Zach Hawkins has been Director of Indian Education for All at the Montana Office of Public Instruction since December, 2018. Prior to joining the OPI, he worked with American Indian students and school communities as a classroom teacher and Federal college access program administrator for 18 years. In previous positions, he led the Hays-Lodgepole Thunderbirds to their first football victory in five years, was chosen as a Helena Education Foundation Distinguished Educator, and co-led the National Council for Community Educational Partnerships' College and Career Readiness Evaluation Project.

As the IEFA team leader, he stresses the importance of Indigenous contributions to the Treasure State's rich history and integration of the Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians into curriculum and lesson planning. He relishes any and all opportunities to work with teachers, schools, and stakeholders in their efforts to realize Montana's constitutionally mandated IEFA implementation requirement.

Zach and his wife have two boys ages 11 and 14. In his free time, he attends his boys' sporting events, skis, and explores Montana with his family.