Golden Apple Monthly Newsletter
By: Kristi Calvery
Golden Triangle Curriculum Cooperative Director
May 2026 Golden Apple
Greetings from GTCC!
As the school year draws to a close, we are thinking of all the administrators and teachers across Montana who are working tirelessly to finish the year strong.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been watching my lilac bushes slowly turn green and develop buds. With how dry Montana has been this year, I find myself worrying about whether they have enough water, sunlight, and nutrients to thrive. I know I pruned them last year, but I still wonder if I did it at the right time. Lilacs grow beautifully in Montana because they require cold temperatures in order to bloom, but they also need at least six hours of direct sunlight. Sometimes, just as the blossoms begin to emerge, the weather changes unexpectedly, temperatures drop, and we wake up to a skiff of snow. There have been years when those beautiful blooms froze before they had the chance to flourish.
As educators, we often feel the same way about our students.
We carefully watch over them, considering the many conditions and challenges that impact their growth and well-being. With all the time, care, and investment you pour into your students each day, we hope the school year ends with them showing beautiful blooms of growth, resilience, and confidence. We know how hard each of you work to make that happen, and we are deeply grateful for the countless things you do that often go unnoticed and unrecognized.
As summer approaches, we also recognize how important rest, relaxation, and time with family and friends truly are. We hope each of you has opportunities to enjoy the activities and beauty that make Montana summers so special.
At the same time, GTCC is excited to offer incredible opportunities for refreshing professional development, collaboration, and learning this summer — opportunities designed to cultivate your leadership and teaching “soil” and inspire fresh ideas for the upcoming school year.
2026 GTCC Summer Institute Registration is Open!
Our 2026 Summer Institute courses are now open for registration! If you haven’t had the opportunity to explore the outstanding course offerings, we encourage you to take a few minutes this week to review and register for classes.
Please note: By the end of next week, courses with fewer than 10 registrants may need to be canceled, so don’t delay if there is a course you’ve been considering.
Register Here:
Featured Opportunity: GTCC Leadership Conference & Summer Institute
We are especially excited to highlight our GTCC Leadership Conference and Summer Institute Course featuring Kasey Schurtz and Brian Miller.
Kasey Schurtz
Kasey Schurtz serves as an instructional facilitator at Sage Valley Junior High in Campbell County School District, Wyoming. In his role, he supports teachers in strengthening instruction, improving student engagement, and building systems that protect access to learning for all students.
With experience spanning classroom teaching, coaching, and schoolwide systems work, Kasey is passionate about helping educators teach effectively and reach every student. His leadership philosophy centers on the belief that schools improve when the people within them are supported, trusted, and equipped to do their best work. Kasey will soon transition into an elementary principal role, where he will continue building conditions that allow teachers and students to thrive.
Brian Miller
Brian Miller is the principal of North Middle School in Great Falls, Montana, and brings more than 15 years of educational experience in both national and international settings, serving students in rural and urban communities alike.
Brian believes that while schools exist to serve students, great schools are built by investing deeply in the people who teach them. His leadership focuses on supporting, developing, and empowering teachers while building strong staff culture, instructional clarity, and systems that positively impact school culture, purpose, and practice.
Schurtz & Ties Podcast
Together, Kasey and Brian host the education podcast Schurtz & Ties, where they engage in authentic and thought-provoking conversations with some of the most respected voices in education, including John Hattie, John Almarode, and Todd Whitaker.
In addition to their podcast, they have collaboratively developed the 5+1 Engagement Strategies That Keep Kids Thinking, a framework designed to move educators beyond surface-level engagement and into deeper, more meaningful student learning.
At its core, Schurtz & Ties is about asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and helping educators reconnect with what matters most in their classrooms.
Both the GTCC Leadership Course and their two-day Summer Institute course, Designing for Engagement: Simple Moves That Change Everything, are opportunities you will not want to miss. Registration is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your spot soon.
Stay Connected
Over the next several weeks, we will continue featuring GTCC Summer Institute instructors and courses.
If you are not already connected to our GTCC Facebook page, we encourage you to follow us for updates, featured instructors, course highlights, and additional Summer Institute information.
GTCC Artificial Intelligence Standards & Curriculum
Lastly, I would like to extend sincere thanks to Jason Niefer, Curriculum Specialist for the Montana Digital Academy, for collaborating with our GTCC Technology Integration Committee to develop vertically aligned Artificial Intelligence standards and curriculum for students from Kindergarten through high school.
While these standards are not a directive from the Montana Office of Public Instruction, we recognize that organizations both statewide and nationally are actively developing guidance to help educators navigate the rapidly changing role of AI in education and society.
We understand there are strong and varied opinions regarding AI. While many educators have important and valid concerns, our goal is to provide thoughtful guidance for educators and students as AI continues to permeate nearly every aspect of daily life.
Our committee believes it is essential to begin developing AI awareness early by helping students understand AI as an augmented tool — one that must always be approached with caution, wisdom, critical thinking, and human oversight during both input and output.
GTCC plans to publish the vertically aligned AI standards and curriculum before August so that resources will be available and ready for implementation during the 2026–2027 school year.
If you would like to preview the standards, provide input, or ask questions, please feel free to contact me via email.
As always, Brianna and I are here to support and assist you in any way we can.
We hope your final weeks of school are meaningful, impactful, and filled with moments worth celebrating.
Upcoming Events
2601: Teacher Glow-Up: Canva Edition, June 4-5, Fort Benton
2602: IEFA- Not just a Special Day, June 8-9, Great Falls
2603: Electrify Your Summer! Introduction to Residential Wiring and Electricity, June 10-11, Shelby
2604: Positive Interventions with Art Integration and Special Education, June 10-11, Great Falls
2605: Art as a Bridge to Literacy, June 15-16, Great Falls
2606: Teaching Smarter with AI: Learning, Literacy, and Time-Saving Tools, June 15-16, Online
2607: Drawn to the Wild: An Art/STEAM Environmental Sculpture and Drawing Course, June 18-19, Lincoln
2608: The Flourishing Classroom: Growing Happiness in Education, June 22-23, Great Falls
GTCC Summer Leadership Conference, June 23, 2026, Great Falls
2609: Designing for Engagement: Simple Moves That Change Everything, June 24-25, Great Falls
2610: Regulate to Educate: Self‑Regulation and Student Regulation Strategies for a Successful School Year, June 29-30, Fort Benton
2600-G: Golf: The Intersection of Human Connection and Scientific Principles, June 29-30, Shelby
With appreciation,
Kristi Calvery
Check out the GTCC website to RSVP to the following upcoming events:
MA
APRIL
1: GTCC SUMMER INSTITUTE OPENS FOR REGISTRATION
Kristi Calvery
Golden Triangle Curriculum Cooperative Director
1010 Oilfield Avenue
Shelby, MT 59474
Office (406) 424-8901 ext. 2104
Mobile (406) 450-1805
kristi@gtccmt.org