 |
| Symens, Lisa | North Dakota English Language Representative | English Learners/EL Program Staff | Bismarck Public Schools |
| Willard, Jess | NDANG Recruiting and Retention Battalion Training and Operations Officer | Military | North Dakota Army National Guard |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Schettler, Sashay | Ex Officio Member | Assistant 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 |
| Wilson, Amanda | Ex Officio Member | Student Information System Specialist | EduTech/ Information Technology Department |
ESSA Implementation Meetings
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.
3/14/2025 Meeting
12/16/2024 Meeting
9/12/2024 Meeting
3/12/2024 Meeting
12/21/2023 Meeting
10/5/2023 Meeting
3/29/2023 Meeting
Choice Ready (High School)
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.
Choice Ready Subcommittee Members
| Committee Member | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson, Catherine | Superintendent | Rollette Public School District |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Martin, Alyssa | State Director | North Dakota Center for Distance Education |
| Matzke, Laurie | Assistant Superintendent | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction |
| 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 |