Kirsten Baesler was elected as DPI Superintendent in 2012 after dedicating over two decades to education first as an aide, then library media specialist, vice-principal, PTA president and Mandan School Board president.

Baesler says one thing she brought to the office after serving in various positions and listening to colleagues was the firm idea that something had to change.

In June of 2013, she formed a working group to look at what is standing in the way of innovative education at the public school level and what could be done to change that. Eighteen months later, that group came to a realization is finally coming to fruition in the 2017 legislative session.