Dr. Christine Lux is the Don and Sue Fisher Family Endowed Professor of Early Childhood Education at Montana State University. Christine began her career as a preschool teacher before moving into early childhood program administration and early childhood teacher education. For nearly 30 years, she has worked for and with young children and their families. Some of Christine’s favorite things are laughing with her family, trail running, and mountain biking.

Grace Decker has worked in Early Childhood Education and Advocacy for over 25 years, as a preschool teacher, director, trainer, and coach. Currently, she is the coordinator for Montana Advocates for Children within the Montana Budget and Policy Center. She has also served as an elected Trustee with Missoula County Public Schools since 2015. Grace holds a BA with Honors in Education from Brown University, and plays fiddle with the band Cash for Junkers.

Caitlin is the Executive Director of Zero to Five Montana, a statewide early childhood policy and advocacy organization that focuses on early care and education solutions. She has worked in early childhood policy and systems building for nearly 20 years, and got her start working in a Head Start and a small child care center. She has worked on state, federal, local and tribal policy solutions, and is very passionate about this work. She holds a Masters in Social Work, with a focus in policy and advocacy from the University of Washington. She lives in Helena with her spouse and two sons.

Barbara Frank is the Director of Academic and Community Services for Missoula County Public Schools. Prior to this role, Barbara served as an elementary and K-8 principal, school counselor, and teacher. Barbara has been a dedicated public school educator for over 23 years. In addition to working in public schools, Barbara served as the vice chair of the Lockwood School Board and is a founding board member for Friends of the Children Western Montana. Her current work focuses on a P-3 community school approach to public education. Barbara and her husband Casey are from Billings, MT and they are the proud parents of 4 children aged 13-23. She has Masters degrees in School Counseling and Educational Leadership from Montana State University.

Karen Allen embarked on a P-3/K-12 career while following her husband’s professional journey. With each stop she found unique professional opportunities like leading a public preschool for 3-4 year olds in Missouri and as principal of a middle school with 975 7th and 8th graders in Georgia. Missoula was the fifth and final stop for the Allen family where Karen joined MCPS as principal of Lewis and Clark and later became an Executive Regional Director working with principals, programs, and community organizations. Since retiring in 2020, Karen volunteers with the Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) and Early Learning Fellows (ELF) and enjoys hiking on Blue Mountain with her husband Dick and golden retriever Missy.

Marie Judisch has served the Office of Public Instruction as the Senior Manager of Teaching and Learning since spring of 2023. In her role, she provides leadership for Montana Content Standards, Professional Learning, Statewide Assessment, Career,Technical, and Adult Education, and P-12 Literacy. Marie brought with her over a decade of educational leadership and K-8 classroom experience, serving as a P-3 principal for seven years while simultaneously holding district-level leadership roles and continuing to teach core and intervention classes. As an educator and mother of two P-3 learners, she brings passion and practical knowledge to the Early Childhood Institute Advisory Council, excited to support young learners and the professionals who serve them.

Madi Campbell graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood and Child Services in the fall of 2020. She served as an assistant/lead toddler teacher at a local Montessori school in Bozeman for 5 years, where her passion for young children and early childhood education flourished. Her major in early childhood provided her with extensive knowledge of the field both in Montana and nationally. In the summer of 2021, she transitioned to the role of Program Assistant for the Montana Early Childhood Project. Through this role, she gained a strong understanding of the Montana registry system and progressed to become a Data Research Analyst. Currently, she serves as the Professional Development Coordinator for the registry, overseeing all aspects of training and professional development within the system. Her work in the registry has further deepened her commitment to early childhood education. Outside of work, Madi enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, and spending time outdoors with friends and family.

Born and raised in Montana, Rob Watson has spent over 30 years serving in various leadership roles in K12 education. Currently, Rob serves as the Executive Director at School Administrators of Montana. Rob supports public education through advocacy, development of policy, and professional learning. In addition, Rob provides specific support for school districts and communities by leading a facilitated consensus process. Previously, Rob served in community leadership roles for more than 10 years as the superintendent in two Montana communities, Bozeman and Missoula. Other experience has included leadership positions in several schools, both in Montana and Alaska. Rob began his career as a math and science teacher in Anchorage, Alaska. Rob holds a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education from Montana State University, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Alaska, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Montana. At the state level, Rob has provided leadership with the Board of Public Education and Office of Public Instruction as a consultant. At the local level, Rob has served as a board member for the Missoula Economic Partnership, Bozeman Health, and the Greater Gallatin United Way. In 2015, Rob was in the inaugural group, joining 27 fellow superintendents from around the country, to achieve National Superintendent Certification. In 2016, Rob was recognized by Montana educators with the GV Erickson Award - the highest recognition given to a school administrator for notable service and dedication. In 2018, Rob was named as the Superintendent of the Year by his superintendent colleagues.