WMPLC

06/02/2026

Hello!

Education Northwest invites you to complete a brief survey about your experience with the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year Assessment (MAST). Your feedback will help inform state education policymakers and improve how MAST works in schools across the state.
The survey takes about 10–15 minutes and asks about test administration, training and support, student experience, reporting, and technology. Participation is voluntary, your responses will be kept private, and results will be reported only in aggregate.
Please complete the survey on or before June 15. Your input is valuable and will directly inform future improvements to MAST.

Click Here to Start the Survey: https://s-fec94f-i.sgizmo.com/.../i-XxNxbPT19nd0uEOeV.../...

Thank you for your time and feedback.

Jennifer Esswein
Director of Research and Evaluation, Education Northwest

05/31/2026

📚 NEW SELF-PACED COURSE FROM MTPLC! 📚

Looking for practical strategies to better understand and support student behavior?

MTPLC is excited to launch our newest online course:

🎓 Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis for Educators

This self-paced, virtual course is designed for K-12 teachers, paraprofessionals, and school administrators who want to build effective, evidence-based behavior support skills they can use immediately in their classrooms.

Participants will:
✅ Learn to identify the functions of behavior
✅ Collect and interpret behavioral data
✅ Develop proactive intervention strategies
✅ Understand reinforcement and behavior change principles
✅ Create a personalized Classroom Behavior Toolkit filled with ready-to-use templates, resources, and data collection tools

📖 Self-Paced
📚 30 OPI Professional Development Units
🎓 Optional 2 University of Montana Semester Credits
💲 Registration Fee: $289
👩‍🏫 Instructor: Ashley Campbell, MA, BCBA, LBA

Plus, MTPLC courses offer substantial savings compared to traditional university tuition while still qualifying for salary advancement and license renewal.

⏰ Participants have up to one year to complete the course!

Register today:
👉

This two-credit, virtual, self-paced course provides K-12 educators, paraprofessionals, and school administrators with a comprehensive introduction to the principles and applications of applied behavior analysis as they relate to everyday classroom practices. Across seven sequentially built modules,...

05/22/2026

MTPLC is honored to be awarded the Montana Opioid Abatement Trust (MOAT) Region 5 grant to support opioid prevention programming and student wellness initiatives in Lincoln, Mineral, and Sanders County schools.

Through our “Resilient Futures: Opioid Prevention in Schools” initiative, MTPLC is helping strengthen prevention systems in rural Montana communities by providing evidence-informed programming, professional learning, crisis preparedness training, and coordinated mental health supports for students, families, and educators.

Research shows that prevention begins upstream by strengthening:
✔️ Student connectedness
✔️ Positive peer relationships
✔️ Emotional regulation
✔️ Resilience and coping skills
✔️ School climate and belonging
✔️ Early identification and support systems

Available supports through this initiative may include:

🔹 CharacterStrong Curriculum & Training
🔹 Rachel’s Challenge school climate programming
🔹 PREPaRE Crisis Prevention & Response Training
🔹 Mental Health Resource Navigation & Coaching
🔹 Opioid & Naloxone Education in partnership with Overdose Lifeline

MTPLC’s work is grounded in prevention, collaboration, and sustainable support systems designed specifically for Montana’s rural, remote, and frontier schools.

We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with schools and communities to strengthen student wellness, prevention systems, and behavioral health supports across Lincoln, Mineral, and Sanders County schools.

Schools, districts, and community partners interested in learning more about available supports are encouraged to connect with us.

📧 Jessica Johnson
Executive Director, MTPLC
[email protected]

05/22/2026

MTPLC is proud to announce support through the Blue Impact Grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) to expand behavioral health and school safety supports for Montana schools!

Through our “Closing Behavioral Health Gaps in Rural Montana Schools” initiative, MTPLC is partnering with Montana Small Schools Alliance (MSSA) member schools and reservation-based schools to increase access to evidence-based behavioral health services and prevention-focused supports.

Available supports may include:
✔️ BCBA consultation & coaching
✔️ Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA)
✔️ Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
✔️ MTSS alignment & implementation support
✔️ Tier 1, Tier 2 & Tier 3 behavioral supports
✔️ Trauma-informed practices
✔️ Professional learning & staff coaching
✔️ Mental health resource navigation
✔️ Student support coordination

This initiative is designed to strengthen educator capacity, improve early intervention systems, and help schools build sustainable behavioral health supports that improve outcomes for students, staff, and families across rural and tribal Montana communities.

We are grateful to BCBSMT for investing in Montana schools and student well-being.

Schools and districts interested in learning more about available support are encouraged to contact:

📧 Jessica Johnson
Executive Director, MTPLC
[email protected]

05/20/2026

Registration is now open for MTPLC’s virtual CharacterStrong Staff Readiness Training Series for K–5 and Grades 6–12 educators! 🍎📚

CharacterStrong is a powerful resource for supporting:
✔️ Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
✔️ Tiered Systems of Support
✔️ Student belonging and connection
✔️ IEP SEL goal implementation
✔️ Schools experiencing counselor or support staff limitations

Join educators from across Montana this September for interactive virtual professional learning focused on building stronger school culture and sustainable support systems for students.

🎓 OPI Units available
💲 Scholarships and discounted pricing available for eligible schools and MTPLC members

🔗 K–5 Registration
https://forms.gle/XpJd4rLXdrbwVVKw5

🔗 Grades 6–12 Registration
https://forms.gle/JrMdUdf9hvfsfJR9

If your school is interested in implementing CharacterStrong or expanding additional tiers of support, MTPLC has negotiated a unique reduced pricing structure for Montana schools. Contact us for more information!

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05/20/2026

MTPLC is proud to support Montana Public Radio! 🎙️

Be sure to check out our banner on MT Public Radio and tune in to stay up-to-date on community events, local stories, news, and programming happening across Montana.

Supporting public radio means supporting informed, connected communities. Thank you, Montana Public Radio, for all you do!

📻 Listen anytime at

Montana news, arts and hand-picked music. On your radio, online and on demand.

05/20/2026

📚✨ Looking to grow your skills and connect with educators across Montana? MTPLC has exciting upcoming workshops and trainings designed to support educators, school staff, and communities statewide!

🎯 Upcoming Opportunities Include:
✅ Mandt System Training
✅ Professional Learning Courses
✅ IEFA & instructional support webinars
✅ Behavior & classroom support training
✅ Self-paced professional development opportunities

Whether you’re looking for hands-on training, renewal units, or practical classroom strategies, MTPLC offers learning opportunities that are relevant, accessible, and impactful.

🗓️ View the full schedule and register here:

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03/08/2026

2026-08-05, Missoula, MT

03/03/2025

Technology PD: Tech Tools With Shelley!
We are excited to announce that we have joined forces with Shelley Emslie in order to bring relevant technology tools to teachers!

Join Shelley for a transformative series designed to empower Montana's educators by integrating cutting-edge technology and AI into your teaching toolkit. "Tech Tools With Shelley" offers a sequence of dynamic online workshops that provide hands-on experiences with AI applications and creative tools, enhancing your lesson plans and classroom engagement. Perfect for educators eager to innovate and inspire, each session is crafted to boost your technological prowess and unleash your creative potential in the digital age.

Location: Google Meet

Costs: $99/workshop

4 OPI renewal units provided

Workshops
Workshop 1: Using ChatGPT to Enhance Your Teaching: Unleashing Your Inner AI

Part 1: Getting Started with ChatGPT
April 2, 4:00-5:00 PM
Dive into the basics of ChatGPT and discover how this AI can act as your teaching assistant. Learn to create engaging lesson plans, prompt ideas, and interactive content that captivates your students.

Part 2: Advanced ChatGPT Strategies
April 16, 4:00-5:00 PM
Build on your foundational knowledge to explore advanced uses of ChatGPT in the classroom. From customizing AI responses to creating unique educational scenarios, elevate your teaching to new heights.

Workshop 2: Canva Creativity in the Classroom: Designing Engaging Educational Materials

Part 1: Mastering the Basics of Canva
May 7, 4:00-5:00 PM
Kickstart your journey with Canva by learning the essentials of this powerful design tool. Create visually appealing educational materials that engage and inspire students.

Part 2: Advanced Design Techniques
May 21, 4:00-5:00 PM
Expand your Canva skills with advanced design techniques. Focus on creating interactive and multimedia-rich content that enhances learning and retains student interest.

Shelley Emslie is a passionate educator of twenty eight years and a tech enthusiast dedicated to enhancing teaching and learning through innovative technology. With years of experience training teachers across Montana, she specializes in integrating AI and creative tools into educational environment...

03/03/2025

The Mandt System training in Missoula, at Target Range School on March 18 & 19, 2025 (Registration)

***Free to registrants working in MSSA member schools and/or reservation schools***

The Mandt System is a comprehensive, integrated approach to preventing, de-escalating, and if necessary, intervening when the behavior of an individual poses a threat of harm to themselves and/or others.

Dates:

March 18, 2025 8:00-4:00pm Relational
Part I: Mandt Relational Training (capped at 20 participants)
This is the foundation and a requirement for a technical certificate. Relational Training is an all day training with a cap of 20 participants.

March 19, 2025 8:00-4:00pm Technical
Part II: Mandt Technical Training or annual re-certification (capped at 10 participants)
This second day of the training encompasses the physical assists. In order to take the Technical training, you must have completed the Relational training.

Registration fees:
Both Mandt Relational and Technical, is $299/per person.
$223/person for just Relational or just Technical.

***Free to registrants working in MSSA member schools and/or reservation schools***

Location:
Target Range School, 4095 South Ave W, Missoula, MT 59804

Presenter: Megan O'Hern
Lunch on your own
Course number 25561102
For more information, contact [email protected]

The Mandt System is a comprehensive, integrated approach to preventing, de-escalating, and if necessary, intervening when the behavior of an individual poses a threat of harm to themselves and/or others. Dates: March 18, 2025 8:00-4:00pm Relational Part I: Mandt Relational Training (capped at 20 par...