MASA eUpdate

This week's edition of the "Henton Headlines" features materials from the first Budget Reductions and Strategies session, USDE Al Toolkit for Schools, and dates for the 2025 MDE/MASA Back to School Conference! Read the full post here.

In case you missed it!
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Laurie Putnam, Superintendent of St. Cloud Area Schools, has been named the 2025 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year! Dr. Putnam's visionary leadership and dedication to equity, inclusion, and student success have made a lasting impact on her district and the entire state. Join us in celebrating her incredible achievements and commitment to fostering excellence in education! Congratulations, Dr. Putnam! Read the full story here!

MASA is pleased to introduce our LGBTQ+ affinity group facilitated by Dr. Teri Staloch, Superintendent of Robbinsdale Area 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 affinity group sessions will not be recorded. We welcome MASA members who identify as LGBTQ+ to participate in these virtual sessions!

Register for all the sessions here!

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. Participants will determine topics for upcoming meetings at this first meeting! The first session is November 21 at 11 am!

Full information and all meeting dates can be found at www.mnasa.org/lgbtq-affinity-group.

2025 MDE/MASA Back to School Conference
August 5, 2025 | Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, Brooklyn Park!
Stay Tuned for More Info!

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 10:00 – 11:00 am

Add to Calendar | Zoom Registration

Presented by:

Jim Ciemny, Licensed Mental Health Clinician and K-12 Principal
Dr. Lauren Fulkerson, Pediatrician, Wellness Coach, and Mental Health Advocate
Panos Efsta, Founder and Chief Pioneer of Dawn Health

This session will explore how MN Schools and Dawn Health can collaborate to support student well-being and empower families through comprehensive mental health services. We will discuss the benefits of partnering to provide proactive interventions, addressing both mental and metabolic health needs within your school community. Together, we can create a thriving environment for students and their families.

Join MASA for strategy sessions aimed at helping school district leaders navigate the challenges of budget reductions. Metro-area superintendents will share their experiences and strategies for managing cuts, engaging staff and community, and maintaining vital programs. Attendees will be encouraged to share their budget challenges, offer their insights, and engage with colleagues to work through common issues! Full information and FAQs: www.mnasa.org/budget-strategy.

All sessions will be held in person. No virtual participation will be offered. Register for a session here!

Session Details

November 1 | 10 - 11:30 am | Add to calendar

Southeast Service Cooperative, Rochester

November 5 | 10 - 11:30 am | Add to calendar

Arrowhead Regional Computing Consortium, Hermantown

Attendees are invited to stay for lunch, please register by November 1 so we can have an accurate count!

December 12 | 1 - 2:30 pm | Add to calendar

Northwest Service Cooperative, Erskine

December 19 | 10 - 11:30 am | Add to calendar

SWWC Service Cooperative, Redwood Falls

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!

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.

Dates and Times

All sessions will be held virtually from 12:30 - 1:30 pm!

January 17

January 31

February 14

February 28

March 14

March 28

April 11

April 25

May 22

Full information and Zoom links will be sent to members and included in the eUpdate in the coming weeks!

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.

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!

The Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA) is proud to announce that Matt Hillmann, Superintendent of Northfield Public Schools, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Most Supportive Administrator of the Year Award. This distinguished award recognizes administrators who champion community education programs and demonstrate exceptional support for community-driven educational initiatives. Read the full story here! Congratulations, Dr. Hillmann!

Dr. Charles Rick, Perpich Center for Arts Education Executive Director, is retiring from Perpich with over five years of service. His last day will be Friday, November 22nd. Charles started at Perpich in August of 2019. When asked to reflect on his time at Perpich, Charles offered, "Perpich is a special community and I am glad to have been part of it the past few years. I truly want to thank the Board of Directors and the Perpich staff, faculty, and students for their support. My takeaway from my experiences at Perpich Center for Arts Education is the vast amount of talent and dedication for arts education in Minnesota. It has been my honor, as Executive Director, to advocate for arts education." Read the full story here!

Episode 9: Simultaneously Consolidating Districts & Passing a Referendum
Listen Here!

Host Bob McDowell, Ed.D. talks with Noel Schmidt, Ed.D., Superintendent of Rock Ridge Public Schools, who shares how to focus on the importance of two key strategies in managing change in education: going slow to go fast and finding out what the average person really thinks. Noel highlights how he and his team implemented strategies to uncover the opinions of the majority rather than the negative few. Superintendent Schmidt dives into the process of consolidating two school districts and building new facilities while developing new programs and connecting with the community to strengthen the project-based learning systems.

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.

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, "​Laying the Foundation, Part 1" online at: www.mnasa.org/school-tax-elections.

You can find the full information online here!

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. Stacie Stanley, Superintendent, Edina Public Schools

Seven more sessions left! | November 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.

Facilitated by Dr. Bernadeia Johnson

Seven sessions left! | November 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. Michael Thomas

Six sessions remaining! | November 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 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.

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:

• 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.

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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