MASA and MASE Members ~

Register to attend the 2013 MASA/MASE Spring Conference!

Innovation ~ It starts with a vision.

Thursday - Friday, March 14-15

at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, Brooklyn Park, MN

Take advantage of the Earlybird Registration Rate – Register by February 3.

Our theme this spring enhances the conversation we began in the fall ...

To succeed in our ever-changing, global economy, students must be equipped with the knowledge and skills that support experiences we may not be able to predict. As leaders of learning, we envision a future in which all students are prepared for success, where adaptive educational systems respond to the diverse needs of learners with customized, meaningful learning experiences, and where communities value and support lifelong learning. We see the potential of emerging technologies, the impact of skilled assessment and instruction, and the need for flexible systems that can respond to rapid, pervasive change. Join your colleagues at the MASA/MASE Spring Conference and continue the conversation around innovative leadership. What is the future of education? It starts with a vision!

 

Conference Highlights ...

There’s an app for this! This year, the spring conference is going green and we will be using a conference app instead of our typical registration materials packet. The conference app will provide many great features, including program information that attendees can personalize, announcements, and streamlined audience feedback. The app will work with smartphones (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, etc.), tablets, and laptops, so BYOD! Internet service is open access and free and has been road-tested to handle the traffic. Note that we will also provide ample Juice Bars for keeping your devices charged and ready to go.

And speaking of technology … don’t miss our Tech Café. MASA’s partner TIES will host a multipurpose area for exploring technology resources, best practices, and emerging technology. Need help using your conference app? Head for the Tech Café!

At the last MASA Fall Conference, participants engaged in a process to explore Design Thinking through collaborative, project-based learning. This spring, we will enhance that conversation though our continuing partnership with the Council of Educational Facilities Planners International (CEFPI), and Twin Cities Public Television (TPT). A year ago, CEFPI started this discussion through its “unconference” here in Minnesota", where they gathered a diverse group to unify and magnify our collective voice towards creating meaningful learning experiences for all learners in the global knowledge economy. In the fall, we looked at a process of moving from conversation to action. At the Spring Conference, we will take a look at the practice of innovation. TPT is documenting this evolving conversation and they will be with us, providing videotaped conversation from the previous events for reflection and bridging the ongoing dialogue about making dreams reality for our students.

Our Friday keynote speaker David Weinberger is interested in the effect of technology on ideas. His status as one of our foremost interpreters of technology's impact on business and society continues to grow. David's new book, Too Big to Know: Rethinking Knowledge Now That the Facts Aren't the Facts, Experts Are Everywhere, and the Smartest Person in the Room Is the Room, gets to the heart of what we need to know, and too often don't, about how the network world's flood of information is transforming the world. One of the connected economy’s most thought-provoking mavericks, David is a fellow at Harvard University’s prestigious Berkman Center, a former philosophy professor, NPR commentator, technology columnist, weblogging pioneer, and a dot com entrepreneur.

John Moravec is concerned about human capital development as society approaches an increasingly complex and ambiguous future. Technological change drives social change, and its impact is accelerating exponentially. Our schools, universities, and other institutions must leapfrog ahead of this curve for all people to compete in highly globalized, knowledge- and innovation-based societies. His work focuses on exploring this “New Paradigm” and the new approaches to leadership and human capital development required. His approach is global in scope, and he actively collaborates with colleagues in the United States, Latin America, China, and Europe. Do you know what a “knowmad” is? Join us Friday and find out!

The Exhibit Fair is a convenient way to visit with representatives of companies offering the latest products and services. Sign up for the prize drawings – you won’t want to miss your chance to win the door prize this year because it is a Samsung 40" Class 1080p 240Hz Smart LED HDTV! Visit our exhibit booths and receive tokens you can trade for refreshments at the Thursday afternoon reception.

Don’t forget to shop the Silent Auction! Profits support the programs of the MASA Foundation. There will be many bid-inspiring items up for auction, so be sure to check them all out.

Throughout the conference, we will celebrate the accomplishments of your colleagues with Awards and Recognition. Congratulations to our award recipients!

Thursday Breakout Sessions:

The Spring Conference offers rich content with many options for customizing your conference experience.

 

11:00 – Noon

 

Decreasing Minnesota Special Educator Attrition: Promising Guidance for Administrators About Teacher Retention

presented by Teresa Tyler, Special Educator and Researcher, Minneapolis Public Schools

 

This presentation includes quantitative and qualitative survey data from Minnesota special educators. From a larger-scale study that included eight states, results point to teacher attitudes about on-the-job decision-making and collaborative work with leaders and school staff, and how these attitudes contribute to job satisfaction. The study was conducted according to the research-based premise that job satisfaction is a main contributor to retention, not only among special education teachers, but also among most employees, no matter what the field. Quantitative results are augmented by authentic qualitative comments from special educators working in Minnesota schools. The qualitative comments are mapped onto an interactive Prezi. Presentation viewers can press any survey data point where comments were received to read what each special educator wrote about his/her decision-making and satisfaction level.

 

Our Kids Count: Trends in Special Education and the Spaces That Make a Difference

presented by Sandy Lewandowski, Superintendent, Intermediate School District 287 and Mark Thiede, Associate, TSP Architects and Engineers

 

More and more educators today are embracing the idea of customized learning for every student. In special education, this shift is highlighting the need to create spaces that help students and teachers overcome the challenges of educating unique learners. Already at the forefront of how specialized services are delivered, Intermediate School District 287 set out to build not just one, but two new facilities that address the emotional, physical and behavioral challenges of unique learners. Proving to be both effective and efficient, these facilities support staff and enhance student success. Developed hand-in-hand with education architects, TSP Inc., each school offers highly flexible and varied spaces to address many different needs. From multiple entrances that help reduce student stress during arrivals and departures, to spaces that are calming, encourage movement, and provide adequate space, to customized room controls. Each facility supports the unique learner, staff and program needs of Intermediate School District 287 with learning environments that are improving outcomes and staff effectiveness.

 

Financing Equipment Projects: Options and Strategies

presented by Patty Heminover, VP/Client Representative; and Don Lifto, Senior VP; Springsted, Incorporated

 

Equipment eventually wears out or becomes obsolete. Although school districts can always go to referendum to issue bonds, often the size of the projects or the political or economic climate require other options and strategies. In this session, Springsted advisors will review a wide range of facility and equipment financing options for school districts of all sizes.

 

We took the "I" from Innovation: Now Watch Us LinK12 Them Altogether!

presented by Lisa Snyder, Superintendent; Barb Knudsen, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning; Emily McDonald, Director of Teaching and Learning; Trish Harvey, Digital Learning Coordinator; and Jason Molesky, Director of Program Evaluation; Lakeville Area Public Schools

 

Personalized learning can only be realized by unleashing the creativity of the people in your organization. When a culture of innovation is nurtured, programs, approaches and partnerships emerge and have the potential to rapidly transform your school district. In a little over a year, Lakeville Area Public Schools has embraced digital learning through classroom learning apps, collaborative tools for teachers and students, and by offering high school hybrid classes (50% online; 50% in class). In addition, the district has created programming for highly gifted learners. By next fall, a continued stream of new and innovative programming is emerging: a brand new elementary option for students; a Business Academy at one high school; a STEM academy at the other high school, increased partnerships for concurrent credit at both high schools and full online learning opportunities K12! How have we created a culture that encourages and supports this type of continuous innovation? Come and hear our story!

 

1:30 – 2:30 pm

 

How to Help Experienced Teachers Become Experts

presented by Jane Sigford, Adjunct University of St. Thomas and Educational Consultant and Rob Reetz, Instructional Coach, Irondale High School, Mounds View Schools

 

Student learning is greater in classrooms of expert teachers. John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers said that “Expert teachers challenge ALL students and they believe that ALL students can learn. These are the two most important features of an expert, vs. experienced, teacher. The expert teacher feels personally responsible for student learning.” p. 31. One way of creating these experts is to provide training using a combination of the expertise of preK-12 teachers with that of university faculty. For the past two years the University of St. Thomas (UST) has conducted a Teacher Fellows Program to provide targeted professional development to a cohort of teachers from around the state with the ultimate goal of improving student learning. Teachers apply to the Fellowship. Based on the results of a formative assessment, professional development is designed to meet the specific needs as outlined by the participants on such topics as best practice lesson design, formative assessment, facilitation skills, cognitive strategies, cultural competency, technology integration, and assessment strategies. In addition, UST is using a similar format to develop professional development on site at individual districts based on that district’s specific goals. UST faculty and the district personnel co-facilitate to target professional development around that district’s needs. You can hear about how targeted professional development facilitated by a partnership of university and district personnel can emphasize strategies to increase student learning.

 

Operating Referendum Trends and Strategies

presented by Betsy Knoche, Financial Advisor; and Greg Crowe, Financial Advisor; Ehlers

 

In order to prepare students for the future, school districts must have adequate resources. Political and economic conditions have changed dramatically in the last few years. Operating referendums have become increasingly more important to the financial health of school districts. In this session Betsy Knoche and Greg Crowe from Ehlers will discuss historical information regarding referendum provisions, a summary of current referendum provisions, election procedures, and referendum options/strategies (timing of elections, mail ballot elections and ballot language). In addition, they will discuss the 2012 election results and what implications the unusual success in a Presidential election year holds for future elections.

 

Lets Get Ready to Evaluate!

presented by Greg Vandal, Consultant, Vox Liberi and Charles Kyte, Consultant, Charles Kyte Consulting

 

Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, Minnesota’s school principals must all be evaluated using a system that is compliant with the recently enacted statute. A year later, a new system for teachers must be brought on line. For many school districts, this will involve a significant change in the practices that have been in place and will require considerable lead-time in order that these evaluations can be completed in an effective fashion. Presenters Greg Vandal and Charlie Kyte will step conference attendees through the key elements of the evaluation process and they will offer tips on how to conduct meaningful performance reviews. Greg led the development of MASA’s “The Evaluation of Minnesota’s School Principals” and he sat on the MDE working group to create the state model; he has consulted with the emergent MDE teacher evaluation model as well. Charlie has also been instrumental in the development of these tools. Together, these long-time educational leaders will share insights into the pathway to success with professional educator evaluations.

 

Multiple Pathways for Achieving Your Vision Using Technologically Assisted Professional Development

presented by Lyle Taipale, Coordinator and Lecturer, University of Minnesota and Ann Zweber Werner, Developer, Whitewater Learning

 

Problem: Most professional development initiatives are designed to be a multi-year process. In addition, new personnel join school districts every year. The reality is that this makes 100% implementation of vision initiatives difficult and costly, if not impossible.

 

Solution: Innovative uses of technology are now available to effectively and efficiently facilitate individualized professional development. This presentation will demonstrate techniques delivered through technology that can be used to bridge the gaps caused by changing personnel. In addition, the strategies presented support state and national best practices found in excellent schools and strong research.

 

3:00 – 4:00 pm

 

The Minnesota Principals Academy: What is it and how will it meet your needs?

presented by Ken Dragseth, Minnesota Principals Academy and Director of Administrative Licensure and Lecturer, University of Minnesota and Lynn Scearcy, Assistant Coordinator of Administrative Licensure and Lecturer, University of Minnesota

 

The Minnesota Principals Academy is in its 5th year having served well over 300 principals from all over the state of Minnesota. In an effort to continually improve this excellent executive development program, the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development and several other University colleges continue to partner with National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) and state education leaders to create a nationally recognized executive development for principals. A steering committee of state organizational leaders, university staff, and educators have been reviewing the program this year to make sure that this program continues to meet current and future needs of principals in Minnesota. This session will give information to superintendents, district staff and principals on how this updated program can enhance the professional expertise of principals. The new Minnesota Principals Academy will have its first cohorts in the fall of 2013.

 

Leadership Qualities of Great Superintendents

presented by N. John Borgen, Independent Consultant and Facilitator

 

Being a school superintendent is one of the most challenging and least understood positions in public service today. Constituents are demanding, critics are everywhere and job security is fragile. What attitudes and ways of being will make the road to success, one paved with positive opportunities and manageable contingencies, rather than one leading to roadblocks and washouts? The presenter of this session is a former music teacher and teacher union organizer (MEA, Education Minnesota) who has seen a wide range of outcomes in leadership effectiveness in rural, suburban and inner city school systems. In his 40-year career as a professional advocate he has worked with over 200 superintendents. The insights offered in this session will be valuable for any school executive who wants to grow, develop and make a difference in her/his career. This interactive session will reinforce best practices you already know, and will also challenge assumptions and help you rethink how you want to be as a leader of learning.

 

When Words are Not Enough

presented by Debra Bowers, Superintendent; and Tami Reynolds, Director of Special Services; St. Louis Park Public Schools and Sheila Merzer, Licensed Psychologist

 

This presentation from the perspective of a Superintendent, Special Education Director and Psychologist demonstrates a range of practical strategies that can be used for problem solving between parents and a school district when efforts at using verbal reasoning in a team meeting format are leading down an increasingly contentious path. Based on a real case example, this video illustrated presentation shows how technology and role identification can be used to enhance communication in order to create a shared vision of student needs, supporting the team's work from conflict to collaboration. The strategies presented can be applied to a wide range of conflictual situations where words are not enough.

 

Statewide Longitudinal Educational Data System (SLEDS)

presenter TBD

 

Minnesota is developing a statewide longitudinal data system that will allow for the matching of student data from pre-kindergarten through completion of postsecondary education. The creation of this longitudinal data system is occurring through the collaborative work of several state agencies including: the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Office of Enterprise Technology and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. State governments across the country are at various stages of creating longitudinal data systems to facilitate data-driven decision making. The federal government made implementing such systems a requirement for receiving fiscal stabilization funds in 2009. Join this session for an update on Minnesota’s progress.

 

 

Preliminary Agenda...

Thursday, March 14

7                            Registration Open

7:30 – 8:30            Morning Refreshments Available

7:30 – 2:45            Silent Auction Open

8:30 – 10:30          General Session

Honoring:         Superintendent of the Year

                        Special Education Administrator of the Year

                        Outstanding Central Office Administrators

One Voice – the Practice of Innovation

10:30 – 5:30          Exhibits Open

10:30 – 11             Break (Exhibit Area) 

11 – 12                  Breakout Sessions

12 – 1                    Lunch

1 – 1:30                 Dessert Reception (Exhibit Area)

1:30 – 2:30            Breakout Sessions

2:30 – 3                 Break (Exhibit Area)

2:45                       Prize Drawings

                              Silent Auction Closes

3 – 4                      Breakout Sessions

4 – 5:30                 Reception (Exhibit Area)

Friday, March 15

8 – 9                      Morning Refreshments Available

8                            Registration Open

8:30 – 10:30          General Session

Honoring:         Kay Jacobs Award

                        New Special Education Leader Award

                        MASA Administrators of Excellence

                        MASA and MASE Retirees

Introducing:     MASA and MASE Officer Candidates

Keynote Speaker David Weinberger

10:30 – 10:45        Break

10:45 – 12             General Session

Honoring:        MASA Distinguished Service Award

                       MASE Distinguished Service Award

Announcing:    2013 Richard Green Scholar

Keynote Speaker John Moravec

Please note there is no lunch provided by the conference.

Lodging...
Please make your own arrangements for lodging.
•  Online by clicking here
•  or by phone -- 1-877-303-1681. (ask for the 2013 MASA/MASE Spring Conference rate)

Very Important to Note:

The conference lodging rate of $139 is available until February 20. Reservations received after February 20 will be accommodated on a space-available basis without a guarantee of the conference rate. You may cancel your reservation until 4 pm the day before your arrival, so it would be advisable to make your reservations before February 20.

Please note that lodging changes/cancellations are the responsibility of the individual participant, without exception.

 

New Conference Fee Cancellation Policy:

Earlybird Registration Rates apply until 8:30 am, February 4, 2013, when regular rates go into effect. You may cancel your conference registration without penalty until 4:30 pm on March 7, 2013, after which you will not receive a refund. (March 7 is the date in which we must guarantee our participation numbers for the hotel.) No-shows will be billed.

 

Meals and Refreshments...

Included with your registration:

   • Thursday

Continental Breakfast, Lunch, Dessert Reception, Breaks, and Afternoon Reception

  • Friday

Breakfast Buffet and Breaks

Family Time...

We encourage your partners to attend the conference to enjoy the sessions or any of the attractions of the area. And of course, the hotel itself is a great place to relax. Partners may attend conference sessions at no cost. Meal tickets are available; purchase on the online registration or from the MASA/MASE staff at the conference registration desk.

Getting There...

The hotel is located at 7025 Northland Drive North in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55428 and the phone number is 763-536-8300. For a map/directions: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/mspnw-minneapolis-marriott-northwest/

For More Info...

651-645-6272, 1-866-444-5251 toll free or members@mnasa.org

 

Retired Members and Members' Partners...

There is no conference fee for retired members or members' partners. Participants in these categories pay for meals only. The complimentary fee for retired members does not apply if a former or current member is attending as a representative of a business entity or serving as an interim superintendent. Please register as an exhibitor or member.

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We look forward to seeing you at the Spring Conference!

Thank you to our Major Conference Sponsors