'Lead teacher' program to be tested in Fargo, Northern Cass schools has potential to transform education

FARGO — Two school districts in Cass County will spearhead a program that North Dakota education leaders say could transform classroom instruction.

Fargo Public Schools and the Northern Cass School in Hunter have been chosen to pilot a “lead teacher” apprenticeship program starting this fall.

North Dakota is the first state to gain approval for this program, said Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota superintendent of public instruction.

The approach, developed at Arizona State University, uses teams of teachers in classrooms with one in the lead role, rather than the traditional approach of one teacher, one classroom.

Laurie Matzke, head of program development and growth at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, said a delegation went to Phoenix to check out the program firsthand.