Note from the President

Hello North Dakota K-Team!

​

A big "Thank-You" goes out to our NDKA Board for taking the plunge and making the decision to proceed with our 20th Annual Conference "Virtual Style."

We had presentations from:

*Dan St. Romain (Author & Consultant)

*Londa Wagner & Tracy Schriefels (Counselors)

*Dr. Matia Gjellstad (OT at University of Mary)

*Heather Tomlin-Rohr - Teacher

*Traci Plante & Michelle Ohnstad - Teachers

*Jana Bell & Cassidy Bina - Reading Coaches

*Amy Neal - Teacher

*Sara Medalen -Title 1 Teacher

​

​

2020 Fall Conference....

We pulled off a virtual conference with 112 participants across the state. NDKA speakers provided 15 hours of professional development and participants could earn enough contact hours for credit. We had 92 teachers earn a 1 Graduate Credit.

​

We were excited to offer a graduate credit for the first time. This has been requested in the past and we knew we felt this was the time to make it possible.

​

Every year we look forward to coming together to share ideas and hear amazing keynote speakers at the North Dakota Kindergarten Conference.  This coming year will be no exception as we plan another "virtual" conference. 

​

Please continue to check our website and Facebook page as we update them with information about the 2021 Fall Conference. As always, we look forward to you joining our Fall Conference!

​

Mistie Holland

NDKA President

NDKA Newsletters

Click on the link below to download a PDF of our current or past Newsletters.

​

NDKA Constitution

Registration & Conference Info

Included

Pre-K Makes Some Headway in North Dakota

by: Shelly Murphy

NDKA Vice President

During the 2013 North Dakota 63rd Legislative Assembly, two pre-school bills, Senate Bill 2229 and House Bill 1429, were introduced to legislators to provide funding for pre-k programs in North Dakota schools.

Initially the two bills were identical, but in the end one bill would allow for local funding if a school district should choose to provide pre-k within their own district. The second bill allowed funding for a study to assess pre-k needs in ND.

This pre-K study is currently being undertaken by the DPI and a committee of ND stakeholders with the help of Coloradan consultants. This study is due by the end of May and will be presented to the legislature in June.

NDKA is able to have a representative, Deb Ahmann from Bismarck Public Schools, to serve on the committee.

I

Heather & Amy were finalists for 2016 ND Teacher of the Year!

Two kindergarten teachers from the North Dakota Kindergarten Association Executive Board were state finalists for North Dakota Teacher of the Year.

Heather Tomlin-Rohr, Secretary from Jamestown and Amy Neal, Treasurer from Minot were recognized as finalists. Other finalists were Matt Myrold of Fargo and Heath Rydell of West Fargo.

Heather and Amy had no idea that they would run into each other until they met at a luncheon during the interview process in August of 2015. They have known each other for several years through their affiliation with NDKA. Having two kindergarten teachers represented among the 4 Finalists just goes to show that KINDERGARTEN ROCKS!

On September 23rd, 2015,  Amy Neal was the recipient of the 2016 North Dakota TOY recognition during a ceremony at Lewis & Clark Elementary School in Minot. Governor Jack Dalrymple and Superintendent Kirsten Baesler were in attendance to recognize all finalists for their outstanding service to children in North Dakota.

NDKA Conference Rotation         2020  - Virtual

     2021   -  Virtual

     2022  -  Minot

     2023  -  West Fargo 

     2024  -  Bismarck

     2025  -  Jamestown

     2026  -  Mandan

     2027   -  Fargo

     2028  -  Grand Forks

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

The downloadable PDF document is a copy of our organization's constitution.

Please feel free to download and review it.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

NDKA Regional Map

This map indicates the four regions of our state where we have representatives for our executive board.

RESPECT

+ + + + + + + + + 

Friendship

& educate

collaboration

+ best practices +

Early Childhood Care & Education Committee

by: Deb Ahmann

NDKA State Rep

The Early Childhood Committee will meet numerous times this year under the direction of Dr. Carrie Germeroth, University of Denver, MCREL.

The purpose of this committee is to report Pre-K needs to Kirsten Baesler, DPI Superintendent, with information in the following areas:

  *define the meaning of quality early childhood education.

  *track trends and monitor implementations & assessments currently utilized across all state-wide early childhood agencies.

  *identify and collect fiscal data for private and public child care providers.

  *coordinate focus groups with public and private care providers throughout the state after receiving information from the data collected from surveys and other means.

The committee members are from a variety of early childhood advocacy groups from across North Dakota and Deb Ahman gets to represent NDKA on the committee.