MASA eUpdate

This week’s edition of the “Henton Headlines” features a call for input from MASA’s Triple E Committee to help shape equity-focused professional development, along with highlights from AASA President David Law’s recent work championing the Public Education Promise initiative through statewide and national engagement. Read the full post here!

MASA Info Session
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | 9 - 10 am CDT | Zoom

Full info & registration

Many educators are seeking real-world strategies to create more focused learning environments. As phone use continues to impact student engagement and school culture, the question isn’t if we act, but how.

In this panel discussion, hear directly from Yondr partner schools across Minnesota that have successfully implemented and sustained all day phone-free environments. From building community buy-in to adjusting policies mid-year, these school leaders will share their honest insights: the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. Yondr is a Friend Level Business Partner with MASA.

Speakers/Panelists

• Jordan Spaeth, Superintendent, Waubun School District

• Heather Frye, Principal, Franklin STEAM Middle School

November 12, 2025 | 11 am | Zoom | Register here!

You are invited to join us virtually on Wednesday, November 12, at 11 am for a state of the association, financial report, professional learning update, and legislative outlook. MASA will also consider two bylaw changes related to committees and regional participation.

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! Click here to join the MCPE for the 2026 year!

Your feedback helps shape the direction of MASA’s programs, services, and advocacy for the year ahead. Please take a few minutes to complete the 2025 MASA Annual Survey. Your voice matters — and your input ensures MASA continues to meet the needs of Minnesota’s school leaders. Complete the annual member survey here!

Three sessions | November 5 - December 10, 2025 | 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.

Who should attend?

• New Superintendents
• Newer Superintendents
• Aspiring Superintendents
• Anyone interested in a finance refresher on school finance topics!

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.

Join more than 480 of your colleagues who have already participated!

If you haven’t yet completed your member census, please update your MASA profile by October 20, 2025. Keeping your information current ensures you receive MASA communications and benefits and helps us maintain accurate member data.

An email was sent on October 6 with the link to complete your update. If you didn’t receive the email, you can access your Member Compass here.

We’re excited to launch our new Member Spotlight series, highlighting the voices, experiences, and stories of MASA leaders across Minnesota.

If you’re an MASA member who is new to your current role this year (not necessarily new to your district) and you don’t yet have a mentor, please reach out to Dr. Lori Zimmerman so we can add you to the mentor list. Email Dr. Zimmerman here!

Show your MASA pride with our exclusive apparel collection! Explore the full collection today here!

Business Partner Level: Friend Level

Years with MASA: More than 33 years! 👏

Industry: Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Commissioning
Why do you partner with MASA? We value our partnership with MASA because it allows us to support Minnesota’s school leaders as they work to create safe, efficient, and future-focused learning environments. By collaborating with districts statewide, we provide engineering expertise that ensures school facilities are reliable and designed to support student success.

MASA Member Contact

Richard Lucio

CEO/Principal

rlucio@hallbergengineering.com | 651-748-1100

www.hallbergengineering.com

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.

View the full eUpdate here!

MinnSPRA’s 2025-26 awards program is now accepting nominations — but we need your help to celebrate the incredible talent in our school PR community!

This year, we're proud to offer three awards that recognize the outstanding work happening across Minnesota and honor the individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference:

• School Communicator of the Year Award: For someone on your communications staff

• New Professional Award: A communicator with three years of school PR experience or less

• Champion for Communications Award: Open to any person employed in a school or district leadership role who is not considered an organization's communications professional; does not need to a member of MinnSPRA!

Dr. Don Lifto is providing MASA members with 24 referendum strategies under the banner of “School Tax Elections: Winning Strategies in 250 Words.” One strategy will be posted to the MASA website each month. You can find Don's latest referendum strategy, "Post-Election Analysis" online at: https://www.mnasa.org/school-tax-strategies.

New:

• The Minnesota School Safety Center is hosting a free, 1-day behavioral threat assessment training for school officials in all six regions of the state. Full info.

• AASA Upcoming Events | October 13, 2025. Full info.

Ongoing:

• MSDLAF+/PFM Asset Management: 2025 National POWERhours - Understanding Arbitrage Rebate Webinar | Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET. Full info here. PFM Asset Management is an Executive Level Business Partner with MASA.

• Annual AASA Superintendent Salary Survey. AASA recently launched their 2025-26 Superintendent Salary and Benefits Survey. The survey is 60 questions, but this data becomes a critical tool for superintendents in negotiations by providing a national look at compensation. Please complete the survey by October 22. Access the survey here!

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!

Don't have a subscription yet? Join today: https://jobsitemnasa.org/.

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!

First Session is November 4 at 8:00 am via Zoom!

MASA members and our fellow educational leaders the 2024-25 BIPOC Leadership Group. The goal of this group is to gather with your colleagues for collegiality, discussion, and ideation, focusing on issues of particular interest to BIPOC leaders. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Bernadeia Johnson will again be facilitating the group! The 2025-26 dates are open to all leaders within MASA and beyond! If you know of a colleague who would benefit from attending these sessions, please forward this information to them. Register for the 2025-26 sessions here!

Next Session! October 21, 2025 from 8:00 – 9:00am via Zoom

Thank you to Dr. Michael Thomas, Superintendent of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, for hosting this series again. Please note that at this time, participation in this series is open to only MASA members!

Register for all the 2025-26 sessions here!

Thank you to Dr. Stacie Stanley, Superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools, for facilitating our sessions again this year. The 2025-26 dates are open to all female leaders! If you know of a colleague who would benefit from attending these sessions, please forward this information to them. Register for the 2025-26 sessions here!

members@mnasa.org | www.mnasa.org

P.O. Box 427, Medford, MN 55049

(651) 645-6272

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