Opportunities for educators, administrators & students from Metro ECSU & SBC 🍎

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Subject: Opportunities for educators, administrators & students from Metro ECSU & SBC 🍎

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September 2022, Vol. 30, No. 1

edNews Editor: Colleen Feller

Metro ECSU & Success Beyond the Classroom

are your partners for an impactful school year!

Metro ECSU, one of the Minnesota Service Cooperatives, serves K-12 schools and districts in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area. Learn more

Success Beyond the Classroom, a 501c3 non-profit organization, houses Metro ECSU's student enrichment programs, such as Knowledge Bowl & Young Authors Conference. Learn more

Metro ECSU hosts annual School Nurses Conference

After a two-year hiatus of in-person events, Metro ECSU was excited to partner with the Minnesota Department of Health, School Nurse Association of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Education to host The Fundamentals of School Nursing Conference, a two-day event held in August at Metro ECSU. The building felt so alive with an amazing turnout of 115 new licensed school nurses (LSNs) and many incredible speakers.

During the conference, our speakers were able to train the new LSNs in the following areas: Leadership, Standards of Practices, Quality Improvement, and Public Health. These areas are key components of the school nursing framework. We are grateful to our partners from the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) for their time and for the staff from Child and Teen Checkup, who taught LSNs how to do vision and hearing screenings.

After attending this information-packed conference, we are confident our new school nurses will be able to go out into the field and provide the best care to the children we serve.

Metro ECSU is excited to host this two-day conference again next year!

Save the date: August 8-9, 2023 at Metro ECSU.

For more information, contact Bianca Virnig, Director of Health and Safety, at 612-638-1512.

Metro ECSU's Health & Safety Program invites you to upcoming fall meetings

Thursday, October 20th, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 17th, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Both meetings will be held in person at Metro ECSU.

The information provided in these meetings will help districts and schools address health and safety issues and develop programs that

comply with regulations and mandates, protect health and safety conditions, and safely manage materials in a school environment.

Meeting topics have included:

Employee Right to Know (ERTK)
OSHA Recordkeeping and First Reports of Injury
ADA Accessibility
Science Lab Safety
Emergency Preparedness
Hazardous Waste Assessments
Fire Code Updates
Electrical Code, ARC Flash, NFPA 70E
Fall Protection

If your school/district is not a Metro ECSU or Metro ECSU Health and Safety program member, please contact Brittany Stepan, Health & Safety Program Coordinator, to register for these meetings. The per-session cost for non-members is $20/person or $50/district.

You are welcome to send your questions in advance of the meetings to Metro ECSU Director of Health & Safety, Bianca Virnig.

K-12 Principals: You are invited to a Community of Practice

A “Community of Practice” is a group of individuals with similar roles and responsibilities coming together to share ideas and best practices. We will spend our time discussing important topics and strategizing around solutions. These meetings are a time for principals to connect and build relationships with other principals while increasing their capacity to improve practice. We will collaboratively determine topics of interest and need for the cohort during our first meeting. New and veteran principals are welcome to attend. This opportunity is limited to 20 principals.

Register

Event Flyer

Registration deadline: October 6, 2022

Who: K-12 principals

Facilitator: Chris Streiff Oji, Ed.D.

In-person meetings will be held at Park Tavern, 3401 Louisiana Ave S, St. Louis Park, 55426.

Virtual meetings will be held via Zoom.

Dates (all are Thursdays):

October 6, 2022 (in-person at Park Tavern)

November 3, 2022 (virtual)

December 1, 2022 (in-person at Park Tavern)

January 5, 2023 (virtual)

February 2, 2023 (in-person at Park Tavern)

March 2, 2023 (virtual)

April 6, 2023 (in-person at Park Tavern)

May 4, 2023 (virtual)

Time: 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Fee (for the whole series of meetings):

$100/person - Metro ECSU Member

$150/person - Non-Member

*Food/drinks available for individual purchase at the in-person sessions.

Chris Streiff Oji is a former principal at the elementary and secondary level and led Staff Development and Continuous Improvement at the District level. She developed the FISH! For Schools Curriculum and consulted with school districts across the U.S. to improve culture and climate in schools. Chris has completed the NAESP Leadership Immersion Institute on coaching & mentoring principals.

For more information about the Community of Practice, contact Chris at

chris.streiff.oji@metroecsu.org

For questions about registration, contact Brittany at

brittany.stepan@metroecsu.org

Let's Go D.E.E.P. with Calvin Terrell!

Developing Effective Equity Plans

Who: District administrators, principals, equity leadership teams, and others focused on developing effective equity plans.

What: Through a series of in-person and virtual workshops, Calvin's social Centric Global Literacy curriculum will focus on three lines of action: personal evolution, interpersonal collaboration, and operational outcomes. We will support your team in developing a district or site equity plan aligned with the Minnesota Equity in Action Framework.

Register

Event Flyer

Registration deadline: October 20, 2022

Meeting Dates (In Person & Virtual):

October 25 & 26, 2022, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (In Person)

November 7 & 21, 2022, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Virtual)

December 5, 2022, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Virtual)

January 11, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (In Person with Youth)

February 6 & 13, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Virtual)

March 6 & 20, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Virtual)

May 1, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Virtual)

Tuition:

Metro ECSU Member - $1,250/person or $1,000/person for three or more participants

Regular Rate (Non-Members) - $1,500/person or $1,250/person for three or more participants

*Tuition includes 53 CEUs and a box lunch on in-person training days.

Location for In-Person Meetings: Metro ECSU, 2 Pine Tree Drive, Arden Hills 55112

For more information about this opportunity, contact Chris at

chris.streiff.oji@metroecsu.org

For questions about registration, contact Brittany at

brittany.stepan@metroecsu.org

The Association of Metropolitan School District's fall conference, this year co-sponsored with Metro ECSU, is scheduled for Thursday, November 10th from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest.

The theme of the 2022 conference is “Creating Community, Connections & Culture,” and will feature Kevin Kling, who will show humor and storytelling can build one's resilience.

The conference will also include several breakout sessions including addressing racial harm, hosted by Lisa Sayles-Adams and Eastern Carver County School Leaders; race and mental health, hosted by Jimmie Heags; experiential learning, hosted by Steve Rippe; and resilience, ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and trauma recovery, hosted by David Read Johnson and Char Myklebust.

The conference will also feature post-conference affinity group/networking sessions at the venue.

Registration will open on Monday, September 26th. Additional information can be found on the conference website: www.amsd.org/reimagine2022

Questions? Contact Chris Streiff Oji

Sourcewell & Metro ECSU Present

2023 IMPACT Education Conference:

Making Connections in a Digital World

Date: Saturday, January 7, 2023

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location:

Minneapolis Marriott Northwest

7025 Northland Dr N, Brooklyn Park

Fee: $199/person; $239/person after November 15

Conference and Registration Information

Additional conference opportunities:

Become a sponsor

Want to reach educators? Partner with us to make this conference memorable and impactful - plus, connect with hundreds of educators. Learn more

Lead a breakout session

Here's your chance to excite and engage educators from across Minnesota as a breakout session presenter! What tools, techniques, resources, or "ways-of-doings" do you have that elevate best practices in modern learning and impact students? We want to know!

Read the Proposal Submission Guide
Gather your information and submit your proposal by October 24, 2022.

Registration is open! Early bird pricing only $199. $239 after November 15

Metro ECSU welcomes many new staff members!

We want to introduce our new colleagues, who joined the Metro ECSU team during the spring and summer:

Linnea Devine, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Jen Guettler, Coordinator, Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Minnesota Low Incidence Projects
Kim Guettler, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Becky Hudlow, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Mary Heiman, Health Services Coordinator
Jenna Londgren, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Jess Moen, Statewide EHDI Specialist, Minnesota Low Incidence Projects Coordinator
Kevin Monagan, Program Associate, Success Beyond the Classroom & MNCOE/PBIS Support
Char Myklebust, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Brittany Stepan, Program Coordinator, Health & Safety Support
Chris Streiff Oji, Professional Development Strategist
Allie Taylor, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Pam Walcher, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Anna Warn, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Dawn Wilson, COVID Workforce Grant, Health Support
Blia Xiong, COVID Workforce Grant, Administrative Support

Metro ECSU Staff Directory

Chris Streiff Oji joined Metro ECSU this summer as a Professional Development Strategist.

Originally from Los Angeles, Chris has lived most of her adult life in Minnesota and has spent the last 26 years in the field of Education as a teacher, then principal at the elementary and secondary level in White Bear Lake and Rochester, Minnesota.

In Rochester, Chris led Staff Development and Continuous Improvement for the Rochester Public Schools. She developed FISH! For Schools, a curriculum focused on improving school culture and climate through building strong relationships between and among students and staff.

Chris has facilitated challenging conversations across the U.S. with a focus on providing safe and welcoming communities for all students and families. In addition, she has led strategic planning with site leadership teams and believes trusting relationships are critical in healthy organizations and that data should drive the necessary conversations when it comes to school improvement.

She is passionate about meeting the needs of all students and, as a Professional Development Strategist, supporting others in doing this work. She is excited to join the amazing staff at Metro ECSU and serve Twin Cities metro school districts!

Chris belongs to the White Bear Lake Rotary Club and serves on the White Bear Lake Area School Board. She is a wife, mom of four, and grandmother of three. Chris enjoys time with family, traveling the world, cooking, and paddle boarding.

Reach Chris at chris.streiff.oji@metroecsu.org or 612-638-1542.

Brittany Stepan joined Metro ECSU this summer as a Program & Communications Coordinator.

Brittany Stepan has over six years of administrative experience in the healthcare field as well as a bachelor’s in organizational communications from Metropolitan State University.

Brittany has a strong background in working in diverse cultural settings and is very passionate about working with others. Brittany is very much looking forward to working more hands-on at Metro ECSU by providing support for programs and services.

Brittany currently serves on the board of directors for a St. Paul non-profit as the publicity chair and is also part of a folk-dance group within the organization. She also enjoys traveling and is planning to visit her two sisters in Argentina this winter.

Reach Brittany at brittany.stepan@metroecsu.org or 612-638-1526.

Kevin Monagan joined the Metro ECSU team this summer as a Program Associate working with Success Beyond the Classroom student programs and with PBIS and MNCoE initiatives.

Kevin grew up in Connecticut and moved to Minnesota to complete his undergraduate degree at UMN; he graduated in 2021 with a build-your-own-major program with concentrations in English, Psychology, and Political Science.

Kevin's professional experiences include advocating for voting reform and equitable elections with FairVote Minnesota, a non-profit based in Saint Paul. He has always been interested in working to support education and educational programs.

Kevin lives in Minneapolis with his girlfriend Hannah, bunnies Henry and Mabel, bearded dragon Zuko, and way too many plants and books. He enjoys exploring the Twin Cities, hiking, swimming, writing, and hunting for vintage furniture.

Reach Kevin at kevin.monagan@metroecsu.org or 612-638-1521.

Jess Moen joined Metro ECSU this summer as a Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Specialist and MN Centers of Excellence (MNCoE) Coordinator.

In Jess' words: "I am excited to be joining the Metro ECSU crew! I have already felt so welcomed, and I look forward to our future collaboration!"

Jess comes into this position with a background as a Teacher for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing in Northern MN and as a MNCoE Professional Development Facilitator in Region 1&2 (Northwest Minnesota).

Jess lives in Bemidji (the first city on the Mississippi River!) with her three children who keep her entertained with all their activities (running, baseball, curling, and Nordic skiing). Jess enjoys camping, paddling, walking, and gardening! If it is raining, you will probably find her reading a book.

Reach Jess at jess.moen@metroecsu.org or 612-638-1508.

Metro ECSU Now Offering ParaEducator Courses & Testing!

ParaEducator is an online platform for paraprofessionals, featuring over 100 work related courses and assessments that can be completed to be considered "highly qualified."

To complete the assessment to be considered “highly qualified,” paraprofessionals complete the “highly qualified courses” and then take the proctored assessment in person at Metro ECSU (located in Arden Hills) on their designated date and time. Assessments are completed on an in-person, individual basis, by appointment only.

Highly qualified prep courses are assigned to those wanting to take the assessment. The Title I courses are in the areas of mathematics, reading, writing, and supporting instruction. The courses take 8-12 hours to complete. The content aligns with The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards for paraeducators and is endorsed by The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Advantages of using this value-added service through Metro ECSU:

Flexible exam scheduling (morning and afternoon availability, Tuesday-Friday)
Appointments offered on an individual basis
Access to a computer with a pre-loaded exam
Conveniently located metro exam site
Test-takers receive their score immediately after taking the exam

Learn more about ParaEducator courses and testing.

Grant Funding is available through Metro ECSU for Praxis ParaPro Assessments and ParaEducator Courses and Testing!

Currently, through the Minnesota Department of Education, the State of Minnesota is providing grant funding to cover test fees for the Praxis ParaPro Assessment and ParaEducator courses and testing. This funding will be available to all paraprofessionals through June 2023, or until the funding provided to Metro ECSU has been depleted. Funding is available on a first-come-first served basis.

To learn more about the exam process, or to schedule an exam appointment, contact Angela Skrade at 612-638-1528.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

Minnesota Centers of Excellence

Professional Development Opportunities Abound!

When COVID-19 put us all into lockdown (what seems like forever ago), the Professional Development Facilitators (PDFs) at the

Minnesota Centers of Excellence knew this was a "can’t stop, won’t stop" moment for early childhood educators and leaders.

If you’ve ever been around the zero-to-five crowd, you know they don’t stop, may not even understand "stop," and cleverly navigate around "stop" when they

do understand it! So, of course, Birth-age 5 educators and leaders couldn’t

stop and wouldn’t stop their work in supporting these littles and their

families.

What we didn’t know was how ADULT learning also couldn’t stop, wouldn’t stop for so many—even as virtual learning grew tiresome. Their unstoppable curiosity and engagement have been a privilege to support and have inspired a whole new round of professional development opportunities for Regions 6, 8, and 11 this fall!

Our foundational in-person, online, and hybrid events kick off in October with adult learning styles, busy schedules, and relationships in mind.

Check out the great opportunities below!

For more information, contact the Region 11 PDF team!

GOLD for Administrators: Interpreting and Using Data

Success Beyond the Classroom (SBC) offers engaging academic competitions and field trips for students in grades 3-12.

Success Beyond the Classroom Calendar of Opportunities

Academic Competitions:

Future City Competition (Grades 6-8)

Middle Grades Knowledge Bowl (Grades 6-8)

Senior High Knowledge Bowl (Grades 9-12)

Twin Cities Regional Spelling Bee (Grades 4-8)

Field Trips:

Creativity Festival (Grades 3-5)

CreativeCon (Grades 5-8)

STEMLink (Grades 5-6)

Young Authors Conference (Grades 4-8)

SBC to host 2022 Statewide Knowledge Bowl Coach Clinic

Knowledge Bowl coaches from around the state are invited to attend a Coach Clinic on Friday, October 20 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Metro ECSU/SBC's office building in Arden Hills. A virtual option is also available.

This one-day clinic offers new and returning coaches the opportunity to network with coaches across the state, learn new coaching techniques, discover new competition strategies, and more! The day will include a keynote, breakout sessions, and a Q&A. There will be a raffle drawing for a full set of KB equipment!

Fee (includes lunch): Early Bird - $80/person ($95 after September 26)

Virtual Fee: $60/person

Registration Deadline: October 10

CEUs offered.

Learn more and register

About Knowledge Bowl

Metro Knowledge Bowl (KB) is a season of academic competitions (after-school meets that take place at middle/high schools around the Twin Cities), where students answer questions about history, literature, mathematics, science, current events, and everything in between.

During a meet, teams of five (six for Middle Grades KB) begin with the written round, where they work cooperatively to complete a multiple-choice test. Based on their team’s written round score, they’re placed into rooms where teams of four (five for Middle Grades KB) face off against two other teams to answer questions read by a KB coach or volunteer.

The first Knowledge Bowl season in Minnesota launched in 1979. What once started out with only eight schools participating has now grown to over 290 schools across the state! Knowledge Bowl programs are run by the nine Minnesota Service Cooperatives.

Middle Grades Knowledge Bowl Flyer

Senior High Knowledge Bowl Flyer

Future City Competition asks 6th-8th graders to tackle climate change

The Future City Competition (FCC) is a national and international project-based learning experience where students in grades 6-8 imagine, research, design, and build cities at least 100 years in the future.

Schools or recognized youth organizations can form teams and have the option to compete in the state competition. Students spend approximately five months (September-January) completing the following deliverables: a 1,500-word city essay; a scale model of their city built from recycled materials; a four-part project plan; a 7-minute team presentation; and a Q&A session with judges (professional engineers who volunteer their time).

Future City Competition Flyer

2023 Climate Change Challenge Future City Competition graphic

Kelly Barnhill & Anika Fajardo will keynote the 2023 Young Authors Conference

Kelly Barnhill will keynote the Young Authors Conference on March 17, 2023. Kelly Barnhill is an author, teacher, and mom who lives in Minneapolis. She has received a Newbery Medal, a World Fantasy Award, a Charlotte Huck Honor, and a McKnight Arts Fellowship. Kelly is the author of the novels The Ogress and the Orphans, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The Witch’s Boy, Iron Hearted Violet, and The Mostly True Story of Jack.

Anika Fajardo will keynote the Young Authors Conference on May 30, 31, June 1, and 2, 2023. Anika was born in Colombia and raised in Minnesota. She is the author of the middle-grade novels What If a Fish, Meet Me Halfway, and Encanto: A Tale of Three Sisters, as well as a book for adults, Magical Realism for Non-Believers: A Memoir of Finding Family. When she is not writing, she teaches at Augsburg University’s MFA program. Anika lives with her family in the very literary city of Minneapolis.

The Young Authors Conference (YAC) is an inspiring one-day field trip for students in grades 4-8 who love to write. Participants spend a day learning from and writing with professional Minnesota writers. They leave with new strategies and skills to express themselves more effectively. The 2023 YAC theme is Building Bridges, One Story at a Time.

Register

March Young Authors Conference Flyer

May Young Authors Conference Flyer

Creativity Festival & CreativeCon: These exciting field trips are back in January 2023!

Creativity Festival is an inspiring one-day field trip for students in grades 3-5 at Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota. Schools choose to attend on either January 10 or 11, 2023.

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 while attending three outstanding breakout sessions and a dynamic opening performance presented by the Children's Theatre Company!

Register

Creativity Festival Flyer

CreativeCon is an interactive one-day field trip for students in grades 5-8 at Ted Mann Concert Hall. This event will take place on January 12, 2023.

CreativeCon works your students' creative muscles, strengthens their problem-solving skills, and ignites their imagination. This exciting day brings students together with STEM and arts professionals during an opening performance Children's Theatre Company and three outstanding breakout sessions.

Register

CreativeCon Flyer

STEMLink returns on May 12, 2023!

STEMLink, a STEM-career discovery field trip for 5th and 6th graders, is back! On May 12, 2023, Normandale Community College in Bloomington and Success Beyond the Classroom will partner to hold this amazing event. Students will attend a keynote and three interactive breakout sessions, where they will explore various STEM careers through hands-on activities. Sessions will be led by Normandale faculty and leaders from local STEM professional organizations and companies. Registration will open on October 17 at 10:00 a.m. Learn more

Better Bee-lieve it!

Registration opens for Twin Cities Regional Spelling Bee

At the Twin Cities Regional Spelling Bee, the top spellers in grades 4-8 from Metro area schools compete against each other. This year's Bee will take place on March 9, 2023 at Fridley High School.

Spelling Bee Steps:

Schools first register through Scripps in order to be considered an official National Spelling Bee participant.
Schools hold their bees by January 27, 2023.
Each school champion qualifies for the semifinals, which is a 50-item computer-based spelling and vocabulary test.
The 50 students with the highest test scores are invited to compete at the Twin Cities Regional Spelling Bee on March 9, 2023. The champion will go to Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland.

By participating in a spelling bee, students increase their vocabulary, improve their spelling, and develop useful language skills for life.

Spelling Bee Flyer

Cooperative Purchasing Alert: Fastenal Now Included!

Cooperative Purchasing Connection - Save time and money with CPC!

Cooperative Purchasing Connection (CPC) members can now purchase from Fastenal on the CPC Contract! Fastenal is a Winona-based company that offers maintenance, repairs, and operations products and solutions. Under the CPC contract, members will receive competitively negotiated pricing with discounts ranging from 20% to 50%+ based on the product category. Learn more

Fastenal has indicated that it will not automatically associate Minnesota organizations with the CPC Contract. To associate your account with the CPC Contract, please contact Zach Wise at 507-313-7206.

CPC Member Benefits:

Extensive MRO product offering, including Safety, PPE, Abrasives, Batteries, Electrical Supplies, Fasteners, HVAC, Janitorial & Cleaning Solutions, Lighting, Plumbing, Material Handling, Power & Hand Tools, and more.
More than 3,100 in-market locations, 15 regional distribution centers, 650 heavy trucks, and 8,300+ local delivery vehicles, providing a short, efficient supply chain for locations across North America.
Innovative inventory management solutions that lower your total cost of ownership.
Competitively negotiated pricing, with discounts ranging from 20% to 50%+ based on the product category.

Work-Based Learning Has a New Look!

FutureForward is a website created to connect Minnesota students and classrooms with local employers to positively impact future workforce and post-secondary decisions. Started by Southeast Service Cooperative through the 2019 Rural Career and Technical Education Consortium Grant, FutureForward is now free for all students, educators, and professionals across Minnesota! Over the past couple of years, the collaborating service cooperatives have learned what works best for our users of FutureForward, thus allowing us to completely revamp the site and make it more intuitive and cost-effective for all. See the benefits of using FutureForward below:

For students: Connect with local business professionals and mentors in a streamlined manner to internships, job shadows, mock interviews, mentorships and more.

For educators: Connect with employers to engage in experiential career-connected learning opportunities for awareness, in-person/virtual guest speakers, and application of coursework in real world settings.

For more information, go to www.futureforward.org to search/join the directory or contact Madi Grove.

The staff at Metro ECSU thanks all educators for their tireless dedication to Minnesota students.

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Subject: Opportunities for educators, administrators & students from Metro ECSU & SBC 🍎