 | MESPA Home > Honors > Minnesota Schools of Excellence | | | MESPA Minnesota Schools of Excellence | | "The Minnesota School of Excellence program clearly connects the education process to student learning."
The Minnesota Elementary
School Principals’ Association (MESPA) developed this research-based
program aligned with national standards in: leadership, vision, student
learning, the culture of adult learning, data and decision-making, and
community engagement. MESPA endorses schools whose principal, staff,
students, and community -- working as a team -- demonstrate the desire
to strengthen education by successfully undertaking the Minnesota
School of Excellence program. This school improvement process is
recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. It involves a
systematic program of self-study, development of a school improvement
plan, and implementation of the plan based on demonstrated results. Click here for complete details on the Minnesota School of Excellence application process.
“In this time of high stakes testing, the quality of our school
communities can far too easily be misrepresented by the single-purposed
federal testing requirement,” said P.
Fred Storti, MESPA executive director. “High stakes
tests, such as the MCA II tests used to evaluate Minnesota schools for
Adequate Yearly Progress as required by the federal No Child Left
Behind Act, offer a snapshot in time with no context. One high stakes
test should not determine a school’s public stature and cannot
adequately assess its educational effectiveness.  | | Principals from schools receiving 2008 MESPA Minnesota School of Excellence validation: (l-r, back) Rolf Carlsen, Matt Dorschner (program chair), Mike Conner, Pat Murray; (l-r, front) Sally Berg, Tim Cadotte, Jon Clark, Rosalind Robbins. Not pictured: Randy Pederson. |
Elementary and middle
level schools provide the foundation for children’s lifelong learning,
and the Minnesota School of Excellence program clearly connects the education process to student learning."
"The
total commitment to excellence demonstrated by schools receiving Minnesota School of Excellence validation is the very center of quality education in this state," Storti continued. “Elementary and middle level
schools provide the foundation in meeting children’s educational needs
-- and as instructional leaders, principals play an essential role in
assuring that the foundation is a solid one.”
“The
School of Excellence Program takes schools on a meaningful analytical
endeavor, engaging staff and community in purposeful conversations
about their school,” stated Matt Dorschner, Minnesota School of
Excellence Program chair. “It is the premier way to identify current
strengths and areas needing improvement for a school. The reward of the
analysis is two-fold. First, it takes measure of where a school is and
reveals where it needs to go. Second, it creates a wonderful
opportunity for communities to celebrate their school – and to connect
to their role in the school’s accomplishments.”
To
view a list of the 140 schools that have been endorsed as Minnesota
Schools of Excellence since the program's inception in 1986, click on
the MN SOE History PDF below. The Minnesota School of Excellence validation remains in effect for seven years. After that time has passed, MESPA encourages school communities to re-initiate the process of self-study and submit a new application.
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MN_School_of_Excellence_History_09-10.pdf
A history (list) of all schools who have received MN School of Excellence validation since 1986.
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| MN School of Excellence Mission | The Minnesota School of Excellence Program promotes excellence through a rigorous evaluation process that showcases dynamic schools of the 21st century.
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| Minnesota School of Excellence History | To
view a list of schools that have been endorsed as Minnesota
Schools of Excellence since the program's inception in 1986, scroll to the MN SOE History document at the bottom of the page. The Minnesota School of Excellence validation remains in
effect for seven years. After that time has passed, MESPA encourages
school communities to re-initiate the process of self-study and submit
a new application.
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| Program Materials | To download copies of all MN School of Excellence program materials -- including program guidelines, forms for the self-study, and an application template, visit Professional Development on this site.
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| Questions about the Minnesota School of Excellence Program? Contact: |
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