• How to Work With Less, Produce More, and Still Get the Job Done in a Sensible School Week: Jill Pancoast, CEO and managing partner, The Breakthrough Coach

This program has been proven to multiply the time principals spend in classrooms monitoring instruction by 500% or more, while simultaneously reducing their work loads by 15-20 hours per week, and demonstrating a corresponding rise in student achievement.  The program teaches principals how to implement management strategies designed to free them from front office paperwork, and allow them instead to spend the majority of their time monitoring and improving classroom instruction.

• Building an RtI Infrastructure: Becky Gerdes, principal, Bamber Valley Elementary; Lori Eckert, reading specialist and intervention team facilitator; Pam Craven, special education teacher; Leah Cox, third grade teacher; Christille Sprinkle, school psychologist; Kerry Bollman, SCRED academic collaborative planner

Bamber Valley Elementary School in Rochester was selected to participate in the Minnesota RtI Center Coaching Cohort for Response to Intervention Implementation. These practitioners will speak about implementing an RtI model and the benefits they received. Hear about the problem solving process, organizational framework and data based decision making.

• Dramatically Improve Student Achievement in Brain Friendly Classrooms: Christian Rauch, lead instructor, Quanatum Learning Education

Experience the most powerful strategies used to increase student participation in the classroom.  Learn three significant facts about the brain and how it relates to education.  Have resources to motivate your staff in your back pocket.  Gain the necessary tools and strategies to increase overall student achievement!

• Raising Student Achievement through SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol Model): Tammy Doyle, district SIOP trainer; Denise Harlos, ELL and special services coordinator; Karen Hislop, ELL teacher; Andrea Tessar, teacher on special assignment in curriculum and staff development-- Shakopee School District

This presentation will focus on a district initiative to train all general education teachers in the research based Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol Model (SIOP) in order to increase student achievement.  An overview of the SIOP Model will be presented as well as an implementation plan for high quality teacher training.

• Retirement Planning for Mid-Career Principals: Richard McLeod, retirement counselor, Minnesota Teacher's Retirement Association

The Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) helps educators consider retirement options. This session is aimed at the planning needs of mid-career educators. Individuals with over 10 years to go before retirement will benefit from the experienced perspective on the nuances and ramifications of different planning decisions.

• Teachers’ Data Academy, RtI Staff Development: Benjamin Silberglitt, Ph.D., manager data services, TIES; Joey Page, principal, Sheridan Hills Elementary

This presentation will describe the process of RtI implementation at Sheridan Hills Elementary, in the Richfield Public Schools. Teachers Data Academy is a staff development plan to ensure essential data analysis skills to support RtI. Learn how this academy is helping Sheridan to build a strong foundation in assessment, a key to effective RtI implementation.

• 3 Minute Walkthrough: Kathy Larson, national professional growth and development consultant  

Principals, learn to use the three-minute walkthrough to guide teachers toward a continuous improvement cycle.  A walkthrough is a brief, focused classroom visit followed by reflection. Principals look into classrooms and guide teachers in self-initiated professional development. The principal assumes the role of coach as opposed to judge, leading teachers to reflective practices and to dialogue focused on curriculum and instruction.

• Join the Ranks of the Minnesota Schools of Excellence: led by Matt Dorschner, principal, Chanhassen Elementary, and chair, Minnesota School of Excellence Program; and principals of 2008-2009 MESPA Minnesota Schools of Excellence Bill Book, Pinewood Elementary, and Dr. Fatima Lawson, L'Etoile du Nord French Immersion School 

What is the Minnesota School of Excellence program? What does it take to be endorsed as a Minnesota School of Excellence -- and what benefits does the Minnesota SOE program offer schools? This session is for the curious who are considering undertaking the school improvement process.

• Bringing All Voices to the Table, Professional Learning Communities and Democratic Leadership: Jayne Ropella, principal, Eastern Heights Elementary; Kim Carter, director, QED Foundation

Join Kim Carter, National Director of The Five Freedoms Project, and  Jayne Ropella, principal of Eastern Heights Elementary, St. Paul -- for an overview of The Five Freedoms Project, followed by a structured discussion about how we as leaders can create cultures of shared rights and responsibilities that foster respect while improving student achievement. 

• Building Professional Learning Communities Q and A (follow up to keynote): Rob  Bocchino, Heart of Change

School leaders will gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental processes that support Professional Learning. We'll have fun examining the concept of "Professional Learning" and how it relates to teacher practice. We also provide a useful framework for reflective and collaborative practices.

• Enhance Your Negotiations IQ: led by member of the MESPA Negotiations Committee -- Mark French, principal, Rice Lake Elementary and committee chair; Wayne Lepard, principal, Hawley Elementary; Warren Retzlaff, principal, Lakeside Elementary; Rolf Carlsen, principal, Oxbow Creek Elementary; Michael Guthrie, principal, Shannon Park Elementary.

How can we, as principals, most advantageously approach our contract negotiations process? What are some best practices and hot topics we should keep in mind? Members of the Negotiations Committee will share updates, best practices, and hot topics to equip principals in their negotiations process. After the panel discussion, participants will be divided into like negotiation groups (individuals or small teams, medium-sized teams, and
large negotiations groups) to facilitate discussion, problem solve, and answer questions specific to their needs.

• Grade Level Team Meetings for RtI: Melody Tenhoff, principal; Kim Erdman, teacher; Sue Karvonen, teacher -- C.E. Jacobson Elementary

Grade level team meetings advance the Response to Intervention process by designating a specific time to concentrate solely on student achievement. This session will present the who, when, what, where, and agenda of grade level team meetings that will effectively advance a problem-solving process for student interventions.

• Learning Opportunities  Beyond the Classroom: Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn, executive director, Youth Community Connections: Minnesota's Statewide Afterschool Alliance (YCC); Dr. Mike McCollor, principal, Washington Technology Magnet Middle School

Children and youth who regularly participate in high-quality learning opportunities after school or during the summer have better attendance in school, perform better in the classroom, and experience several social benefits.  This session will provide an overview of the latest research supporting high-quality after school and summer learning opportunities and highlight how some schools are leading the way in promoting learning opportunities outside the classroom.

• Partnering with the Minnesota Reading Corps:  Sheila Piippo, National Service Program Director; Cheryl Reid, Ed.S., NCSP, Master Coach Coordinator -- Minnesota Reading Corps

The Minnesota Reading Corps is a state-wide literacy initiative formed by Minnesota's state legislature in 2003 to marry the people power of AmeriCorps with the science of how children learn to read.  After five years of significant results the MRC is poised to become an integrated part of Minnesota's approach to closing the achievement gap so that all of Minnesota's children become successful readers by the end of 3rd grade.

• S.M.A.R.T. Schools: Joey Page, principal, Sheridan Hills Elementary; Deb Greeley, lead special education and literacy teacher; Stacy DeCorsey, princpal, Jordan Elementary School; Nancy Farnham, founding director, Minnesota Learning Resource Center

You may have asked yourself, why are we have seeing more students coming to school “not ready?” Or, why is there such an increase in our Special Education population and more ADHD/ADD type behaviors? Do you have students struggling to read even though they are bright? If so, you are not alone and it is not just your school, community, or state that is seeing dramatic shifts in how students arrive at school unprepared to learn.  Come meet 3 principals who have implemented SMART and learn how, due societal changes seemingly beyond our control, readiness skill deficits can be addressed and all children can be ready to learn!

• TRA Benefits, Planning a Successful Retirement:  Richard McLeod, retirement counselor, Minnesota Teacher's Retirement Association

The Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) helps educators consider retirement options. This session is geared for principals who have less than 10 years unti retirement. It will cover several choices a principal has when retiring, including: appropriate High 5 options, how pensions are calculated, survivorship coverage options, accelerated annuity options, Rule of 90, post-fund balance concerns, how taxes affect your benefits, and VEBA.