Kirsten Baesler Superintendent | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota State School Superintendent, announced her retirement effective November 24, 2025. She will leave her position to become Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education.
Baesler has served as superintendent for 13 years. During her tenure, she emphasized transforming the state’s public education system with a focus on innovation and accountability. “I’m deeply proud of the team we built and the culture we created,” Baesler said. “We shifted from being a regulatory agency to a customer-service organization that puts students and their families at the center. Our educators know we’re here to support their success, and lawmakers and the public trust us because we’ve earned that credibility through results.”
Among her administration’s key initiatives was the Choice Ready Framework, which aims to prepare high school graduates for college, careers, or military service. The percentage of “Choice Ready” graduates increased from 21% to 71% during her time in office.
Baesler also led efforts making North Dakota the first state to require computer science and cybersecurity instruction in every grade level. In 2025, these standards were expanded to include artificial intelligence expectations for all school approval processes.
She worked with legislators to introduce innovation waivers that allow schools more flexibility in designing teaching models focused on mastery rather than time spent in class. This approach contributed to North Dakota establishing the nation’s first competency-based graduation pathway.
Her leadership included supporting high school seniors in earning college credit before graduation, aiming to reduce remediation needs and higher education costs while improving workforce readiness.
Under Baesler’s direction, North Dakota developed the ND A-PLUS testing system to measure student progress against academic standards and link test performance with scholarship opportunities worth up to $6,000.
To ensure policy decisions reflected those most affected by them, Baesler established advisory cabinets representing students, families, and teachers. Their input influenced policies such as classroom cell phone restrictions and anti-bullying legislation.
Addressing educator shortages was another priority; Baesler supported teacher apprenticeship programs that helped classroom aides become certified teachers and expanded federally supported apprenticeships for teachers and principals.
She also launched the Be Legendary school board training program aimed at helping board members focus on student academic outcomes. Since its inception in 2021, over 30 percent of board members have completed this training.
Reflecting on her career as an educator before becoming superintendent, Baesler stated: “North Dakota has always believed in empowering people closest to students -- the families, teachers, and local leaders. Our work over the last decade has shown what’s possible when we combine that trust with innovation, accountability, and a belief that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in whatever future path they choose.”
Governor Kelly Armstrong has appointed Levi Bachmeier as Baesler’s successor. Bachmeier previously served as business manager for West Fargo school district and as an education policy aide to former Governor Doug Burgum.
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