About the Presenters

Krystal Smith is the Education Innovation Manager at the Office of Public Instruction, bringing a wealth of experience to her role. Her journey began as a dedicated fourth- to eighth-grade educator, followed by a successful stint as a collegiate coach. Recognizing the potential of technology in education, she transitioned into a digital learning coach role. In her latest position as a state interim accreditation director, Krystal played a key role in identifying how high educational standards can support the revised statewide accreditation process.

In her current capacity, Krystal leverages her varied experiences to drive innovation in education across the state. Her diverse background, blending teaching, coaching, technology, and accreditation, uniquely equips her to understand and tackle the multifaceted challenges facing the education system. Krystal is committed to enhancing educational experiences for students, teachers, and institutions, making a lasting impact on the field.

Dr. Julie Murgel is the Chief Program Officer for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Dr. Murgel leads the operations for educational programs within the agency. She uses a data-driven approach to guide her work and passion for innovation while cultivating leadership and empowerment in others. While supporting each program, Dr. Murgel strives toward exceptional learning opportunities for all Montana students.

Since graduating from Carroll College in 1993 with a bachelor’s in education, Dr. Murgel has dedicated her professional life to educating children. She earned her Master of Arts in education with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction in 1999 from Regis University and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational administration and policy studies from the University of Denver in 2011. A native of Montana, in June 2018, Dr. Murgel retired from Denver Public Schools and moved to Helena with her husband, Ryan, and daughters Emily and Jordan.

Khaled Ismail supports leaders in school districts and CMOs, state agencies, and funder collaboratives with a focus on instructional alignment, academic strategy, assessment, and accountability systems. Before joining Education First, Khaled worked in the Chief of Academic Supports Office at the School District of Philadelphia, the eighth-largest district in the country. Khaled has also served the students and families of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northwestern University, and Chicago Public Schools. His experience navigating public education as an immigrant and first-generation student, educator, and leader has shaped his passion for collaborating and innovating with communities to solve for and eliminate institutional barriers to educational equity. Khaled earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University in political science and gender studies, a Master of Science in higher education administration and policy from Northwestern University, and a Master of Arts in urban education leadership from The Broad Center.

Ashley Eden leads sales strategy, account management, and policy for New Meridian. Utilizing her previous experience as a Deputy Secretary and Chief of Staff for a State Department of Education, she works to support current state partners, identify new sales opportunities, and manage relations involving various decision makers at the state level. Ashley, a former triathlete, trained for her role at New Meridian in one the most rigorous proving grounds in the country: the U.S. Senate, where she spent years working on—often writing—some of the most important education bills passed in the last decade.

After earning a B.S. in public administration from the University of Arizona, Ashley spent time in the healthcare industry. But it wasn’t long before she found herself in the nation’s capital, working on education issues in the Senate. Ashley’s experience working with federal and state assessment policies helps New Meridian understand customer needs at a foundational level.