| SAM Calendar of Events - October 1 - 31: National Principals Month #ThankAPrincipal
- October 9 SAM Monthly Webinar - School Based Behavior Health & the MT Early Identification System
The University of Montana Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development will demonstrate the Early Intervention System (EIS). SAM staff will also review the results of the School-Based Behavioral Health survey from the fall of 2024 and how the results have informed stakeholders over the past year.
Theâ¯Early Identification System (EIS) â¯is a universal screening and data-driven decision-making tool that leverages K–12 student and teacher input to identify early signs of behavioral and social-emotional risk factors. UM Center coaches' partner with schools in interpreting data and selecting and implementing targeted, evidence-based interventions. Theâ¯Intervention Hubâ¯complements this system by offering a curated library of no or low-cost, research-backed strategies tailored to the unique needs of rural schools. The Intervention Hub and EIS data is formatted in theâ¯Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)â¯framework, organizing interventions across three tiers. Tier 1 is universal, benefiting all students. Tier 2, selective, offers interventions for targeted groups, and Tier 3, indicated, is aimed at providing individualized support for students who have a high level of risk. Follow this link to find out more: MT EIS: Early Identification System
- October 15-17:
MCEL, Great Northern, Helena
Ron Clark - Opening Keynote Presentation - October 16 @ 9:00 AM
SAM Annual Business Meeting - October 17 @ 8:00 AM
- October 16:
Elevate - Mountain West Principal Collaborative Webinar - Second webinar in the series - Free for all Principals
- November 13
SAM Monthly Webinar - STARS Future Ready Payment
- December 11
SAM Monthly Webinar - Early Literacy & Numeracy
- January 25 - 27:
Montana Principals Conference - Room blocks are open - Follow the link to reserve your hotel now!
View full SAM Calendar |
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MAST Through-Year Summative Reports Updated
MAST Through-Year Summative Reports release has been updated to October 16, 2025. Like the Smarter Balanced results, these summative reports should be filed in students' cumulative records, and a printed copy should be shared with parents/guardians, consistent with past practices. Supporting resources can be found on the MAST Portal under Through-Year Reporting |
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| Elevating Leadership: Celebrating National Principals Month This October
Each October, we recognize the extraordinary role principals play in shaping the future of education. National Principals Month is a time to honor these leaders whose work is vital not only to the success of individual schools, but to the strength of our entire educational system.
Supported through national and state resolutions, and acknowledged by policymakers at the highest levels, this month underscores a simple truth: the work of principals is foundational to excellence in education. Yet the most meaningful recognition comes from within our schools and districts, where their leadership is felt every day.
Principals are not simply administrators—they are architects of school culture, drivers of academic growth, and catalysts for systemic change. Their leadership determines whether a school community thrives, setting the vision that aligns students, teachers, and families toward shared success. |
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Principals ensure that instructional practices remain rigorous, that professional development is prioritized, and that access is at the forefront of decision-making. They are the linchpins who hold together the complex ecosystem of modern education, balancing immediate needs with long-term goals for student achievement. Effective principals embody resilience, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of both students and staff.
National Principals Month invites all stakeholders—educators, policymakers, and advocates—to elevate and strengthen the role of the principalship through three key commitments: - Celebrate: Acknowledge the essential role principals play in driving instructional excellence and student success. Public recognition affirms the importance of leadership in sustaining high-quality schools.
- Recognize: Highlight exceptional principals through professional honors such as the NAESP and NASSP Principal of the Year programs. These recognitions amplify the voices and impact of leaders who model best practices nationwide.
- Advocate: Support policies that ensure principals have the resources, professional support, and pipeline development necessary for sustained leadership. Advocacy priorities include strengthening mental health resources for students and staff, securing adequate school funding, and investing in principal preparation and retention.
This October, as we celebrate National Principals Month, let us reaffirm the indispensable role of principals as strategic leaders and champions of student success. Their vision shapes the culture of learning, their decisions influence generations, and their leadership sustains the promise of public education.
To every principal: your work matters. Your leadership inspires. And your impact reaches far beyond the walls of your school. We honor your dedication and your leadership in elevating education for all.
October is National Principals Month! Join us in celebrating the leaders who inspire, innovate, and make student success possible every day. Strong schools start with strong leadership. #ThankAPrincipal #PrincipalsMonth
Rob Watson, SAM Executive Director |
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SAM Board of Directors
SAM Julie Hornby
President
Joel Graves
President Elect
Carol Phillips
Past President
MASSP Jason Slater
President
Matt Lewis
President Elect
Shawn Bleth
Vice President
Rhiannon Beery
Past President
MAEMSP
Kelly Kinsey
President
Travis Niemeyer
President Elect
Kurtis Koenig
Vice President
Mark Goyette
Past President
Ted Miller
Ben Lambert
SAM Representatives
MASS
Dan Grabowska
President
Brad Moore
President Elect
Joel Graves Past President Hannah Nieskens
Federal Relations
MCASE
Maria Pace
President
MACSS
Lisa Blevins
President
META
Paul Kozlowitz
President
SAM Office
Dr. Rob Watson
Executive Director
Kim Scofield
Director of Professional Learning
& Member Services
Jim Tucker
Director of Operations,
Membership & Finances
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| Cybersecurity Awareness and the Power of Community in Montana Education by Paul Kozlowitz, META President
SAM and META Members,
As the fall rolls in and the weather starts to turn, school districts across Montana continue the
hard work of educating our future generations, while also protecting their mental, physical, and digital health. As President of META, I want to thank all of you for continuing your duty to provide the best education to Montanans and to ensure its stability and growth going forward. Since the day I joined META 10 years ago, I saw a pathway to serving my community and working with passionate educators willing to put in the extra effort for the betterment of all. The connections I have made with SAM and META members have been invaluable and have given me an opportunity to push myself to learn more, so that I can do more : )
This school year marks my second with the Montana Digital Academy (MTDA) and I couldn’t be prouder to work with a group of educators that are so excited and driven to provide the best digital learning experience not only in Montana but the United States. This drive for excellence has rejuvenated my passion to learn and provided me with the opportunity to connect with districts across Montana and work with not only their IT staff, but principals, superintendents, and support staff all in hopes to serve their students in their educational pursuits.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it challenges citizens, educators, and
administrators to empower not only themselves but those around them to learn more about how to protect against online threats. If any SAM member or school district needs more information on reducing your cybersecurity risk, please reach out to myself or any of our board members. META and SAM have built great relationships with cybersecurity experts across the state and country to help local school districts and educators learn how to adapt and protect themselves against the constant evolving cybersecurity arena.
Small actions can make a big difference. To start focus on making sure you have set up these
core four protective steps outlined below in your work environment and personal life to help
boost your virtual safety and the safety of your educational environment. Here are four easy steps anyone can take to boost their online safety: - Use strong passwords and a password manager
- Turn on multifactor authentication
- Recognize and report scams
- Update your software
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the federal lead for cybersecurity awareness, provides resources for organizations to help educate their work environments. CISA has been a fantastic partner with META and provides a wealth of knowledge and resources to help educate our communities on cybersecurity. Linked below are just a few of the great resources our partnerships have shared with us on cybersecurity. META is dedicated to evolving our toolbox to help school districts across the state and create relationships with trusted experts that have that same passion to serve our students and staff. Please reach out to me personally if you would like me to speak at any MACSS, MAEMSP, MASS, MASSP, MCASE, or SAM meeting regarding strengthening your cybersecurity, questions on tech funding, A.I. integration, or any other educational technology questions that you or your schools need help with. Thank you all again for your dedication and efforts in creating the best and safest learning environment for our students and staff!! P.S. If you have or know anyone who has any A.I. questions please send them to MTDA or visit our new Frontier Learning Lab page with all the info you need: https://montanadigitalacademy.org/fll/
Paul Kozlowitz, META President
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Get Ready for MCEL
Don’t Miss Ron Clark’s Opening Keynote – Register Today!
We’re excited to share that MCEL will be held in Helena this year for the first time in many years, with events hosted at the Great Northern Hotel and the MTSBA Building. The conference will kick off Thursday morning at the Helena Civic Center—just a short walk from the Great Northern Town Center—with a dynamic keynote from Ron Clark.
Attendees can look forward to a wide variety of breakout sessions, covering topics from hiring J-1 teachers to building partnerships for early literacy. Special sessions will also dive into key issues around school funding, including a detailed review of the CAMPS proposed funding formula changes on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 15) and an opportunity to share direct feedback with the School Funding Interim Commission during a focused general session on Friday morning (Oct. 17).
All SAM members are invited to attend the Annual SAM Business Meeting on Friday, Oct. 17 at 8:00 AM.
Register at MCEL.org
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From Our Education Partners... |
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DEQ to Announce Availability of Clean Transportation Funding
On Monday, October 6th, at 1pm, DEQ will announce a new funding opportunity to help curb transportation sector nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The announcement will open a new two-phase application process and potential applicants are encouraged to attend to learn more. The webinar will be recorded. Register for the webinar
The Clean Truck, Bus & Airport Equipment Program matches funds to replace older diesel trucks, buses or airport ground support vehicles with battery electric, alternate fuel or newer diesel vehicles. Examples of vehicles eligible to receive funding through this opportunity include garbage trucks, school buses, street sweepers, bucket trucks, buses or equipment that service aircraft between flights.
This funding opportunity is similar to ones announced in 2021 and 2024 that successfully funded the first electric school buses and electric street sweepers in Montana. For school districts considering purchasing an electric school bus, the Montana Electric School Bus Technical Assistance Report provides information on actual fuel costs, maintenance issues and performance of electric buses operating in Montana.
Nationally, the transportation sector is the main source of NOx emissions, which result from burning diesel fuel. NOx is a poisonous gas that reacts with other pollutants in the atmosphere to contribute to smog and poor air quality. Reducing NOx emissions from transportation results in cleaner air and better health for all Montanans.
DEQ staff will be available to answer questions until Friday, December 5, 2025. Draft applications must be received via e-mail by 5 p.m. on December 5, 2025.
For more information about the funding opportunity or DEQ's work on clean transportation, visit the Alternative Fuels and Transportation website. |
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| The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and its Montana state affiliate chapter, Montana Educational Technologists Association (META) are pleased to continue to support the work of current and aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams in leading all aspects of digital learning transformations.
CoSN AI District Leadership Summits
To help district leaders navigate the shift to AI, CoSN created the AI District Leadership Summits. These events offer a unique opportunity for leadership teams to build a practical roadmap for AI integration. At the summit, district leadership teams will work together to develop a six-to-twelve-month action plan, strategies to align AI with district priorities, and ethical and equitable practices for your schools.
Special Fall Offer: Pay one standard rate for your first district registrant, then enjoy reduced pricing for every additional team member. Learn more and access the registration page for each of the scheduled summits:
Charlotte, NC | October 8–10: https://www.cosn.org/event/ai-district-summit-charlotte/
Denver, CO | November 12–14: https://www.cosn.org/event/ai-district-summit-denver/
CoSN/AASA edLeader Panel Broadcasts on the CoSN 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report
On Monday, September 8, 2025, CoSN, in partnership with AASA, launched Season 8 of the EmpowerED Superintendents edLeader Panel Series, sponsored by ClassLink, and broadcast on edWeb.net. Season 8 – which will run through March 9, 2026 - began with a two-part series focused on CoSN’s 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report, which illustrates the hurdles, accelerators and technology enablers that drive technology innovation within school district settings.
Part 1 of the two-part series on the CoSN Driving K-12 Innovation Report – which aired on Monday, September 8, 2025 – focused on the current hurdles (challenges) and accelerators (megatrends) impacting innovation in K-12 education. The September 8 broadcast featured three leading edge superintendents who shared their perspectives on how two of the three topics covered in the CoSN 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report play out in their school districts. The superintendent panel included Dr. Karen Cheser, 2025 EmpowerED Superintendent of the Year, who serves as Superintendent of Durango Public Schools, Colorado, Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar, Superintendent, Desert Sands USD, California, and Mr. Glenn Robbins, Superintendent of Brigantine Public School District, New Jersey. Free registration to access the recording and/or podcast versions of the September 8 broadcast is available at: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/supers20250908/
Part 2 of the series highlighting the CoSN Driving K-12 Innovation Report airs on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. The three superintendents who were featured in Part 1 return for the October 6 broadcast. The focus of the October 6 edLeader Panel broadcast will be on three specific technology enablers (tools) that were identified in the CoSN 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report: 1) Generative Artificial Intelligence, 2) Analytics and Adaptive Technologies, 3) Untethered Broadband and Connectivity.
The superintendents will share how they lead each of the identified technology enablers in their school districts and the impact those technology tools are having in their school districts.
Free registration for the live broadcast and the recording and podcast versions following the live October 6, 2025 broadcast is available at :https://home.edweb.net/webinar/supers20251006/
CoSN Membership: If you, your school or district would like more information about joining CoSN or getting more involved with CoSN, please contact membership@cosn.org. |
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