MASA eUpdate

This week's edition of the "Henton Headlines" features communications resources on "swatting" and more shout-outs to MASA members representing you! Read the full post here.

presented by Daniel Ludvigson, Superintendent, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Public Schools

September 20, 2024 | 9 - 10 am | Zoom | Register here | Full Info

Join Superintendent Ludvigson as we explore common misconceptions about positivity and rewards. Discover what we often get wrong, even when we’re trying to be positive and supportive!

This session will be recorded and posted to the EdTalks webpage. CEUs will not be issued.

2024-25 MASA Professional Dialogue Sessions
Facilitated by Dr. Michael Thomas

Eight Sessions | September 2024 - May 2025 | 8 - 9 am via Zoom

Register for all the sessions here | No cost to attend!

MASA members are invited to join us in a series of eight professional dialogue sessions exploring topics of interest to our currently practicing school administrators. While the topics may be general in nature, the group will specifically address issues of race and culture pertinent to the conversation. Please note that at this time, participation in this series is open to only MASA members. Full session schedule and information can be found at www.mnasa.org/professional-dialogue-sessions.

23 of your colleagues are attending! Will you join us, too?

First Session is October 1 right after the MASA Fall Conference!

Nine Sessions | October 2024 - May 2025

Full information and registration: www.mnasa.org/communicationsacademy

The Donovan Group is offering a Communications Academy during the 2024-25 school year! This professional learning opportunity for Minnesota superintendents and communication leaders covers key components of strong school communications, giving you the tools you need to connect with your community and communicate effectively. Please note that all of the sessions are filmed and are available to participants via a password-protected website.

You are invited to join us virtually on Thursday, November 7 at 10 am for a state of the association, financial report, professional learning update, and legislative outlook. After the MASA Business Meeting adjourns, there will be a brief meeting for the Management Concerned for Public Education (MCPE), MASA's political action committee! Register here!

Are you ready to lead your district into the future? The MASA Advanced Leadership Academy invites superintendents and education leaders to come together to work collaboratively to lead for tomorrow.

Our first two transformative days (October 29 and 30) will focus on future-focused leadership development. The theme of the first session, The Future of Education, focuses on adaptability, agility, and visionary planning for the next generation of educational leadership.

What will we do these first two days?

• Embrace change with agility and adaptability
• Engage in scenario planning for future-ready schools
• Dive deeply into future leadership challenges including AI integration, post-pandemic recovery, and more
• Design a visionary 2030 model for your school district
  
• Collaborate with your peers on innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges facing education today

Don’t miss this chance to connect with colleagues, participate in visionary activities, and walk away with actionable insights to lead your district into 2030 and beyond!

15 of your colleagues have already registered - will you join them?

MASA Finance Academy!

Three sessions | November 6 - December 11, 2024 | Quora Education Center
Full information here!

Back by popular demand! In response to feedback from our members and aspiring superintendents, MASA has developed an academy focused on finance topics especially relevant to the superintendency. These three sessions will provide opportunities for reflective leadership and skill development, equipping participants with the tools and strategies needed to succeed in the role of superintendent.

If you are already registered for the Great Start Cohort, there is no need to register for this academy as it is included in the Great Start Cohort experience.

We hope the school year has gotten off to a fabulous start for you and your students! We are excited to welcome you to the MASA Instructional Leaders Networking meetings this year! Facilitated by our Curriculum Component Group representatives to the MASA Board of Directors, Craig Anderson and Vera Weber, we invite you to add the following dates/times to your calendars:

• September 20 - Agenda Meeting Link | 1-2 pm | Add to calendar
• November 15 - Meeting Link | 1-2 pm | Add to calendar
• January 17 - Meeting Link | 1-2 pm | Add to calendar
• April 25 - Meeting Link | 1-2 pm | Add to calendar

We look forward to meeting together soon and throughout the school year! Please contact Lori Zimmerman with questions.

Tuesday, October 1 | 12:30 - 2:00pm CT | Zoom | Register here!

Join the Paid Leave team from the Minnesota Department of Economic Development (DEED) for this virtual presentation/Q&A session on the initial implementation phase of the Paid Leave Law for Minnesota school employers. Team members will share the top questions and concerns raised by employers as they prepare for the launch of this new employee benefit program. The webinar will focus on the imminent requirements for employers associated with wage reporting including questions from school employers. Registrants are asked to review the PLL's Employer FAQ prior to submitting questions for the team using this spreadsheet.

This session is hosted by the Minnesota Association of School Personnel Administrators, in partnership with the MASA, MASBO, and MSBA. Recording of the session will be shared with all registrants. This webinar is open and free to all Minnesota school administrators.

As you prepare to come to our MASA Fall Conference, we would invite you to partake in an activity to support the work of the MASA Foundation!

Activities held right at the Madden's Resort:

• Dale G. Jensen Classic Golf Tournament, Madden's Pine Beach East Course (12:00 pm Shotgun Start)
• Minnesota Outline Painting Project led by Madden's Artist, Donna (1:30-3:30 pm) | Check out the promotional video for painting!

Registration and full info here!
Please register by September 20!
Check if you have already registered for a Foundation event here!

Online registration for fall conference has closed. If you have any questions please contact Sara Klecker.

Business Partner Level: Leader
Industry: Consulting/Public Relations

Tell us about your business: Captivate Media + Consulting is based in Minnesota and has worked with 300+ school districts and education organizations to craft high-impact professional video, animation and graphic design that communicates complex messages with clarity, purpose and intent. From referendums campaigns to attracting more students and staff, Captivate partners with districts on a variety of communication needs. Company founder Jake Sturgis worked for 12+ years for two metro school districts before starting Captivate in 2014 and knows the issues facing educators.

MASA Member Contact:

Jake Sturgis

CEO/Founder

jake@captivatemedia.us

612-314-3314 | www.captivatemedia.us

MASA will be featuring our valued business partners in our weekly association eUpdate to all MASA members. We will select a business partner each week to feature in the weekly eUpdate. Thank you for your continued partnership with MASA!

Submit your business information here: https://forms.gle/q9kjUFV3Dv7aQp7F7.

Cybersecurity – A Continuing Challenge
The recently released CoSN 2024 State of EdTech Leadership Report identified Cybersecurity as one of the five “Key Findings” regarding challenges facing school districts today. Since October is designated as national Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we are pleased to share a variety of free CoSN resources to assist school leaders in addressing the challenges around cybersecurity in school district settings.... Read the full story here!

October 28-29, 2024 | Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel

“Maximizing Impact: Resources, Tools and Techniques for Effective Practice”

Please share with your staff as you see fit. Conference registration and other MSSWA professional learning can be found here: https://msswa.wildapricot.org/events/.

The linked document and templates are provided to assist you in the days before and after the election. As always, we encourage you to contact the Donovan Group (a service free to MASA members) if you have a matter that requests urgent or crisis communications assistance. We hope that these resources may help your members proactively.

Episode 6: Developing and Empowering Principals

Guest: Dr. Peter Olson-Skog, Superintendent,West Saint Paul, Mendota Heights, and Eagan Area Schools

Listen Here | Podcastle Link

Tailored to current and future school leaders, the Rethink Possible podcast delivers relatable and relevant content from superintendents and other education thought partners. Each conversational episode provides solutions to common challenges and opportunities while accommodating the busy lifestyle of today's school leaders. Episodes will be published twice a month!

Chris Mills, Superintendent of Thief River Falls Public Schools is encouraging MASA members to participate in this study!

You are being invited to participate in a research project conducted by Dr. Ximena Suarez-Sousa and Adrianna Cate from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). The purpose of this study is to survey administrators and teachers to collect data on the perceived importance of various elements of professional development. Full information and survey can be found here!

One strategy has been posted each month for the past TWO YEARS! A huge thank you to Dr. Don Lifto for providing these school tax election strategies for our members. In October, MASA will begin re-featuring Don's strategies in our eUpdate at the start of each month!

You can find Don's last and 24th referendum strategy, "Back to the Well Too Often" online at: https://www.mnasa.org/school-tax-elections.

You can find the full information online at: https://events.resultsathand.com/masabp25/2784/registration/1096-Sponsorship-Opportunities!

Need procurement solutions? Please consider checking out our Minnesota School District Purchasing Sites! We have partnered with Sourcewell and Cooperative Purchasing Connection to create two purchasing sites for MASA members! Check them out here!

Facilitated by Dr. Bernadeia Johnson

Eight sessions left! | October 2024 - May 2025 | 8 - 9 am via Zoom
Register for all the sessions here: https://forms.gle/8BWUYsurXL2TouvD7

MASA members and our fellow educational leaders who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are invited to join the 2024-25 BIPOC Affinity Group. If you have any colleagues who would benefit from this group, please encourage them to attend! Full session schedule and information can be found at www.mnasa.org/bipoc.

Facilitated by Dr. Stacie Stanley, Superintendent, Edina Public Schools

Eight more sessions left! | October 2024 to May 2025 | 8 - 9 am via Zoom

Register for all the sessions here: https://forms.gle/X8F15m45oZ6aBdTQ8

If you know of a colleague who would benefit from attending these sessions, please forward this information to them. All individuals who identify as women are encouraged to attend! CEUs have been requested from the Minnesota Board of School Administrators (BOSA). Participants must attend the sessions synchronously to be eligible for CEUs. Full info at the Women's Leadership Network webpage.

MASA is excited to share that the Teaching Channel, an on-line provider of continuing credits, graduate credits and other resources, have partnered with MASSP, MESPA and MASA to provide an easier path for our members to acquire CEU’s. Full info at www.mnasa.org/teaching-channel.

The MASA Foundation is pleased to announce the return of the Foundation Endowment Campaign! All proceeds from the campaign go toward achieving the Foundation’s mission of enhancing the leadership development of educational administrators just like you. Can your fellow MASA members count on your support for 2024-25? Full info at www.mnasa.org/donate.

Post unlimited job vacancies, for all levels of positions. The MASA Jobsite Online is well managed with daily attention to detail and customer service. The cost of an annual subscription is less than just a few advertisements placed in the major and local newspapers. Also, the Department of Education recognizes the MASA Jobsite as a valid advertisement when a school district is seeking a variance for a teacher in a specific subject. We currently have 118 districts using the Jobsite and they have posted nearly 2,000 jobs!

members@mnasa.org | www.mnasa.org

P.O. Box 427, Medford, MN 55049

(651) 645-6272

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