School Administrators of Montana

SAM Friday Update 8-22-25

Dear SAM Members,

Did you know that advocacy for our schools does not stop at the end of the legislative session? Are you following the work of the Decennial Study Committee? As required by Montana law, the legislature must establish a process to study our funding formula every 10 years. In that study, the committee will be verifying not only adequacy, but also equity of our current school funding formula. Stay engaged in their work. This link explains their work plan over the next 18 months.

We have created another way to digest the valuable information in our SAM update - The SAM Weekly Podcast. The podcast hosts, SAM and SALLY, do a great job with our updates. However, they do struggle with the names of Montana towns. We have to give them grace, because they did a GREAT job this week explaining the details of the Decennial Study. Thank you Sam and Sally for your help with the SAM Podcast Update - August 22, 2025

Don't Miss the 2025 SAM Fall Conference - Register Today!
Plans are in full swing for the Fall Conference, hosted by MASS, MCASE, and MACSS, coming up September 22–23 at the GranTree Inn in Bozeman.  Hotel rooms are filling quickly — make sure to reserve yours soon.

Inspiring Keynotes

  • Rachel White, The Superintendent Lab - Administrator turnover and the cost of conflict
  • Jeff Utecht - Generational leadership and  the role of AI

Deep Dives into critical issues

This year’s program highlights many timely topics, including:

  • Montana’s teacher pipeline
  • The school funding (decennial) study
  • MTDA resource updates
  • And several more sessions focused on the most pressing education issues in Montana

Post-Conference opportunity

On Tuesday afternoon, join us for an optional post-conference—More AI and Other Curriculum & Instruction Topics.  While tailored for curriculum directors, all are welcome—and you don’t have to attend the main conference to participate. Please share this opportunity with colleagues in your district who may be interested.  

Ready to Register?

Award/Scholarship Deadlines are Approaching - Who will you nominate?

Who will you nominate to be recognized for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to student success?  Submit your nominations today and help celebrate the educators who inspire and support great learning every day. Follow the links below or more information about each award and to access the forms.

SAM Award/Scholarship:

MASS Awards:

MASSP Awards:

Registration is Open for the 2025-26 SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program

SAM is proud to continue its long-standing tradition of offering affordable, high-impact professional support through the Leaders Professional Learning Program (LPLP). Whether you’re stepping into a new leadership role or simply seeking the guidance of an experienced mentor, LPLP is designed for you.

Each participant is matched with a knowledgable mentor who provides personalized support through one-on-one conversations and regular check-ins throughout the school year. Leadership can sometimes feel isolating—LPLP offers a trusted partner to help navigate challenges, offer timely advice, or simply serve as a confidential sounding board when you need one most.

Take advantage of this opportunity to grow, reflect, and lead with confidence.

Register here:  2025-26 SAM LPLP 1-1 Leadership Coaching & Mentoring Registration Form
 

From Our Education Partners
  • The Dignity Index to Host Summit

    Montana friends!  We'd love to have you attend our Dignity Leadership Summit on October 20th in Salt Lake City. Slots are filling up, but it's not too late to register. Hope to see you then!

    Tami Pyfer, Chief External Relations Officer and
    Co-creator of the Dignity Index

    Visit https://www.dignity.us/summit for more information and to register.
  • Constitution Day Resources

    Constitution Day is fast approaching. The 2005 law creating this celebration indicates that “[e]ach educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.”

    A new website ( constitutiondayhub.org ) was created by 23 of the nation’s most highly respected civics education organizations. The Constitution Day Hub offers school districts a one-stop shop for Constitution-specific lessons that are (1) freely accessible, (2) high quality, (3) age appropriate, and (4) non-partisan.  The organization encourages school districts to take a district-wide approach to Constitution Day and have offered materials to meet the challenges of offering Constitution-specific lessons to all students, from kindergarteners to high school seniors,  on the same day.   
  • Save the Date - Annual Kaleva Law Conference


    The Annual Kaleva Law Conference, hosted by Park County Special Education Cooperative, is scheduled for February 9, 2026, in Livingston.  Mark your calendar and watch for more information coming soon.