MEET OUR FACILITATORS
NORAH BARNEY
Norah Barney works at the Anaconda School District as the Special Education and Curriculum Director. She has over 15 years of leadership experience in pre-K through 12th grade, and she is a former SPED teacher. Norah taught Special Education for 11 years in a variety of settings before jumping into administration. She earned her Masters' Degree in Special Education in 2005, a Doctorate Degree in Education Leadership in 2018, and was the recipient of the 2020 Adrian Langstaff Award, presented to a Montana School Leader for outstanding service to education. She has presented at many state, national, and international conferences. Norah currently lives in Fairmont, Montana, with her husband, Tony, and her two dogs. Areas of Expertise: PLCs; Multiple-Tiered Systems of Support MTSS; Data Analysis; Special Education; SEL; Intervention; Leadership; Early Childhood Education Programming & Best Practices; Climate & Culture Change; Standards-Aligned Grading 
JEANNIE CHIPPS
Jeannie Chipps enjoys supporting teachers as they explore new skills and techniques to bring to their classrooms. She was a science educator and makerspace director for over 10 years and enjoys having students engage in real-world STEAM activities. Before becoming a high school teacher, she earned a MS in neuroscience from Cornell University and is passionate about understanding the brain and learning. She went on to receive her EdD in Mind, Brain and Teaching from Johns Hopkins University to learn how to create learning environments that support the needs of diverse learners. When not in the classroom, Jeannie enjoys hiking with her husband Jake and their two young daughters. Areas of Expertise: STEAM education, science education, data-driven instruction, SEL, Competency-based education 
GENEVIEVE THOMAS
With nearly two decades of experience in the education sector, Genevieve Thomas is School Services of Montana's brand new Director of Professional Learning. She has also served as a special education teacher, literacy specialist, teacher coach, school psychologist, and special education administrator. She holds graduate degrees in both Special Education and School Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and is currently a doctoral student in the Reading Science Department at Mount St Joseph University. Genevieve is passionate about partnering with schools to implement best practices for students with diverse learning needs, evidence-based literacy instruction and intervention, and multi-tiered systems of support. She supports teachers and schools across these areas through the development and implementation of professional learning opportunities, side-by-side coaching, and system-level consultation work. She is particularly skilled at collaborative analysis of data to inform instructional decisions for both the core educational program and academic and social-emotional interventions and supports. Areas of Expertise: Special Education; Literacy Instruction and Intervention; Dyslexia; Multiple-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) 
MELISSA TOVAAS
Melissa Tovaas is the Executive Director of School Services of Montana (SSoM), where she leads a talented team in strategic planning and advancing SSoM’s vision: a Montana where every school district has the resources, opportunities, and confidence to thrive. Melissa holds a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education and an M.A. in Social Emotional Learning. With 25 years in education, she began her career as an elementary teacher and has since worked nationally as an education consultant and nonprofit leader. Her work has consistently focused on supporting K–12 educators with best practices in teaching and learning. She is especially passionate about curriculum design and development, implementing proficiency-based education, and integrating whole learner skill development to educate both hearts and minds. Melissa lives in Bozeman with her partner, their three boys, and their puppy named ‘Butters’. Areas of Expertise: Social Emotional Learning (SEL); Literacy; Curriculum Alignment and Design; Standards-Based Grading; STEM; Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and Collaboration; Culturally Responsive Practices 
ASHLIE SLUNAKER
Ashlie Slunaker, M.A., is an educational consultant, intervention teacher, and MTSS Coordinator for Livingston Public Schools in Montana. In her role, she works with teams to plan and deliver interventions in math, reading, and behavior. Ashlie is an inspiring teacher of teachers. Her vast experience and knowledge of literacy, leadership, and systems change add value to the teachers she mentors and school leaders she guides as they transform their schools. In her 23 years’ experience as an educator, Ashlie has been privileged to work with students in a variety of K-12 settings. She has worked as a Title teacher, a language arts teacher, a literacy coach, a reading specialist, and a special education teacher. She has also developed reading programs at the collegiate level and finds joy in helping others. Ashlie is an Orton Gillingham trained teacher with an impressive record of success in raising student reading scores. Ashlie has a personal mission to support all teachers and leaders in building pathways towards literacy in their schools. Her goal is to create academically engaging learning experiences through an environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and kindness. Area of Expertise: Science of Reading and MTSS CONTACT
SSoM Executive Director Melissa Tovaas Email: mtovaas | *see footer Work (406) 272-0021 |