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Professional development for leaders!
"Much of my skill-base came from the amazing speakers and presenters at MESPA!" 
Crystal Thorson, Big Lake Public Schools
Director of Teaching, Learning, and School Improvement
(Former Principal, Viking Elementary School, Pelican Rapids)


MESPA enhances members' professional status through programs continually refined to best suit elementary and middle level principal needs. The association supports an annual calendar of professional development at the state and division level -- and provides continuing education credits.





Secured and Prepared Schools
2/24/2010
Third Annual MN School Safety Center Conference
Is your school prepared?

Emerging Leaders Conference
3/25/2010
Growing Our Own: Emerging Leaders Conference Provides a Boost
Are you considering a career change to a different practice in educational administration? 
Do you know someone who would be an excellent leader who might just make the commitment given a bit of encouragement?
Are you looking for an opportunity to explore leadership practice and recommit your career to excellent leadership?
Attend this conference and reflect on leadership practice, learn what it takes to lead well, and consider the implications of shifting gears to a different type of practice, whether you are thinking about licensure as a principal, superintendent, special education director, or other central office administrator.

NAESP 2010 Convention
4/8/2010 - 4/11/2010
MISSION Possible: Enrich Your  World and Beyond
April 8-11, 2010
Houston, TX

The Breakthrough Coach
6/14/2010 - 6/15/2010
Work Less, Produce More & Still Get the Job Done in a Sensible School Week
 -- for administrators and their secretaries.
What if you could trim 20 hours off your work week AND multiply your time in classrooms by 500%?

MESPA Institute
2/3/2010 - 2/5/2010
Gather with your colleagues statewide for three days of networking and professional development -- and earn 17 CEUs. Bridges to the Future will encapsulate the principal's role in increasing student achievement through: Diversity, Technology, Professional Learning Communities, and Response to Intervention -- level 2.  Keynote presentations include:
  • Jamie Almanzan, Pacific Educational Group, on Leading Diverse Schools and Communities
  • Roger Aronson, MESPA Legislative and Legal Counsel

Aligning the Learning Day Conference
2/2/2010
Collaboration Strategies for Principals And Afterschool Program Directors -- offered through a partnership of MESPA,MnSACA, and NAESP

Bullying: What Can MN Schools Do About It?
1/21/2010
Archived Webinar co-sponsored by MESPA, the MN School Social Workers Association, and the Hazelden Foundation.  Watch at your convenience!

How Do You Know They're Telling the Truth
12/15/2009
Dec. 15, 2009 in St. Cloud
Dec. 16, 2009 in St. Paul

School Bus Bullying: what can we do?
10/20/2009
In honor of School Bus Safety Week, October 19-23, 2009, the National Association of Pupil Transportation and the Hazelden Foundation will present a free 90-minute Webinar on the issue of school bus bullying.

Safe Schools
10/15/2009
A seminar designed for all professional concerned with keeping our schools safe:  teachers, school resource officers, administrators, psychologists, social workers/counselors, & behavior specialists...

Own Your Data seminars
10/9/2009 - 11/13/2009
Does your data raise more questions than it answers?
Engage your school or district team in more powerful and
streamlined use of data for decision making.
Upcoming seminars: Oct. 9, Nov. 2, Nov. 6, Nov. 13.

Three Minute Walkthrough Seminar
10/2/2009
Listen to past participants: “Great! Efficient! Love the hands-on approach!”  “The reflective piece was really helpful; this is so strong for staff development.” “This will help with systems change.”

NAESP Standards Webinars
10/1/2009 - 3/4/2010
This six-part series runs from October 2009 to March 2010 from 4-5 p.m. (Central time):
Oct. 1, Nov. 5, Dec. 3, Jan 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 4.
The Webinars will be hosted by experts and practitioners who offer insight and answers to questions in real time.  Register through NAESP; receive CEUs through MESPA!

New Principal Seminar: Surviving and Thriving in the Principalship
10/1/2009
  • Data Usage and Response to Intervention with Kerry Bollman
  • School law for new principals with Roger Aronson
  • MESPA New Principal Mentorship Program
  • Panel of Experts
  • Lunch hosted by Horace Mann Companies
  • Optional day 2, Three-Minute Walkthrough Seminar

Legal Issues Seminars
9/28/2009 - 11/23/2009
What is the most valuable piece of information I gained from this seminar?
  • Roger's practical advice on all topics.  His expertise is amazing.
  • Having principal colleagues together to discuss these gray areas, and to have Roger help us process our decisions based on best practice legal guidance.
  • The goal is not to avoid legal liability. The goal is to keep kids safe.
Upcoming seminars: Sept. 28, Oct. 20, Oct. 26, Nov. 17.

Book Read: MESPA MN Education Administrator Book Read
9/13/2009 - 6/3/2010
Read, discuss, blog: "Building Strong School Cultures: A Guide To Leading Change."
Join this year-long collaboration of Minnesota education administrators:  MESPA, MASSP, and MASA.

Leadership Conference
9/13/2009 - 9/14/2009
The MESPA Leadership Conference is an annual two-day event for MESPA officers, division presidents, division presidents-elect, committee chairpersons, and committee representatives from each MESPA division.  These school leaders plan the association's priorities and actions for the year -- within the context of the five goals of the MESPA Strategic Plan.

Free Mentor Training Seminars, from MN Board of Teaching
8/18/2009
Make a Difference in New Teacher Retention and Performance
Free seminars throughout the year!

Learning Leaders of Minnesota
MESPA collaboration with Minnesota Staff Development Council and the University of Minnesota to provide an extensive and profound year-long, cohort-based learning experience for Minnesota elementary principals.

Minnesota School of Excellence Program
Visit this section for complete program information: timeline, contacts, program materials (self-study survey and application). The Minnesota School of Excellence application process is ongoing:
    Letters of intent due October 1
    Completed applications due June 1

Minnesota Principals Academy
Ongoing Academy --
funded through the Minnesota State Legislature.


IN THIS SECTION

Join the Book Read
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Read, discuss, blog. Join the MN Education Administrator Book Read and earn CEUs. Order your book today!


MN School of Excellence
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Why take part in the MN School of Excellence Program?
  • "The MESPA MN School of Excellence program is the premier way to identify current strengths and areas needing improvement for a school." -- Matt Dorschner, MN School of Excellence Program Chair
  • "The MN Minnesota School of Excellence program clearly connects the education process to student learning." -- P. Fred Storti, MESPA Executive Director.
For complete information on the Minnesota School of Excellence program and copies of all program materials -- including program guidelines, forms for the self-study, and an application template, click here.