Natalie is an artist from North Carolina and graduated from The School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2011. Her 16 years in NYC were filled with many forms of creative collaborations – which is how she met her Montanan husband. In 2021, they moved to Great Falls to be closer to family. They explore Montana together, photographing wildlife and collecting skulls for Natalie’s art series Skulls & Souls. This series was started in 2018 and primarily uses the medium of Pyrography (wood-burning).
The key principles of Pyrography are very similar to pen & ink with the additional consideration of wood hardness, temperature, time, and patience.
This medium has brought so much peace, joy, and curiosity to Natalie’s life; which is something that she loves to share.

For more information, please feel free to visit her artist website:
Skullsandsouls.com

Terri Norman is the Unified Champion Schools Senior Director for Special Olympics Montana. She is a retired teacher, having taught business education for 26 years in the Helena Public Schools. Terri has been involved with Special Olympics for the past 14 years as a parent of a Special Olympics athlete, a volunteer, coach, local program coordinator, Unified Champion Schools school liaison, adult mentor for unified pairs at the state and national level, and most recently, as a staff member. Terri enjoys spending time with family, snowmobiling, riding side-by-sides, walking, hiking, spending time at her family cabin, being outdoors, and all things Special Olympics!

Jessie Novak is a K–12 art teacher and artist in rural Noxon, Montana, and Vice President of the Montana Art Education Association (MAEA). She holds a BA in K–12 Art Education and an MA in Integrated Arts and Education, and mentors educators statewide through MentorMT. A nationally recognized, internationally published artist and researcher with published research on artistic behavior modeling, Jessie previously spent seven years in museum education at the Missoula Art Museum. Her teaching centers on creativity, experimentation, and connecting students with both historical and contemporary art.

9 years public school teaching experience in social studies and language arts in middle grade and high school in Illinois
Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction
Published research on integrating elementary/middle grade social studies and children's literature
Regular presenter at the National Council for the Social Studies
Currently teaching and supervising student teachers at Montana State University, Bozeman
Volunteer at the Museum of the Rockies

Veteran Teacher, new teacher trainer, mentor, and GFEA New Teacher STARS NEA Grant Team Members.

Assistant Adjunct Professor for Teaching and Learning at the University of Montana, focused on innovative teacher preparation for the world we live in and the world we want to create. She is deeply committed to empowering educators to become agents of change who can positively impact their students and communities. A social studies teacher at heart and by trade, Erin brings experience from both K-12 and higher education. A professionally licensed educator and administrator in Montana, her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, and a Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning. She collaborates with professionals around the world to create innovative pathways for teaching and learning while advocating for inclusive and collaborative spaces and practices to ensure the success of all learners.

Ben Orlin, better known as "the Math with Bad Drawings guy," is the author of four books, the father of two daughters, the teacher of many wonderful students, and an avid devourer of mangos. He is honored to be visiting from St. Paul, MN.

Shelley is a lifelong Montanan, born and raised in Great Falls. She is a retired school librarian and currently advocates for libraries at the state, regional, and national levels as a member of the Montana Library Association and the Mountain Plains Library Association. Shelley is a trained and certified foresight practitioner and transformational coach, as well as a certified Law for Librarians trainer. Shelley is also the chairperson for the Great Falls Committee for the League of Women Voters of the Helena Area, and is working toward forming a full League in Great Falls.

Kevin Oshnock has a bachelor's degree in history from Westminster College (2008), a master's degree in history from Appalachian State University (2010), and a master's degree in political science from Appalachian State University (2019). He has taught history in Montana for five years and currently teaches at a Butler Community College in Wichita, Kansas.

Abi Paytoe Gbayee learned quickly that leadership is really just making decisions on the fly, hoping you are running and screaming in the right direction.

Abi is passionate about helping teachers grow as leaders, whether through organizing conferences, mentoring new professionals, or designing creative, standards-based learning experiences. She believes leadership is a shared journey and is excited to inspire others to see themselves as leaders wherever they find themselves as educators.

Abi speaks about the “muddy middle,” the space where things are not fully resolved, where educators are making decisions in real time, and where most of the actual work of teaching and leadership happens. Her approach is grounded in relationship, consistency, and a belief that leadership is something built through practice, not position.

Before moving into higher education, Abi spent 18 years in K–12 classrooms, and she still approaches her work from that perspective. Her teaching and scholarship focus on artistic agency, curriculum design, and the role of the educator in creating environments where students can take ownership of their learning without losing structure or support.

She is currently an Assistant Professor of Art Education at the University of Northern Colorado and the immediate Past Pacific Region Vice President of the National Art Education Association.

Sheila Mei Pocdol is a Montana educator passionate about helping students become confident writers and thinkers. She uses innovative strategies, including AI tools and quick feedback systems, to make learning more engaging and effective.