Subject: BrightWorks News - Fall 2024

BrightWorks logo

COMPASS (Collaborative Minnesota Partnerships to Advance Student Success) is the statewide system for continuous improvement created through a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the nine Minnesota Service Cooperatives.


COMPASS is designed to guide and support the examination and improvement of systems. Statewide, the COMPASS team strive for equitable outcomes by prioritizing access to strong Tier I instruction for all students.


The BrightWorks COMPASS team provides system-level supports within the Minnesota Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MnMTSS Framework) in the areas of Literacy (READ Act), Math, Culture and Climate, Equitable Access, and Culturally Responsive School Leadership. This support is available to all public districts, schools, and charters in the seven-county metro.


MnMTSS, Minnesota Department of Education, COMPASS, and Minnesota Service Cooperatives logos in a row.

A Note from John Schultz, Executive Director

I want to commend all BrightWorks staff and our partners for having a vision and the will for providing, preparing, and supporting our metro area students and teachers. The BrightWorks COMPASS team is working alongside MDE and a talented and dedicated group of educators to serve districts and schools in the metro.

 

BrightWorks is the first service cooperative to sponsor a teacher apprenticeship program in the State of Minnesota. Our staff leads the sponsorship of the four metro intermediates (Districts 287, 288, 916, and 917). There are 23

Apprentices (paraprofessionals) and 22 Journey Worker teachers well underway with their school years. Apprentices are in their 2nd semester of related technical instruction in Minnesota State University Mankato’s dual licensure ASD/EBD program and applying those skills in the classroom. BrightWorks is also in discussion with additional school districts and higher education institutions who want to partner. View the Apprenticeship Flyer or contact Contact Gina Boots at gina.boots@brightworksmn.org to learn more.


I invite you to attend the annual AMSD/BrightWorks fall policy conference on November 14th at the Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park. The theme of this year’s conference is, It Takes All of Us: Engaging Communities for Educational Excellence. The keynote speaker is Dr. Darrius Stanley from the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development. The conference will also feature a student panel discussion and compelling breakout sessions on a variety of timely topics.


Please let us know how we can support you.


In partnership,

John Schultz

john.schultz@brightworksmn.org

AMSD and BrightWorks 2024 Conference: Engaging Communities for Educational Excellence

BrightWorks COMPASS Team Purpose Statement

The BrightWorks COMPASS team exists to engage in systemic, transformative, and measurable work by centering all students, specifically those institutionally marginalized.

We do this through:

  • Partnering with communities and families to ensure equitable outcomes;

  • Building individual and organizational capacities to support schools in continuous improvement;

  • Challenging conventional beliefs and practices, fostering new ideas and approaches to eliminate disparities in student outcomes throughout our State.


Meet the BrightWorks COMPASS Team!

  • Chris Streiff Oji, Regional COMPASS Director

  • Jeff Aamot, Regional Advocate Lead

  • Ali Alowonle, Regional Advocate

  • Jen Andrews van Horne, Regional Advocate

  • Kim Baartman, Regional Math Lead

  • Jessica Baker, Regional Advocate

  • David Bernard, MnMTSS Regional Lead

  • Raymond Blackledge, Regional Advocate

  • Cristin Craig, Regional Climate and Culture Lead

  • Scott Fitzsimonds, Advocate/Data Analyst

  • Derek Francis, Culturally Responsive Instructional Leadership Regional Lead

  • Nasreen Fynewever, Statewide Family Engagement & Community Engagement Lead

  • Susan Harmon, Regional Literacy Network Coach

  • Mattana Intakong, Regional Advocate

  • Beth Lilja, Regional Literacy Network Coach

  • Lydia Lindsoe, Equitable Access Specialist

  • Julie Luseni, Statewide Lead Advocate

  • Sarah Moffett, Regional Math Coach

  • Kerry Muse, Regional Advocate

  • Ogbiji Okom, Regional Literacy Network Coach

  • Jody Pollnow, Regional Advocate

  • Dawn Resch, Regional Literacy Lead

  • Abby Rombalski, Regional Advocate

  • Jamie Schnack, Regional Advocate

  • Molly Schned, Regional Literacy Network Coach

  • Travis Smith, Regional Advocate

  • Kelly Sokolowski, Regional Literacy Network Coach

  • Brittany Stepan, Communications & Program Coordinator

  • Jane Stevenson, Regional Advocate

  • Amber Winter, Regional Advocate

  • Xue Xiong, Regional Advocate

  • Boonmee Yang, Regional Advocate

  • Eli Zimmerman, Equitable Access Specialist


View COMPASS team members' emails and phone numbers.

Building Our BrightWorks COMPASS System

The BrightWorks COMPASS team is focusing on learning deeply about MnMTSS and Culturally Responsive School Leadership training. We are also building our infrastructure by:

  • Establishing processes and procedures,

  • Gathering baseline data on district supports, and

  • Establishing a system for analyzing the data to provide cohesive supports.

We are excited to share updates from our team members in the sections below.

COMPASS School Improvement Advocate Team

Jeff Aamot and Julie Luseni lead the BrightWorks Advocate Team. There are 15 School Improvement Advocates supporting 147 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) identified charters, schools and/or districts in the seven-county metro region. Each ESSA identified school and/or district participates in a three-year cycle. Currently, we are in the final year of a three-year cycle.


Advocates support the leadership/leadership teams in writing a School Improvement Plan, identifying an evidence-based strategy that aligns with the reason for identification, and using the Continuous Improvement Process to monitor progress towards goals. Some of the examples of the work that the Advocates do for schools is providing support and coaching around running effective Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and facilitating data review conversations at the individual schools as well as at a district level. 

"Our current advocates, Kim B. and Jessica B., are amazing! They have supported us with literacy, math, MnMTSS, and so much more.


Kim is currently working with our grades 6-12 Math teachers. We’ve done various professional development with this team including coaching through the U of M, book studies, and more. Kim has made more impact with alignment to standards, instruction, and mindset than anything we have done in the past.

 

Jessica advocates for us in so many ways. She supports our leaders, principals, teachers to make shifts that positively impact our students and families. Her impact has pushed our system to become more coherent, with more clarity, intentionality, and continuous improvement."


-Tara Thukral, Director of Teaching and Learning, Columbia Heights Public Schools






Group of people linking arms

COMPASS Literacy Team

Dawn Resch leads the BrightWorks Literacy Team, which includes four Regional Literacy Coaches: Susan Harmon, Beth Lilja, Ogbiji Okom, and Molly Schned. The team is committed to building strong relationships with metro schools.


Literacy Team Highlights:

  • Team members are currently going through CAREIALL (Advancing Language and Literacy) professional development.

  • Our first Community of Practice for District Literacy Leads was held on September 25th. Twelve metro districts were represented.

  • Monthly Communities of Practice are launching this fall:

    • District Literacy Leads Community of Practice began on October 22nd. The topic was "K-3 Fall Universal and Dyslexia Screening and Data Review." Meetings will occur monthly through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month. Register for the District Literacy Leads Community of Practice

    • Local Certified Facilitator Community of Practice will begin on November 6th and will occur monthly through May, typically on the first Wednesday of the month.

Please complete the BrightWorks COMPASS Services Request Form to request support.

Students laying on their stomachs and reading books in a library.

COMPASS Equity Team

Cristin Craig, Culture & Climate Lead, and Derek Francis, Culturally Responsive Instructional Lead, along with two Equitable Access Specialists, Lydia Lindsoe and Eli Zimmerman, make up the BrightWorks Equity Team.

This fall, the team has been:

  • Supporting Metro area equity leaders through a monthly collaboration space;

  • Developing and reviewing our internal resources as a team through a critical lens; and

  • Establishing team norms and common understanding for educational equity and Culturally Responsive Instructional Leadership.

Please complete the BrightWorks COMPASS Services Request Form to request support.

Derek Francis presenting to a group of people in a classroom.

The month, Derek Francis (pictured above) led a “Learning About Social Identities in Our Diverse Community” professional development training with 50 transportation and food services staff at Fridley High School.

Teachers learning together and looking at a slideshow presentation in a classroom.

The Metro Area Equity Leaders network met in September at Edina High School. This group will meet monthly.

COMPASS Math Team

The COMPASS Math Team is led by Kim Baartman and Math Coach Sarah Moffett. The role of the COMPASS Math Team is to partner with schools and districts in providing culturally-responsive, evidence-based teaching and learning that ensures every student:

  • Has access to mathematically rigorous grade level mathematics;

  • Is empowered to develop a positive math identity; and 

  • Is college and career ready.  

The math supports through COMPASS are provided through the lens that everyone is a capable mathematician. The Math Team is currently able to provide systemic support in these areas:

  • Evidence-Based Practices - Implementing evidence-based instructional practices and accelerated learning structures for Mathematics

  • MN Math Standards Implementation - Deepening the understanding of standards and learning progressions to support Tier 1 (Core) instruction

You are invited to participate in following learning opportunities, Supporting Implementation of the 2022 Math Standards: 

  • November 13, 2024, 8:30-11:30am in person at BrightWorks

  • January 14, 2025, 4:00-6:00pm via Zoom

  • January 15, 2025, 12:00-2:00pm via Zoom

Register for Supporting Implementation of the 2022 Math Standards.

Please complete the BrightWorks COMPASS Services Request Form to request support.

Student working in a math workbook.

The READ Act
Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Working Group

The Minnesota Department of Education recently commissioned BrightWorks to facilitate the new legislative mandates under the READ Act 2.0, bringing a significant stride toward equitable education.


Under the new legislation, our state must create a Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Working Group to actively work to address the unique needs of students and educators who face challenges with sound-based learning approaches. This initiative, part of the broader READ Act, seeks to ensure inclusive legislative updates. BrightWorks staff Kayna Plaisted and Ingrid Aasan are honored to facilitate this historical work.


Formed with a commitment to improving educational outcomes, the Working Group is focused on creating a comprehensive report for legislators. This report will outline recommendations to enhance educational access and quality by identifying adaptations, modifications, and alternatives to the sound-based approaches found within the READ Act's required screeners, professional development, and approved curriculums.


The legislation identifies the representative members of the working group who will collaborate over the next few months to concentrate on the report's content. To explore the essential components of the READ Act in greater depth, the overall working group has established focus groups dedicated to exploring recommendations for screeners, professional development, and curriculum.


The anticipated report to legislators is not just a document; it's a pivotal step toward fostering an educational landscape that prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity. To date, there does not seem to be any work that parallels Minnesota's efforts to include these populations in statewide legislation like this. Through this initiative, the READ Act Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Working Group is not just laying the groundwork, but it's paving the way for a future where all students can thrive.

Members of the READ Act Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Working Group as identified in the legislation:


Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota


The Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing


The Minnesota State Academies


Metro Deaf School


Intermediate school districts


Regional low-incidence facilitators


A Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher licensure preparation program in Minnesota approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)


Teachers of students who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing




Minnesota Education Policy Fellows visit DC

MNEPF logo

The 2024-2025 metro and rural cohorts of the Minnesota Education Policy Fellowship (MNEPF), along with alumni and BrightWorks & Lakes Country Service Cooperative leaders, participated in a "Washington DC Policy Experience" in September.


During their time in Washington DC, the Fellows visited with think tanks, Minnesota senators, legislators, attended the AESA "Advocacy in Action Conference," and toured the historical sites.


MNEPF is a joint venture of BrightWorks and Lakes Country Service Cooperative in collaboration with the Center for Policy Design. Over the past 47 years, the Fellowship has created a unique public policy network consisting of over 600 Fellows, sponsors, and guests. This Fellowship focuses on state and federal public policy development and the leadership that is necessary to influence policies that will make a positive impact on the educational experiences of Minnesota’s students.


This year-long fellowship features monthly seminars (in-person and virtual), a day at the Minnesota Capitol, and a Washington DC Policy Experience. District and school leaders, educators, and school board members are invited to apply.

Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort will open in March.

The Minnesota Education Policy Fellows standing with Senator Klobuchar.

The Minnesota Education Policy Fellows visited with Senator Klobuchar during their DC Experience.

Creativity Festival & CreativeCon:
The Ultimate STEAM Field Trip

Join us in January for a hands-on field trip for students in grades 3-8 at the University of Minnesota’s Ted Mann Concert Hall. This event expands your students’ imagination, develops their creativity, and strengthens their problem-solving skills. Be a part of this exciting festival where students work side-by-side with STEM and arts professionals during three hands-on breakout sessions following a dynamic opening performance.


Creativity Festival (grades 3-5): January 7 and 8, 2025


CreativeCon (grades 5-8):
January 9, 2025


Register for Creativity Festival or CreativeCon.

2025 Sessions Include:

  • Museum Curating

  • Zip Line Engineering Challenge

  • Watercolor Painting

  • Water Filtration

  • Breakdancing

  • Crop Art

  • Pastels & Cubism

  • Robotic Spirograph Design

  • Immersive Theater

  • Origami

  • Chimes & Hand Bells

  • Civil Engineering & Bridge Building

  • Wool Art


Early bird registration closes November 4th.

Knowledge Bowl: Teamwork is Key!

Both Middle Grades and Senior High Knowledge Bowl registration is open. Knowledge Bowl is a season of academic competitions where students answer questions about history, literature, mathematics, science, current events, and everything in between. Meets take place after school at middle/high schools around the Twin Cities.

Register for Knowledge Bowl.

Lightbulb with a Minnesota-shaped filament hovering above an open book below the words MN Service Cooperative Knowledge Bowl

New Program: Braille Challenge

The Region 11 Low Incidence Project at BrightWorks and SparkPath are working together to coordinate the first Minnesota Braille Challenge! Celebrating its 25th year, the Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind for students in grades 1-12 who are blind or visually impaired. Organized by the Braille Institute, the program marks a quarter century of promoting braille literacy through rigorous academic competitions across the globe.


Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025

Location: BrightWorks/SparkPath, 2 Pine Tree Drive, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Audience: Minnesota students in grades 1-12 who read braille

Theme: “Let’s Go! Let’s Braille!”

Six dot grid with Braille Challenge logo

2025 Young Authors Conference Theme:

Adventure in Every Draft!

The Young Authors Conference (YAC) is an inspiring one-day field trip for students in grades 4-8 who love to read and write. Participants spend a day learning from and writing with professional Minnesota writers. Students gain new strategies and skills to express themselves more effectively, learn to write more

confidently, and bring their ideas and dreams to life on the page.


March 14, 2025

Keynote: Sean Jensen

Early Bird registration deadline: December 13, 2024


May 27-29, 2025

May 27 Keynote: Jacqueline West

May 28-28 Keynote: Shannon Gibney

Early Bird registration deadline: March 4, 2025


Register for the 2025 Young Authors Conference (YAC) today!


Check out the 2024 YAC Impact Report.

Twin Cities Regional Spelling Bee: New Venue!

If you haven't yet enrolled for this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee, now is the time! The Scripps registration fee is $185 per school until October 31st.


The top 50 metro area spellers in grades 4-8 will compete on March 6, 2025 at St. Paul College at the Twin Cities Regional Spelling Bee.


Starting November 1st, the cost of enrollment will increase to $199 per school. Register your school through the Scripps website.

bee logo with an illustration of a bee.

Cooperative Purchasing Connecitons logo next to “Back to School“ spelled out in magnetic letters
Flinn Scientific logo

Cooperative Purchasing Connection (CPC) is thrilled to have Flinn Scientific on contract for this back-to-school season.


To help kick off the new school year, Flinn has shared a back-to-school checklist for your science department. And when you share that checklist with them, make sure they know that they can purchase from Flinn Scientific at 10% off the list price using the CPC Contract. Just use code "CPC" when you place your order online or reference CPC when you're working with a sales representative.

 

And there's more good news! Most orders of over $100 qualify for free shipping! Terms and conditions apply. Learn more about CPC's contract with Flinn Scientific.


Always Mention CPC!

Schools, cities, counties, government agencies, and nonprofits routinely miss out on contractually negotiated benefits because they do not mention CPC to their sales reps. Make sure that your transactions are run on the CPC Contract so that you get all of the benefits that you deserve!


CPC Administration & Support

Cooperative Purchasing Connection is made up of a team of public nonprofit procurement professionals.

 

We love hearing from our members!

info@purchasingconnection.org

1-888-739-3289


CPC: Your Source for Instructional Resources


CPC has a number of contracts that supply Instructional Resources! Click on a vendor's name below to learn more about the discounts and benefits associated with their contract!

 

Some CPC vendors are directly shoppable in Express, our online shopping solution. Prices displayed in Express already have the contractual discount applied and every transaction is compliant with state procurement laws and guidelines. Vendors with products available in Express are noted below.

Editor: Colleen Feller, colleen.feller@brightworksmn.org

BrightWorks is a Minnesota Service Cooperative. Our mission is to support districts and schools in the Minneapolis-St. Paul seven-county metro area.