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September 2019, Vol. 27, No. 1
edNews is a quarterly publication of the Metropolitan Educational Cooperative Service Unit
Metro ECSU - 2 Pine Tree Drive, Suite 101 - Arden Hills, MN 55112
Front desk: 612-638-1500
edNews Editor: Colleen Feller
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| Educators: feed your brain with Metro ECSU's excellent fall workshop lineup
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| English Learners (EL)
Best Practices Training for Paraprofessionals presented by Miriam Yang September
25, 2019 8:30am – 3:00pm at Metro ECSU
As
your responsibilities as a paraprofessional increase, do you feel prepared to
work with the students you serve? Demographics of students across the state are
changing and more often, the students we work with have a multilingual
background. Students who have more than one language are truly an asset to our
communities but they need extra language support to be truly successful in the
classroom. Join us to enhance your understanding of English language learners
and leave with strategies you can use to increase their academic success.
Miriam Yang is a professional educator with 15 years of
experience teaching English Learners (ELs). She has worked with ELs at
all levels, grades K-12, as well as one-on-one tutoring with adult ELs.
Miriam is a dedicated advocate for Best Practices in EL instruction;
sheltered instruction, co-teaching, racial equity and culturally
responsive instruction. She has led professional development for
mainstream and EL teachers alike in various topics as a consultant and a
teacher leader. Miriam has a Master’s degree in English as a Second
Language and a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics. |
| | Co-Teaching Basics
presented by Martina Wagner October 8, 2019 8:30am – 3:30pm at Metro ECSU
This session is ideal for those co-teachers who are
new to co-teaching, beginning a new co-teaching partnership, or have not yet
had formal professional development on co-teaching.Bring your co-teaching partner! Register
Martina Wagner, Ed.D. has served English Language learners for over
twenty years in grades pre-K through adult education. Her expertise
includes best practice and programming for ELs, sheltered instruction, co-teaching, special education identification of ELs, WIDA standards,
and English Language Learning assessments and data. Martina’s
background in co-teaching spans from classroom to district implementation,
professional developer, instructional coach, as well as strategic
district action planning and implementation. Martina has done extensive
research throughout the United States on co-teaching and currently
serves public, private, and charter schools as a professional
development consultant. |
| | Respond Not React presented by Angie
Ellsworth October 30, 2019 8:30 am – 3:00 pm at Metro ECSU
Can’t teach because of misbehavior?
Already predicting how the year might end? Join us for motivation and
inspiration with practical, easy to use verbal and non-verbal strategies that
will build your confidence and capacity in handling students who misbehave. Register
Angie
Ellsworth, MS, LSW, LSC, began her career
working with people with disabilities and has spent the past 18 years working
with children ages 5-16 with academic, behavioral, and mental health
challenges. She maintains her licenses while working as a behavior specialist
at a Rochester elementary school and provides staff development district wide,
as well as training and coaching around the state. Angie is trained in PBIS
systems implementation and interventions, Love and Logic (R), Restorative
Justice, Crisis Prevention and De-escalation, Why Try? Resiliency Education and
is an ENVoY (R) non-verbal behavior management coach and certified teacher. She
embeds research on brain functioning and growth mindset into her approach and
incorporates culturally responsive and trauma-sensitive experiential learning
techniques.
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| | Amplifying the Will & Skill
Needed to Address Educational Inequity presented by Seema Pothini November 14, 2019 8:30 am – 3:30 pm at Metro ECSU
This workshop will offer an unique opportunity to go beyond what we have learned
about equity and diversity to focus on sresponse strategies and ways to redress inequities in classrooms, schools and the greater educational
community.
Seema G. Pothini's passion for creating equitable classrooms and
schools drives her commitment as an advocate for underserved youth. She has
extensive experience improving student success in historically underperforming
schools and while teaching in Houston, was elected Teacher of the Year in her
region and appointed to the superintendent's committee to address the
opportunity gap. In addition to teaching, she has worked as a K-12 cultural
integration specialist and consultant. Seema served as board president for
Avenues for Homeless Youth and currently serves as president of the Minnesota
chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education. She is also
co-author of Case Studies for Equity and Social Justice Education (with Paul
Gorski). |
| | | Curious about SBC's student programs? Check out our Virtual Open House! |
| | | SBC launches its first Senior High Young Authors Conference (YAC)! |
| SBC is very excited to announce that its first Senior High (9th-12th grade) Young Authors Conference will be March 20, 2020 at Bethel University.
This pilot conference will be limited to 120 students and will run concurrently with our 4th-8th grade YAC (participants will attend separate sessions in a different part of campus than the 4th-8th grade writers).
The Senior High YAC keynote is Michael Torres (pictured above), a writer and poet with a great story.
At the Young Authors Conference, students strengthen their writing skills and learn new strategies. Breakout sessions are taught by Minnesota authors and professional writers.
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| | SBC's "Creatives" cultivate curiosity,
divergent thinking, and creative freedom! |
| The Creativity Festival is an eye-opening field trip for students
in 3rd through 5th grades that takes place at Ted Mann Concert Hall on the
University of Minnesota campus. Students attend a dynamic opening and 3
interactive break-out sessions led by professionals in the arts and STEM
fields.
93% of students at Creativity
Festival learned that creativity and problem-solving is a skill that can be
practiced and strengthened (2018-2019 evaluation data).
School groups can select availability for January 7 or 8, 2020.
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| CreativeCon challenges students
in 5th through 8th grades to learn that creativity is an essential part of problem solving. This
year, CreativeCon is moving from a November date at the Science Museum to January 9, 2020 at University of Minnesota, which means:- Students will
experience an energizing opening performance/keynote in addition to three
interactive breakout sessions
- More breakout sessions will be offered
- Students will experience a day on a college campus
92% of students thought CreativeCon
presenters provided real-world examples of how to use creativity and problem
solving (2108-2019 evaluation data).
School groups can sign up to
attend January 9, 2020. |
| The opening performance at the Creatives this year is the Sampson
Brothers (pictured below), demonstrating and educating about Indigenous Hoop Dancing. |
| | Breakout Sessions at the Creatives include (more to come!): - Indigenous Hoop Dancing by the
Sampson Brothers
- Animating the Impossible Machine
by John Akre
- Pewter Mini-Sculptures by Pedal to
the Metal
- Theater for the Heart & Mind by Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater
- OzoBot Bits and OzoBot Evos by the UMN
Computer Sci & Engineering Department
- The Art in Advertising by Heidi
Everett
- Build a Hand by Healthforce
Minnesota
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| | Knowledge Bowl: A power competition!
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Middle Grades Knowledge Bowl (grades 6-8)
Join us forGREAT after-school academic competition that focuses on teamwork, strategic
thinking, and leadership. Work as a team
to flex your recall, build critical thinking skills, and practice problem
solving while increasing your knowledge of just about everything.
Go
head-to-head against hundreds of other students this season and join the KB
excitement! The Middle Grades season runs November – February.
Senior High Knowledge Bowl (grades 9-12) Senior High Knowledge Bowl is an after-school smarts and strategy competition. It runs from January through April (including post season schedule). About 130 teams from across the metro area play-- St. Francis to Prior Lake, Hastings to Waconia. Each team competes in three regular season meets and qualifying teams advance to post season play consisting of a Subregional meet, Regional meet and State meet. Coaches are required to accompany their team(s) to each meet and to act as meet officials (training provided).
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| | Young Authors Conference (YAC) celebrates 30th Anniversary!
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| 2020 YAC Theme: Words Have Power
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| At the Young Authors Conference (lovingly, YAC) students in grades 4-8 adopt new strategies, ideas, and skills to become a better writer.
The 2020 YAC theme is Words Have Power. Words and stories hold tremendous power: they spark imagination, inspire confidence, help heal, honor family, show gratitude, demonstrate kindness, and share truth. |
| Geoff Herbach, our March keynote, is the author of 10 novels, including those in the Stupid Fast trilogy, Fat Boy vs. The Cheerleaders, and Hooper. His new book, Cracking the Bell, hits
shelves in September of 2019. Geoff's accolades include the Cybils
Award for best YA fiction and the Minnesota Book Award. In the past,
Geoff wrote and performed comedy and traveled around the country
telling weird stories in rock clubs. Geoff teaches writing at Minnesota
State, Mankato and loves presenting at YAC.
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| Kevin Kling, renowned Minnesota storyteller, will keynote the May conference. Kevin has written plays for
children that have premiered at the Children's Theatre Company in
Minneapolis and Seattle Children's Theater. His one-person shows and
full cast plays have been produced at regional theaters such as The
Guthrie and The Kennedy Center. Kevin has written 5 books and appears
often on PBS and Minnesota Public Radio. Kevin is most proud of his
work as a teacher, playwright and performer with Interact Center, a
company that creates art in the spirit of radical inclusion. |
| | STEMLink registration opens September 24 at 10:00am
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This 5th and 6th grade higher-ed and career readiness program fills fast... so don't forget to make a plan to reserve your spots! Registration links will be posted on the STEMLink homepage
95% of STEMLink students said they were provided with real-world examples of STEM work and workers (2018-2019 evaluation data).
90% of STEMLink students described the sessions they attended as interesting, hands-on, or challenging (2018-2019 evaluation data).
This year, STEMLink takes place at 3 colleges and registration opens September 24 for the following program dates:
- March 12, 2020 at Dunwoody College
- May 15, 2020 at Normandale College
- May 21, 2020 at Century College
Have a large group? If you are interested in registering 80+ students for the same date, please email or call Betsy Narr at 612-638-1536 for priority registration. |
| | | Clean Water: Tap Into Tomorrow is the 2019-2020 Future City Competition theme
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| Students in grades 6-8 are invited to participate in the annual Minnesota Future City Competition. Students teams are guided by an educator and a volunteer engineer mentor to imagine, design, and create a city of the future. This year, students are challenged to choose a threat to their city’s water supply and design a resilient system to maintain a reliable supply of clean water.
Minnesota's first place team will compete at the National Future City Competition in February 2020.
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| | Introducing SBC's U of MN intern
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| SBC is participating in the University of Minnesota’s Community Service Program and is thrilled to introduce you to our student intern, Megan Felton! Megan is a third-year student at the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities. She is studying to teach 5th-12th grade English.
She says, "I attended the Young Author's Conference as a young student, and the opportunity to coordinate this amazing event and many events like it will be a life changing experience. I am eager to work with bright students at our events, and intrigued to observe the great minds at work!" |
| | Metro ECSU Networks: An opportunity to learn from colleagues around the metro
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| Metro ECSU currently hosts four different professional networks, offering members time to meet on a monthly basis or
bi-monthly basis to discuss current trends and share ideas. Each network was created in response to requests
from member district staff.
Affinity Group: Staff
of Color
Network meetings: October 1, 2019; January 28, 2020; May 19, 2020
8:30am - 11:30pm at Metro ECSU
This network is for staff of color and others interested in these conversations. This network supports on-going dialogue on issues impacting professional and career
development for staff of color, while creating a space for staff of color to
gain insights and support from others around the metro. Register |
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Bicultural Liaison
Network
Network meetings: October 29, 2019; December 10, 2019; February 4, 2020; April 14, 2020
10:00am - 12:00pm at Metro ECSU
The
Bicultural Liaison Professional Network is designed to support liaisons and interpreters that work in a school setting. Bicultural liaisons serve as
bridges between staff and families. By building a strong community of
professionals, the network will work to solve current issues and provide
professional development opportunities for attendees. Register |
| Friday
Forum Network
Network meetings: September 20, 2019; November 22,
2019; January 17, 2020; April 17, 2020 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm - location rotates between Metro ECSU and Bloomington Education Services Center
Collaborate
with other gifted and talented professionals to discuss current issues in
gifted education. Register |
| Homeschool Liaison
Network
Network meetings: September 18, 2019; November 13, 2019; January 15, 2020; April 15, 2020 from 1:00pm - 3:00 pm at Fairview Community Center in Roseville
District liaisons to families who
are homeschooling are invited to join in the collegial sharing of ideas,
resources and concerns through the Metro ECSU Homeschool Liaison Network. Register |
| | PBIS in Minnesota by the numbers
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In August 20 teams from PBIS Cohort 14 and 16 NEW
Cohort 15 teams prepared for the start of their 2019-20 school year with PBIS
Cohort Training. These 36 school teams from across the metro area have been
added to the ever-growing total of 321 schools in 69 districts!
SW-PBIS (School-Wide Positive Behavioral Intervention and
Supports) is a framework or approach for assisting school personnel in adopting
and organizing evidence-based behavioral interventions into an integrated
continuum that enhances academic and social behavior outcomes for all students.
The first SW-PBIS training in Minnesota was offered to schools in 2005. As of
August 2019, 769 Minnesota schools are in training or have completed the
two-year cohort training. The Minnesota SW-PBIS initiative now includes 37% of
Minnesota schools, impactin over 353,075 students, or 40% of MN students.
Is PBIS a part of the culture at your school or district? NO? Contact your Regional Implementation
Coordinator for the metro area, Lauren Sparr, or visit the MN PBIS website to learn
more!
Field Trip for Educators! PBIS School Tour!
Interested in seeing what a PBIS school looks like? Sounds
like? Feels like? Witness PBIS in action at five diverse, sustaining schools around the metro. Share ideas & learn with other PBIS Coaches.
Schools included in the tour: Humboldt
High School (6-12), Randolph Heights Elementary (K-5), Ramsey Middle
School (6-8), Farnsworth PreK-4 Lower Campus, Riverview West Side School
(PreK-5 English/Spanish Dual Immersion)
What: PBIS School Tour
When: September 20, 2019 at
7:45am
Where: Meet at the First Covenant Church parking lot, 1280 Arcade Street, St. Paul, MN 55106
Cost: Free
Details: School Tour Flyer |
| | Get more with Cooperative Purchasing! |
| Cooperative Purchasing Connection (CPC), a
program offered through the MN Service Cooperatives (MSC) and Metro ECSU, is excited to
announce that Julia Dangerfield and Jerome Evans have joined the CPC team. Jerome is here to help Region 11 schools and districts save time and
money by connecting them with competitively solicited contracts that can be accessed
at no cost. Julia performs the same role for the other MSC regions. CPC contracts
currently cover more than 2,500 brands from well-known companies like CDWG, Lakeshore Learning, and
Innovative Office Solutions. See all of the
contracts at www.purchasingconnection.org/category Thank you for supporting
CPC and Metro ECSU! |
| | Maximize your leadership effectiveness with Metropolitan Education Leaders Network workshops! |
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The
series is designed for all education leaders – Instructional Leaders,
Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Coordinators, Principals, Assistant
Principals, Q Comp Coordinators, Lead Teachers, Peer Reviewers, and other interested district/school leaders. All workshops take place at Metro ECSU, 2 Pine Tree Drive, Arden Hills, MN 55112. |
| The first workshop,
October 24, 2019, features The Five Voices: Transforming Team Communication
with Rynell Schock, Giant Worldwide. Two identical sessions are offered, 8:30-11:30am, and 12:30-3:30pm.
Experience the power of the 5 Leadership Voices. All five leadership
voices come with their own particular set of strengths, and all have
areas for growth. In this workshop Rynell will share simple tools and
strategies that immediately transform how leaders see themselves and
others in their circles of their influence.
Participants will: - Identify the foundational Voice you use.
- Celebrate the contribution your Voice brings.
- Learn the negative impact your Voice can have on others.
Two follow-up sessions will be offered to dig deeper into creating healthy communication in teams. |
| | The second workshop in the
series is Leading with Intention with Jeanne Spiller on November 6, 2019. Two identical sessions are offered, 8:30-11:30am, and 12:30-3:30pm.
Join us and discover actionable steps for staff collaboration,
evidence-based decision making, and change leadership that will ensure
student learning comes first. Explore eight interrelated areas of school
leadership that make it easy for leaders to focus on strategies that get
results.
Participants will acquire 40+ specific instructional leadership actions that they can put into practice immediately. |
| | Metro ECSU welcomes new staff members
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| Ann Mayes is the new Statewide DeafBlind Specialist.
Ann is a licensed teacher in the areas of
deaf/hard of hearing education and elementary education. Ann has been teaching
students who are deaf/hard of hearing, including those with special learning
and communication needs, for 30 years in all placement
settings. She has been an itinerant, resource, self-contained, and day school
teacher.
Ann has served in leadership roles as both a lead teacher and a dean
of special education. Along with mentoring teachers, paraprofessionals,
educational interpreters, and deafblind interveners, Ann has provided
specialized support to teams in the area of deafblindness for the past nine
years. She is also fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and has been learning
ProTactile from her friends in the deafblind community. Ann is also highly
skilled at using Cued Speech as a tool to support English language development.
Ann has provided many professional development workshops and support to
teachers of special education, district deafblind interveners, sign language
interpreters, cued language transliterators and paraprofessionals throughout
the state. Ann has also been involved with the Collaborative Plan facilitated
by the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing, as a
lead contributor in the development of webinars and a discussion guide for
parents and professionals.
In her spare time, Ann is a deaf mother of four
adult children, an avid reader, and a happy gardener. Contact Ann at 612-638-527 (Videophone) or 612-314-9130 (Text only) or ann.mayes@metroecsu.org |
| | Bianca Virnig is the new
Health and Safety Specialist at Metro ECSU.
Bianca previously worked for MN OSHA Compliance and Consultation,
specializing in healthcare and schools. She transitioned from OSHA to Hennepin
County where she spent the last eight years as a
Workplace Safety Specialist in Facility Services.
At Hennepin County, Bianca oversaw the health and safety
program for approximately 3500 Human Services and Public Health employees. She
developed online training, managed and participated in multiple safety
committees, investigated accidents and injuries, provided counsel on OSHA
investigations, developed programs and policies and so much more. Beyond
safety, she led an effort to improve access to lactation rooms for staff and
supported an effort to provide and identify single- user restrooms in county
locations.
Over the years, Bianca’s work expanded beyond health and
safety to also include accessibility. She is a Certified Accessibility
Specialist and a Certified ADA Coordinator. At Hennepin County, she managed a
capital budget to address ADA modifications.
She also worked with Design and Construction as well as Building
Management to address health, safety and accessibility concerns in county spaces.
She evaluated reasonable accommodation requests for space modifications, worked
to develop design standards, partnered with a consulting firm to conduct ADA
site reviews and worked with facilities staff to determine how to prioritize
modifications.
Bianca has extensive knowledge and experience in
implementing practical solutions to health, safety and accessibility
challenges. She is very excited to join
the Metro ECSU team and looks forward to putting her skill set to work for our
members. Contact Bianca at
612-638-1512 or bianca.virnig@metroecsu.org |
| | Highlights on Health and Safety |
| Upcoming Health and Safety Events at Metro ECSU - 10/10/19 - Health and Safety Meeting, 9am-11am, Active
Shooter Protocols
- 11/14/19 - Health and Safety Meeting, 9am-11am, Evacuation of
Mobility Impaired Students/Fire Code Updates
- 11/18/19 - Reg Unlicensed Electrician Training, 8am-11am
- 12/05/19 - Health and Safety Meeting, 9am-11am, Machine
Guarding
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| | As summer wanes, fall slowly emerges with the change of
color and we begin our descent into winter and the holidays. Cooler weather
means fewer mosquitoes, but it’s important that you and your family are aware that
the risk of mosquito-borne diseases is highest in August and September. Go to
the MN
Dept of Health, to learn more about protecting yourself and
the environment from mosquitoes.
September - National Preparedness month
Disasters and
emergencies can happen at anytime and it’s important to be prepared. A basic
supply kit, family plan, being informed and knowing your community can help you
better plan for the unexpected. To be prepared and not scared, check out Ready.gov or download the FEMA app to
get tips on how to survive a disaster, create an emergency checklist, receive
emergency alerts, locate resources, share photos and stay connected.
October 6-12, 2019 - National Fire Prevention week
“Not
Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” campaign aims to
educate everyone on simple ways to keep safe. Preplanning your escape route,
testing your smoke alarms, having an outside meeting place, regular reminders,
and practicing can help you make the most of the little time you have to get
out safely in a fire. To learn more, check
out Fire Prevention Week.
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| November: falling temperatures and the first few snowflakes
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| Metro ECSU wishes you a fabulous start to the school year!
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