INTERCOM

As we kick off the month, we’re taking time to recognize employee excellence across our district. In this issue, you’ll also find important updates and timely news items to support your work and keep you in the loop.

October 2 was National Custodian Appreciation Day, but it's not too late to thank a custodian for all that they do for our buildings. Their efforts keep our schools safe and clean make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and staff!

Congratulations to Jamie Cowan, our September Substitute Teacher of the Month

Jamie was nominated by Wachter Middle School: "Jamie has been our building sub at Wachter since last year. Not only does she fill in wherever needed, she also regularly seeks out teachers she knows could use an extra hand. She says that the smile on the kids' faces and their jokes and laughter make her day. Jamie is a force, a kind-hearted Wonder Woman!"

BPS Indigenous Education Department Named District of the Year

The BPS Indigenous Education Department was chosen based on excellence in the categories of services, community engagement, tribal government relations, work with various boards, and parent involvement. Congratulations to our Indigenous Education Department for their amazing work!

Donovan Lambert Named Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Donovan Lambert for being named Teacher of the Year for Johnson O'Malley Region 5. He is a Cultural Responsive Coordinator at Bismarck High School and Wachter Middle School this year, and has previously worked with all schools in the South Feeder. Recently, Donovan has taken the lead in coordinating the Elder Knowledge Keeper Program. Learn more about Donovan and his work in this Facebook video.

Congratulations to Kylee Jolliffe, AVID teacher at Simle Middle School, for being this school year's first recipient of the Teacher Spotlight Award!

Her students nominated her for this honor, which involves a surprise classroom visit and a generous prize package donated by local businesses. Several students provided testimonies about why she should be honored, with one writing that "Mrs. Jolliffe is such a kind, amazing, positive teacher. She deeply cares for each and every one of her students and has a very unique style of teaching. Whenever I talk with her, I feel seen, heard, and appreciated. Mrs. Jolliffe deserves this because she is so special and every time I see her, it feels like there is a spotlight already shining on her."

A huge thank you to Active Life Chiropractic for spearheading this recognition program, and to all the businesses that donated!

Please join us in congratulating Casey Mueller, BPS Director of Technology, on receiving the 2025 North Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NDIAAA) Distinguished Service Award! With 26 years of service, Casey has been a driving force in advancing athletics and technology across North Dakota, from managing timing and event technology for state championships to supporting countless tournaments and district initiatives. His leadership and dedication have left a lasting mark on both BPS and the state’s athletic community.

Congratulations to Leah Wheeling from Simle Middle School for being a North Dakota Teacher of the Year finalist for 2026! All of the Teacher of the Year Finalists were honored by Governor Kelly Armstrong and State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler at the Capitol last week. Leah, who teaches Physical Education and Digital Citizenship, was previously named the Burleigh County Teacher of the Year for 2025.

This month, we celebrate and thank our principals for their leadership, dedication, and commitment to student success. Throughout October, we’ll be highlighting and honoring the incredible work our principals do every day to support students, staff, and families.

The Career Academy - Silver Ranch welcomed its first students on August 19th. A ribbon cutting took place a few weeks ago to celebrate.

BPS administrators and the Bismarck School Board were joined by Governor Kelly Armstrong and officials from throughout the state of North Dakota. Governor Armstrong even helped commemorate the occasion by cutting a ceremonial 2x4 before the School Board cut the ribbon.

Students are already learning agriculture and construction trades in this new facility, with space for even more advanced, real-world projects planned for phase two of construction.

BPS is working to add Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) stations to every preschool and elementary playground. These stations include boards that use pictures and symbols to help all students—especially those with complex communication needs—express themselves, connect with peers, and participate fully in play. By fostering inclusion and breaking down barriers, communication boards ensure every child has a voice. Anjanette Schlafmann who is with our Assistive Technology Department is currently working to secure funding for these boards, which are $2,500 each for a sponsored board.

Since October is AAC Awareness Month, so we’re kicking off this project with a fundraising shirt! Proceeds will go toward securing boards across our district. Every shirt purchased helps us move closer to making our playgrounds more inclusive for all kids.

Click here to purchase a shirt and support the project. Enter the promo code AAC now through October 13 for free shipping!

You can also donate funds directly to this program here.

We are committed to supporting the growth and success of our educators through a variety of professional learning opportunities. The sessions listed below are designed to enhance teaching practices, spark new ideas, and help you feel confident in the classroom.

Strengthening Teaching Practices through the Art and Science of Teaching

We all want our students to learn. The New Art and Science of Teaching helps us to connect effective instructional strategies with teacher actions and student processes to enhance learner outcomes. Come learn more at our last session on October 22. Join this final session to grow your practice and impact on student learning.

Need to Knows:

• Book is provided.
• Credit available
• Sign-up on Unified Talent Professional Learning

🤝 Co-Teaching Collaboration Workshop

Perfect for specialist/classroom teacher pairs or classroom teacher pairs! This half-day workshop on October 29th provides dedicated time and tools for effective co-teaching partnerships.

Workshop Includes:

• Overview of co-teaching models
• Exploring differences between collaborate, cooperate, and coordinate
• Scaffolded planning time with your partner
• Peer feedback on lesson design

Grab a co-teaching partner and register together on Unified Talent Professional Learning

Explicit Instruction Course Offering

The spring district stakeholder input survey identified explicit instruction as a high priority need.

This course is designed for all content areas – not just literacy.

Compensation

$100 stipend will be issued upon completion of the course.

Time Commitment

• Course will be outside of contract time November - April.
• 16 hours face-to-face and an additional 16 hours of reading and application.
• Eight 2-hour sessions will run from November to April for both elementary and secondary tracks.
• A summer course will be offered in June (2 - 3 days, same # of hours).

Course syllabus link with dates for Elementary/Secondary track

Unified Talent Registration link- Elementary Section

Unified Talent Registration link- Secondary Section

⏰Just in Time Learning – Graduate Credit Opportunity

Teaching staff may now participate in Just in Time Learning, a graduate credit opportunity that offers timely, job-embedded support aligned with district priorities, instructional frameworks, and your individual educator goals.

• Approved credits may be used toward licensure renewal and lane change in accordance with BPS external credit guidelines.
• Participants may earn up to 3 Just in Time credits per school year (maximum of 6 credits per lane change).

This is a flexible and practical way to connect professional learning directly to your teaching and career goals.

🎓Teacher Leader Academy – Cohort 5 (January 2026)

In partnership with the University of Mary, we are thrilled to announce Cohort 5 of the Teacher Leader Academy (TLA) beginning in January 2026.

The TLA provides a unique master’s degree pathway for North Dakota K–12 educators. Through five consecutive semesters of graduate-level professional formation, participants experience:

• A blend of asynchronous online instruction and face-to-face sessions
• Leadership development in cooperation with our district
• A pathway designed to prepare educators as strong teacher-leaders in their schools and beyond

Visit this link to see dates, times, locations, and registration information for employee flu shots.

Shots are free for all BPS employees who display a badge. Family members on the BPS BCBS healthcare insurance plan are also free. Substitute teachers under 65 must pay $16, and over 65 will be charged $38.

The flu mist will not be offered. Children as young as 9 may attend, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The AWAKE conference is coming to North Dakota! AWAKE is a Christian Educator’s conference that exists to equip, empower, and inspire educators in our community to live out their calling in both attitude and action. All education professionals from across the state are welcome to attend! (teachers, aides, administration, secretaries, cooks, custodians, support staff, etc.) Attached is an informational flyer as well as a link to the website for more information and to register. If staff members have any questions, they should reach out to Holly Dietrich or Abby DuBord.

AWAKE Conference Link

Bismarck AWAKE Conference:

November 1st 2025, 8:00 – 4:00

Early Bird Registration $35 (by October 18th)

Late Registration $40

Bismarck Dream Center

Register Here

The BPS Foundation Employee Donation Campaign is nearly over for the 2025–2026 school year!

Now through Saturday, October 5, you have the chance to make a difference by supporting BPS programs that directly benefit the students and staff you work with every day.

🎥 Watch the campaign kickoff video here: https://youtu.be/9cmewt5fqaE?si=efD0S-4D0e6giPK7

When you join this year’s campaign, you’ll enjoy:
• Free BPS Swag – Every donor will receive a BPS lanyard. Gifts of $75 or more include a free t-shirt, and gifts of $150 or more earn your choice of a padfolio, backpack, or tumbler.
• Prize Drawings – Every donor is entered for a chance to win one of five $50 Scheels gift cards.
• Choice of Impact – Direct your gift to the BPS programs that mean the most to you and see your support at work.
• Easy Giving Options – Contribute with a one-time gift or spread your donation out through payroll deduction. For example, a $75 gift is less than $5 per paycheck for hourly employees—about the cost of a cup of coffee.

Thank you for everything you do each day to empower our learners to thrive. To learn more and make your gift, visit: https://bpsfoundation.com/bps-foundation-employee-donation-campaign/

The St. Olaf Orchestra will be performing at Bismarck High School on October 20 at 7:00 PM. They are a full symphony orchestra rich in international artistry and tradition, and known for enthusiastic and passionate performances. This year's tour includes Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, Valerie Coleman's Seven O'Clock Shout, and more.

Tickets are free for students and educators, and $10 for general admission. Learn more and get your tickets here.

The district provides a membership to Smore for all employees. If you would like to make use of Smore and currently do not have access, please contact Steve Koontz at 701-323-4091 or steve_koontz@bismarckschools.org.

The BPS Foundation makes an apparel store available to all employees. Visit the link to see what's available: https://bismarckpublicschools.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Regularly scheduled Bismarck School Board meetings are streamed live by Dakota Media Access. Recordings are available on their website.

Agendas, minutes, and more are available on the Bismarck Public Schools website.

We're excited to share that the BPS United Way Campaign begins October 27! Donate $25 and wear jeans for 3 weeks (Oct. 27 - Nov. 15) PLUS your name will be entered to win a 1/2 day of personal leave! Five half-days of leave will be given away!

When you give to the MSA United Way, your dollars stay right here in our community and go to tackling some of our biggest challenges, such as hunger, homelessness, and lifting families out of poverty.

More details will be shared soon!

For employeers enrolled after Jan 1., 2025 and in the Defined Contribution Plan: It is always important to prepare for retirement today. And, you don’t have to do it alone. Your Empower Retirement Plan Counselor (RPC), Mike Williams, is available to meet with you over the phone or by video conference.

NDPERS members enrolled in the Defined Contribution Plan or the Empower 457 Deferred Compensation Companion Plan are strongly encouraged to reach out to Empower! Click here to set up a meeting.

Teachers’ Fund for Retirement (TFFR) members nearing retirement are encouraged to attend an upcoming group benefit presentation that includes an overview of TFFR’s pension program, your benefit options and the retirement process.

The Retirement and Investment Office will host presentations both virtually and in person from September through November 2025. Pre-registration is required. Register or learn more about the presentations.

Have questions for HR? Try out our new AI chat feature here.

• Oct. 16-17: Admin Convention Days, No School
• Oct. 24: End of 1st Quarter (Secondary)
• Oct. 31: Staff Development Day, No School
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day, No School
• Nov. 14: End of 1st Trimester (Elementary)
• Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day, No School
• Nov. 28: Teacher Conference Day, No School
• Dec. 23: Last day of school before Winter Break

At Bismarck Public Schools, we know that amazing things are happening all around us every day. To help recognize this, we invite you to share your photos and stories about exciting events, achievements, or positive moments you’ve experienced.

Whether it’s a team accomplishment, a fun event, or an inspiring personal story, we’d love to hear from you! Your contributions will help us showcase the excellence within our community on social media and other channels. If you let our Community Relations team know about it, we can come get photos, share press releases as appropriate, and provide other support to help elevate your stories.

Let’s celebrate together and continue building a strong, supportive environment. Submit your photos, stories, or tips to community_relations@bismarckschools.org and help us spread the positivity! Also, if you happen to post on social media, utilizing the hashtag #learnbps allows us to find and share your content!