Sprint Degree – CORE School in Great Falls
Creation of teachers | Opportunities for students | Respect our unique community | Educational excellence
Â鶹ƵµÀ is proud to implement a Sprint Degree for Elementary Education in partnership with ). Awarded grant funding through the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE), this program compacts a 4-year program into a 9-semester sequence, which includes summers. Students take their general education courses through Â鶹ƵµÀ and will complete their teaching program through Â鶹ƵµÀ.
The Sprint Degree cohort is housed at . Through this innovative public charter school, Â鶹ƵµÀ students work full time as paraprofessionals at the school while they take their Â鶹ƵµÀ classes primarily on-site, which are taught by K-6 classroom teachers who serve as Â鶹ƵµÀ adjunct instructors. This unique model allows Â鶹ƵµÀ students to see connections between their coursework and real classrooms, as they gain valuable experience in the field.
Students in the program spend their third and final year participating in the Â鶹ƵµÀ Teacher Residency. This culminating experience will provide students with an immersive, paid, full-year experience in a single classroom.
Who’s Who:
Support Personnel
Marni Napierala
Program Coordinator and Onsite Mentor, Great Falls Core School
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 406-799-3534
Marni is a retired teacher with 29 years in Great Falls Public Schools, served as adjunct faculty at MSU–Northern for 22 years, and spent four years as an education coordinator in Great Falls for MSUN. She is a fierce advocate for supporting new teachers to ensure the success of K–12 learners.
Katrina Kennett
Associate Professor of Education, University of Â鶹ƵµÀ Western
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 406-683-7043
Katrina is the grant lead and on campus faculty coordinator. She is also 2025-2026 Â鶹ƵµÀ University System Teaching Scholar.
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