2026 Delegate Assembly Brings Members Together

On April 18, delegates representing North Dakota United locals and chapters from across the state gathered at the Radisson Hotel in Bismarck for the 2026 Delegate Assembly.

Delegates adopted a budget, strategic plan, legislative agenda and new business items while celebrating members making a difference.

“No matter where we work or what role we serve in, we share a common experience and a common purpose,” NDU President Nick Archuleta said in his opening remarks. “And that’s what brings us together as North Dakota United. We are educators in every sense of the word. We are public servants in every corner of the state. We are the people who educate our future, keep our universities and colleges thriving and the vibrancy of our communities intact.”

Our 2026 list of guest speakers included: Miss North Dakota Kennedy DeLap; Erin Oban, of North Dakotans for Public Schools; Jessica Edland, of Together for School Meals; Lisa Johnson, deputy commissioner for the North Dakota University System; Nate Ecklund, of Vital Network; and Rebecca Fricke, executive director of the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System.

NEA Director Kala Christensen and NDU Executive Director Chad Oban delivered reports on the state of public education and public services at the national and state levels.

Delegates reviewed progress on 2025 new business items, discussed an updated Strategic Plan centered on membership growth, advocacy and leadership development, received the 2027 legislative agenda and approved the union’s budget for the coming year.

Brenda Seehafer, chair of the NDU Foundation, highlighted the Foundation’s work over the past year to support ND United members and their families by providing scholarships and financial assistance for education and professional development. She also surprised the first two-ever recipients of the new Friend of the Foundation awards: Marie Snavely and Gary Rath.

Snavely was honored first, for her years of service to North Dakota United and for helping establish and grow the NDU Foundation alongside her late husband, Les.

“When Brenda was reading off all those grants I got from various entities, it opened my eyes to the good of the Foundation,” Snavely said. “Because of my involvement in this lovely, lovely association, this union, North Dakota United, I knew where to go. I knew how to ask for help. I knew where the help was. And so, I cannot press upon you how important that is.”

Rath seemed especially surprised to receive the award after leading the effort to recognize Snavely this year. Alongside Les Snavely, the Foundation’s first board chair, Rath helped establish the NDU Foundation in his role as business manager for NDEA in 1991.

This year’s Delegate Assembly also recognized Mandan Public Schools physical therapy assistant Dawn Ressler as the 2027 Education Support Professional of the Year. Tribute video packages for all three finalists — which included Ressler, special ed para Laurie Holcomb of Grand Forks, and instructional para Katie Weiner, of Thompson — were shown before this year’s winner was announced and gave a speech.

“As ESPs, we do the best we can,” Ressler said in her remarks. “Sometimes our best isn't enough because we don't have the training. So I am very, very grateful for North Dakota United. They provide us with professional development opportunities that guide us, support us and ultimately make us better co-workers and professionals.”

Guest speakers highlighted the importance of investing in North Dakota's students, educators and public schools, with presentations on universal school meals, higher education, retirement security and educator leadership.

2026 North Dakota Teacher of the Year Frannie Tunseth encouraged delegates to embrace their important roles in discussions on the future of public education and services.

“We are not waiting for permission to be included,” she said. “We are not waiting for a place to be set for us. We are the table. We are the collective voice that determines whether this profession is sustainable.”

Delegates also approved three new business items supporting the universal school meals ballot measure and opposing the June single-subject constitutional measure and the proposed 60% threshold for constitutional amendments on the November ballot, along with the 2026-27 budget and 2027 legislative agenda.

As delegates adjourned, they left with more than adopted budgets and resolutions. They left with a roadmap for the coming year—one focused on growing the union, advocating for public education and public employees, and strengthening our partnerships across North Dakota.