MASA eUpdate

This week's edition of the "Henton Headlines" features a recommendation to subscribe to William Grube’s AI-focused newsletter, a save-the-date for the Annual MDE Back to School Conference on August 5, and a friendly reminder to pay your annual BOSA fee. Read the full post here.

Applications are now open for the 2025-26 Minnesota Aspiring Superintendents Academy. Proudly sponsored by Sourcewell, this program is designed for educators across the state who are considering the superintendency as a possible next step in their career path. The program provides a comprehensive experience that covers a wide range of topics, including leadership development, communication, school board relationships, decision-making, community engagement, interviewing and contract negotiation, and much more. The program is facilitated by experienced administrators and experts, providing participants with the skills and knowledge needed to lead a school district.

The program will take place across five two-day sessions from October 2025 to April 2026, in Little Canada. Space will be limited. The cost to participate is $1,250. Please note that this is NOT a licensure program. Full information and application can be found here: https://www.mnasa.org/aspiring-superintendents-academy. Application deadline: August 1, 2025

Take a look at our promotional video with testimonials from successful academy graduates – and be sure to share the flyer!

Do you know someone who should attend this academy? Be sure to share this information with them!

The MASA spring newsletter has been published online! You can read the latest edition at www.mnasanews.org.

Hosted via Zoom on April 17

Session Recording

Case Study

Dr. Jon Peterson and Nan Yurecko of Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP) examined different case studies through a Culturally Validating Pedagogy & Leadership lens while exploring how practical tools contribute to positive outcomes for students. This session is a primer to Culturally Validating Pedagogy & Leadership (CVP/L).

Presented by MDE Early Education Division Specialists

Monday, April 28 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

Zoom | Register Here!

This information session focuses on boosting kindergarten attendance by examining successful district strategies and highlighting the importance of engaging communities with high absenteeism rates. Please share with members of your leadership team!

About Our Presenters
Olivia Christensen, PhD., is the Kindergarten and Early Elementary Specialist in the Early Education Division where she supports kindergarten and early elementary related initiatives across the agency.

Kate Dole is an Early Education Specialist in the Early Education Division at MDE. She supports Early Childhood Special Education, as well as early general education initiatives.​

Thank you to all voting members who participated in this year’s election. Your engagement strengthens our association. We also appreciate the candidates who ran for positions on the MASA Board of Directors and the AASA Governing Board. Your leadership makes a difference.

President-Elect (2025–26)

Laurie Putnam, Superintendent, St. Cloud Area School District

Read the full results here!

As part of your MASA membership, we are gathering information on superintendent contracts to support and benefit you. By taking part in this initiative, you’ll have access to valuable salary and benefits data from peers in similar roles, helping you prepare for your own contract negotiations. Please click here to submit your data.

Some frequently asked questions can be found on the MASA website: https://www.mnasa.org/supt-contract-survey.html. Deadline to submit your information is June 6, 2025. Remember, you will obtain this valuable information by contributing your contract details. If you have questions please contact Taylor.Ethen@mnasa.org.

During the legislative session, MASA will be sending out weekly and special updates to members via email. If you missed an update we will be compiling them on the MASA website here: www.mnasa.org/legislative-updates.

MASA members are invited save the dates for a series of virtual legislative updates from MASA Lobbyist Valerie Dosland during the 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session! We are happy to partner again with the Minnesota Association of School Business Officials (MASBO) for these sessions.

All sessions will be held virtually from 12:30 - 1:30 pm from January to May, 2025!. You can find the dates and zoom access to the webinars online at www.mnasa.org/legislative-webinars.

Business Partner Level: Key Level
Audio Enhancement is also a sponsor of the 2025 MN State Breakfast at the AASA National Conference.

Industry: Electronics Manufacturing: Classroom Communication & Engagement, Teacher Crisis Alert, School Paging & Intercom Systems, Instructional Video Recording

Audio Enhancement innovates to create more effective schools through improving technology and the learning environment. Our solutions have been helping schools manage the challenges seen commonly in education, as well as obstacles brought by the pandemic.

Audio Enhancement's solutions are designed to be able to work together or on their own—classroom audio provides clear instruction through masks; classroom video enhances digital content to facilitate effective remote and blended learning; school-wide communication allows for instant flexible scheduling to accommodate staggered schedules; and school safety provides quick communication with office staff to communicate urgent situations.

MASA Member Contact

Emma Waschbusch

Regional Sales Director

Emma.Waschbusch@audioenhancement.com

612-267-2770

https://audioenhancement.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.

June 16-17, 2025

Tech High School, St. Cloud

Registration

View and share the flyer

Join thought leaders in education, policy and industry to harness the power of Generative AI in education. What to expect:

• Inspiring keynotes & expert panels
• Collaboration & action planning
• Focus on creativity, human-AI collaboration & personalized learning
• Ethical discussions on content creation, authorship & agency
• Breakout Sessions that examine how to implement AI with a focus on fairness, safety and continuous improvement.

July 21-24, and August 12-15 dates have been added to the 2025 SRO Training dates. Locations to be held in Fridley and Bemidji. View the flyer for details here!

In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature allocated $7 million in grants to regional emergency communications/services boards to accomplish digital geographic information system (GIS) mapping for facilities managed by a school district, as provided in 2024 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 123, Article 1, Section 18. This applies to public, private, charter, tribal contract schools, Minnesota State Academies, intermediate school districts or cooperative units, the Perpich Center for the Arts, which serve the educational needs of children in early childhood or prekindergarten programs or K-12 students. This program is voluntary for schools.

District Superintendents should expect to receive communication from the regional emergency communications/services boards in which their district resides or their county emergency managers regarding the project and whether districts would like to participate. Read the full information here!

June 16, 2025 | 8:30 am - 4 pm

Breezy Point Resort
Register here!

This training is designed for superintendents seeking to develop and enhance their leadership skills to inspire and support leadership teams and staff in achieving high expectations and fostering continuous growth. Participants will be able to distinguish between management and leadership, incorporating a nuanced understanding of both concepts into their professional practice. Through an exploration of key principles, participants will gain insights into how effective management and leadership can be synergistically employed to achieve organizational success. Participants will explore the multifaceted nature of effective leadership, emphasizing the creation of a positive culture marked by collective efficacy, collaboration, commitment, and trust. Sourcewell is long-time MASA Business Partner at the Premier Level.

Don't miss the latest episode of Rethink Possible from CESO, featuring MASA's own David Law, Superintendent of Minnetonka Schools. Superintendent Law shares strategies for involving students—from having them present at board meetings to serving on committees and participating in forums on public policy issues. He emphasizes the need to constantly reinvent how schools gather student input and the importance of being intentional in setting expectations for student involvement. Listen to the episode here!

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, "Leading the Parade" online at: www.mnasa.org/school-tax-elections.

Communicating how school funding works in Minnesota is no small task—especially with many districts facing tough budgeting decisions. To help, we’ve partnered with Captivate Media + Consulting to create a free video that clearly explains school funding and why so many districts are experiencing financial challenges. A statewide version of the video is available for any district to use at no cost. Watch the video and request a free download here: https://captivatemedia.us/mnschoolfunding/. Captivate Media + Consulting is a proud MASA Business Partner at the Leader Level.

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/.

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.

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!

View the full eUpdate here!

Facilitated by Dr. Stacie Stanley, Superintendent, Edina Public Schools
Last Session: May 9 | 8 - 9 am via Zoom
The final is open to MASA members only

Join the final session here!

If you know of a colleague who would benefit from attending these sessions, please forward this information to them. 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.

Facilitated by Dr. Bernadeia Johnson
Last Session: May 20 | 8 - 9 am via Zoom
Final session open to MASA and non-members

Join the final session here!

MASA members and our fellow educational leaders are invited to join the 2024-25 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Leadership 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.

MASA is pleased to introduce our LGBTQ+ leadership group facilitated by Dr. Teri Staloch, Superintendent of Robbinsdale Area Schools and Nik Lightfood, Assistant Superintendent, Hopkins Public Schools. The goal of this group is to provide a confidential, supportive space for LGBTQ+ school administrators to connect, share their unique experiences, and engage in meaningful discussions. The group sessions will not be recorded. We welcome all MASA and non-member central office administrator level staff and higher to participate in these virtual sessions!

Meetings will be held virtually via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month from 11 a.m. to noon, with the exception of the February and March dates. Full information and all meeting dates can be found at www.mnasa.org/lgbtq-leadership-group.

Facilitated by Dr. Michael Thomas
Next Session: April 22 | 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 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 MASA members only. Full session schedule and information can be found at www.mnasa.org/professional-dialogue-sessions.

members@mnasa.org | www.mnasa.org

P.O. Box 427, Medford, MN 55049

(651) 645-6272

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