Skip Navigation
Professional Development At The Capitol Discounts on Products & Services Scholarships & Grants Legal Services Liability Insurance Protection
Professional Development Courses Leadership Training Conferences & Events
Our Issues Contact Your Legislator Legislator Report Card Donate to UPAC
Our Members Our Leaders Careers
Giving to the ND United Foundation Scholarships & Grants Month of Money Fundraiser
News Press Releases United Voices
Delegate Assembly Governance & Policies Staff Directory Collective Bargaining Legislative Advocate Toolkit
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, provide ads, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
June 2025 United Voices
Magazine

United Voices - June 2025

In our summer 2025 issue of United Voices, we’re looking back at the results from the latest session of the North Dakota Legislature and this year’s ND United Delegate Assembly. Additionally, we have in-depth feature stories about two of our amazing, award-winning members: Joan Hall of Bismarck, the 2025-26 Education Support Professional of the Year, and Erika Feole of Grand Forks, the 2024 Foreign Language Teacher of the Year. Also check out a member-written article on why Title I funding matters for ND students.
June 2025 United Voices

Result List

educator uses sign language with a young student
Feature Article

Member Voices: Title I Funding is Essential to Student Success in North Dakota

by: Sara Medalen June 2025
Is it just me, or does it feel like public education is under attack? As an academic interventionist in a Title I school, I’m deeply concerned about the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. Title I funding, which comes from the federal government, provides critical support to schools that serve high numbers of students from low-income families. These potential cuts to Title I funding threaten to strip away valuable resources that our students rely on every day.
Woman hugging elementary school student holding flowers
Member Spotlight

ESP of the Year Joan Hall’s Love for Kids is Real and Rewarding

by: Kelly Hagen June 2025
For Joan Hall, a special education aide at Myhre Elementary in Bismarck, the greatest rewards come in small but powerful moments—like watching a student master a skill they’ve worked on for weeks. Her deep love for the kids she works with and her unwavering commitment to their success earned her the 2025–26 North Dakota United Education Support Professional of the Year award, a recognition Hall never expected but humbly embraced.
ND Foreign Language Teacher of the Year
Member Spotlight

FLAND Teacher of the Year Feole Enthusiastic About German Language, Culture

by: Kelly Hagen June 2025
Erika Feole’s passion for the German language goes far beyond vocabulary lessons and grammar drills—it’s a way of life she enthusiastically shares with her students at Red River High School in Grand Forks. Named the 2024 Graciela Wilborn Foreign Language Teacher of the Year by the Foreign Language Association of North Dakota, Feole brings culture to life in her classroom through immersive experiences, personal stories, and a deep family tradition rooted in German education.

Special Sections

  • News & Notes
    The North Dakota United Foundation is thrilled to announce the Betty Lu Lenthe Speech Education grant to our members.
    stack of books on a desk
  • News & Notes
    Registration is now open for the North Dakota United Leadership and Advocacy Summit,
    group of people in three rows

Departments

  • NDU In Action
    2025 Delegate Assembly Brings NDU Members Together
    group of people still ing at tables in a conference room
  • President's Post
    As summer settles in across North Dakota, ND United reflects on the hard-fought wins of the 69th Legislative Session.

Quote bySara Medalen , Reading and Math Interventionist, Minot Sunnyside Elementary School

As teachers, parents and community members, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and as if we have no power to make changes at the federal level. The truth is our collective voices do have power.
—Sara Medalen , Reading and Math Interventionist, Minot Sunnyside Elementary School
Read why Title I funding matters to ND students
woman standing for a headshot wearing a black suit with her hair pulled back

Get more from

United Voices is published in the interest of public education and public services. Sign up to stay informed.
North Dakota United logo

Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education & Public Services

With more than 11,500 members across the state, NDU supports equal opportunities for success for ALL North Dakota students, and respect and support for all educators. NDU members are teachers, community college professors, speech pathologists, bus drivers, secretaries, retired educators and student teachers.
About us
Join NDU
Update your contact info

North Dakota United is comprised of members from both the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). These unions represent a combined 4.7 million members across the United States.

Learn more at NEA.org Learn more at AFT.org

Signup

Indicates Required

Validate your NDU membership to create an account and access members-only content.

Use the same first and last name as your NDU membership.

Find your member ID on the mailing label of your NDU Communique or by emailing [email protected].
A valid email address. All emails from the system will be sent to this address. The email address is not made public and will only be used if you wish to receive a new password.

Login

Indicates Required

Log in to access content only available to NDU members.