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The Last Best Learning Podcast from the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Welcome to the LAST BEST LEARNING podcast! A podcast, designed for Montana’s Educators, where our mission is to deliver digestible and relevant professional learning that honors educators’ capacity in an increasingly busy world. Our state’s educators empower minds, elevate futures, and inspire self-discovery - and we walk beside them.

  1. Ep. 21 Culture, Consistency, and Collaboration: Victor's Instructional Work, with Jamie Standaert

    APR 27

    Ep. 21 Culture, Consistency, and Collaboration: Victor's Instructional Work, with Jamie Standaert

    In this month's episode, our special guest is Principal Jamie Standaert from Victor Public School, who joins us for a part two on building school culture. She shares how Victor school has built a culture of collaboration, how she and her staff dig into data to hone their instruction, and how they've maintained a sustainable instructional coaching model.----more---- Have a recommendation for a podcast topic or speaker? We'd love to hear about it! Email Claire Mikeson at claire.mikeson@mt.gov or Katrina Engeldrum at katrina.engeldrum@mt.gov and share your idea. ----more---- Check out OPI's Tribal Student Achievement and Relations podcast, Creating Conditions. ----more---- Musical contributors: OPI Front & Center Episode 1: 2019 Montana Teacher of the Year: Dylan Huisken, Montana OPI 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year: Linda Rost, Montana OPI  I love Montana, Montana OPI Kevin Kicking Woman - Sharing Blackfeet Songs, Montana OPI Indian Education Division 2021 Montana TOY Interview Full: Kristi Borge, Montana OPI Digital Communications Team

    31 min

  2. MAR 30

    Ep. 20 - Culture to Curriculum: Valier’s MTSS Blueprint, with Joshua Reed

    This month, our special guest is Superintendent Joshua Reed from Valier School District, who joins us to share how he maintains positive staff culture and leverages MTSS to focus on district goals, including strategies for improving attendance and engaging the community. ----more---- Have a recommendation for a podcast topic or speaker? We'd love to hear about it! Email Claire Mikeson at claire.mikeson@mt.gov or Katrina Engeldrum at katrina.engeldrum@mt.gov and share your idea. ----more---- Check out OPI's Tribal Student Achievement and Relations podcast, Creating Conditions. ----more---- Musical contributors: OPI Front & Center Episode 1: 2019 Montana Teacher of the Year: Dylan Huisken, Montana OPI 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year: Linda Rost, Montana OPI  I love Montana, Montana OPI Kevin Kicking Woman - Sharing Blackfeet Songs, Montana OPI Indian Education Division 2021 Montana TOY Interview Full: Kristi Borge, Montana OPI Digital Communications Team

    22 min

  3. MAR 12

    Ep 18 - Teacher Burnout: What Can We Do? with John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD

    In this episode, special returning guest John Sommers-Flanagan, professor and Director of the Center for the Advancement of Positive Education at the University of Montana, continues sharing his expertise from his December episode--this time, about teacher burnout. Learn about the warning signs of burnout and strategies we can use to mitigate it. ----more---- Have a recommendation for a podcast topic or speaker? We'd love to hear about it! Email Claire Mikeson at claire.mikeson@mt.gov or Katrina Engeldrum at katrina.engeldrum@mt.gov and share your idea. ----more---- Check out OPI's Tribal Student Achievement and Relations podcast Creating Conditions. ----more---- Musical contributors: OPI Front & Center Episode 1: 2019 Montana Teacher of the Year: Dylan Huisken, Montana OPI 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year: Linda Rost, Montana OPI  I love Montana, Montana OPI Kevin Kicking Woman - Sharing Blackfeet Songs, Montana OPI Indian Education Division 2021 Montana TOY Interview Full: Kristi Borge, Montana OPI Digital Communications Team

    31 min

  4. MAR 12 ·  VIDEO

    Ep. 19 - AI in Assessment with Miguel Saringumba, Jr.

    Miguel Sarigumba, a math teacher in Lame Deer shares how he uses AI to examine assessment questions in order to meet the diversity of his students. Miguel Sarigumba, Item Analysis Resource: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1546iR7ERRs-o7WmASorx1W3DFYjOg6GP?usp=drive_link What would you like to know more about? Receiving feedback via the Last Best Learning Podcast Feedback Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sfvievE-rm6YFzMNwsYODk9Hf3KLrtRB00ZdnXeGlMQ/edit, helps your hosts improve the quality of episodes and ensures the content remains relevant to your needs. For instructions on how to earn Professional Development Unit (PDU) Certificates for listening to these recordings, please refer to the collaborative listener guide, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m3E4k141BQzTuwKEB72E5vVE-MlCelq7/view.

    29 min

  5. 12/29/2025 ·  VIDEO

    Ep. 17 - Combatting Conflict with John Sommers-Flannagan, Director of the Phyllis J. Washington Center for the Advancement of Positive Education (CAPE) and the Happiness Project

    Join us in this episode wherein John Sommers-Flanagan, Director of the Phyllis J. Washington Center for the Advancement of Positive Education (CAPE) and the Happiness Project shares his expertise on how to deal with conflict. Objectives: Recognize approaches to stymie conflict with colleagues; be proactive instead of reactive Realize actionable strategies to de-escalate conflict Ascertain tactics that can be applied to preempt or soften our personal responses to conflict Slide deck with resources  How to receive Professional Development Units (PDUs) as a school group is shared in the Collaborative Listener Guide  If you wish to provide feedback on this episode or suggest topics for future episodes, please respond to this brief survey

    34 min

  6. 10/30/2025 ·  VIDEO

    Ep. 12 - Social Emotional Learning: More than just Chair Yoga, with special guests Rhiannon Beery and Darin Hannum from Bainville Public Schools

    In this episode, Superintendent Darin Hannum and Principal Rhiannon Beery of Bainville Public Schools join us to share their schools experience and success implementing Social Emotional Learning across K-12.

    42 min

  7. 10/28/2025 ·  VIDEO

    Ep. 16 - IEFA: You Don’t Have to Be an Expert, But You Do Have to Begin with special guest Connie Michael from Hardin School District

    In this episode, hosts Katrina, Claire, and Michelle are joined by special guest Connie Michael from Crow Agency Elementary School in the Hardin School District. Connie shares her experiences integrating Indian Education For All (IEFA), offers advice for teachers who are seeking to do more, and encouragement for all.  Episode Objectives:  Identify common barriers educators face when implementing Indian Education for All (IEFA), including misconceptions, lack of confidence, and fear of doing harm. Explore actionable strategies and entry points for integrating IEFA into everyday instruction, especially for educators without firsthand cultural experience. Amplify the importance of authentic partnerships with tribal communities and showcase how collaboration supports respectful, accurate, and impactful IEFA instruction. How to receive Professional Development Units (PDUs) as a school group is shared in the Collaborative Listener Guide (https://opi.mt.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=eeiBbSiLiy4%3D&portalid=182) If you wish to provide feedback on this episode or suggest topics for future episodes, please respond to this brief survey (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqDClTT_Q2zxDDa_W_zj4QqBuHN38b9-Ck8myJ_Fc4W-ZjCA/viewform?usp=header)

    23 min

  8. 10/27/2025 ·  VIDEO

    Ep. 15 - MAST in Motion: Lessons from Implementation with special guest Rachel Barkell, Anaconda School District

    In this episode, our special guest Rachel Barkell, a 4th grade teacher at Anaconda School District, joins us to share lessons and insights she and her team have gained from the first official year implementing MAST. Episode 15 slides Feedback form/suggest a topic

    26 min
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About

The Last Best Learning Podcast from the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Welcome to the LAST BEST LEARNING podcast! A podcast, designed for Montana’s Educators, where our mission is to deliver digestible and relevant professional learning that honors educators’ capacity in an increasingly busy world. Our state’s educators empower minds, elevate futures, and inspire self-discovery - and we walk beside them.

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    lastbestlearningpodcast
  • Years Active
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  • Episodes
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    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
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