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Be Legendary and Bridal Network tell appropriators pilot showed improved workplace conditions and early retention signals
Summary
Representatives from Bridal (Bridal Network / Be Legendary) and local superintendents described a pilot teacher‑retention partnership that has enrolled dozens of districts; organizers requested continued funding to expand the initiative and to add an administrative‑retention pilot for principals and assistant principals.
Bridal Network (presented as Bridal/Bridal Network by witnesses) and the Be Legendary school leadership training proponents described a two‑year pilot in North Dakota designed to improve school workplace conditions and slow teacher turnover.
Nate (presenter identified as the Bridal Network lead) and Dr. Erin Robb (chief strategy & impact officer) told the committee the pilot began after a 2023 appropriation was rescoped to a pilot. The initiative was funded at $2.3 million in the current biennium after earlier legislative activity had proposed a larger statewide rollout. The presenters said they have since engaged 24 school districts and about 140 schools (districts that together represent roughly 44% of the state's educators) and cited early indicators of improved workplace environment survey results and district interest in expanding the program.
Dr. Robb described a five‑phase approach: prepare leaders, listen to educators (survey and rapid feedback), co‑design interventions, experiment and iterate, and measure impact. The presenters highlighted case work in Jamestown and Northern Cass as examples and said early survey feedback and local vignettes show improved school workplace conditions and signs of increased retention where the program has worked with district leaders.
Bridal Network requested restoration/continuation of the original statewide funding level of about $4.3 million to expand the footprint and to pilot administrative (principal) retention work. The presenters said the first pilot produced momentum, and they proposed a two‑track approach for the next biennium: continue educator retention work and add targeted work to retain and support principals and assistant principals.
Committee members asked about adoption pace and rural delivery; presenters said adoption accelerated over the school year (many districts prefer to start at the school‑year boundary) and that they plan to scale with REAs and cohort models for rural districts.
Separately, Be Legendary representatives and a superintendent from West Hope testified that school board training and strategic alignment of boards to district priorities produced measurable student outcome improvements in their districts — West Hope reported gains in NDSA reading and math after implementing the approach and reorganizing around student outcomes.
No formal appropriation decision was taken during the hearing; presenters asked the committee to consider funding expansion and to weigh the pilot’s early evidence and scaling plan when setting next‑biennium priorities.
