GNWEC
Great Northwest Education Cooperative
The Great Northwest Education Cooperative (GNWEC, based in Williston) serves 16 school districts in northwest North Dakota, including schools on the Fort Berthold reservation.
GNWEC’s Succeed 2020 program improves’ student awareness and knowledge of careers and provides mentoring for new and experienced teachers.
A variety of activities give students information about careers. GNWEC teaches 7th through 10th grade students how to use RUReadyND and teaches Roads to Success, North Dakota’s career and college planning curriculum. In spring 2015, GNWEC will host a career fair for 10th and 11th grade students. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about health careers through a Scrubs Camp in the summer.
GNWEC also supports teachers through two programs. Professional development gives teachers the tools to understand data about their students, adapt their teaching techniques to students’ different ability levels, and adjust to new state standards. GNWEC’s first-year teacher program, serving 14 districts in the region, provides mentoring and other guidance to new teachers. The year-long program helps teachers build skills in classroom management while building confidence. In its first year, the program reduced teacher attrition at New Town High School by 75 percent.