The Class of 2008-2009 (scroll down to everyone's name at the bottom of the page): with MESPA President Dick Oscaron (center front, white shirt); MESPA President-Elect Jon Millerhagen (3rd row, right end); MESPA Executive Director P. Fred Storti (second row, left end, blue shirt).

Practical advice from people who understand the flow of your work. Network statewide with others new to the profession and presenters who are practitioners in the field.  Seminar topics are designed to support you in your role as an elementary or middle level principal and MESPA member.

• MESPA: the benefits of membership in a responsive, grassroots association.
• School law for new principals with Roger Aronson, MESPA legal and legislative counsel.
  
• Data usage and Response to Intervention with Dr. Benjamin Silberglitt, TIES, Manager Data Services.
• Energized and effective staff meetings wtih Sheila Eller, principal of Chippewa Middle School (Mounds View) and author of Energizing Staff Meetings (Corwin Press). All participants will receive a copy of her book!
  
• Reflections from the 2008 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal, Dr. Gail M. Swor, principal of Poplar Bridge Elementary (Bloomington Public Schools).
• Ask the Experts: advice from practitioners in the field, a panel of experienced Minnesota principals including: 
  
• Sheila Eller, Mounds View Schools
  
• Scott Allen (MESPA East Suburban Division past-president), Roseville Schools 
  
• Gail Lewis Miller, Hopkins Schools
  
• Jon Millerhagen (MESPA president-elect, 2008-2009 Minnesota School of Excellence), Bloomington Schools
  
• Richard Oscarson (MESPA President), Lakeview Schools
  
• Dr. Gail M. Swor (2004 Minnesota School of Excellence, 2008 National Distinguished Principal)
  
• Optional Day 2, the Three-Minute Walkthrough! An important tool to help you set your school on a continuous improvement cycle.

• I really believe this a valuable experience for beginning principals.  I especially enjoyed Roger Aronson's presentation.  Very useful.
• I was able to walk away with many useful tips as a first year principal.  Great seminar!
• I was encouraged and convinced to join my division.
• I am very excited to be a new member of MESPA!  Now I understand where and who to go to if I have a concern or question.  Thank you for your support!
• I like networking - legal information was very good.
• Built a network, provided a better understanding of how committed MESPA is to seeing principals succeed.
• Provided an avenue to meet face to face with individuals in a calm setting.
• Thank you so much for the hospitality and information today!  It was great to communicate with colleagues and reenergize my battery with some questions answered and new ideas!
• Excellent. 
• I think you offered wonderful speakers, an excellent lunch, and an awesome staff.  I really appreciate this learning experience.

Adams, William: Renville County West
Blanchard, Janey: Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig
Critchley, Heidi: Park Side Elementary, Marshall
Gordy, Caryl: Parkers Prairie
Graham, Mark: Becker Intermediate
Gustafson, Brad: Tracy Area Elementary
Hanson, Heather: Sunny Hollow, Robbinsdale
Hanson, Nate: Nelle Shean,  Gilbert-Eveleth
Houseman, James: West Central Area
Kapsner, Dean: Nyquist Elementary, Isle
Labatte, Wade: Oak Hills Elementary, Lakeville
Lieber, Sarah: Sanford Elementary, Montevideo
Noble, Joshua: Prairie Elementary, Worthington
Palmer, Bradley: Jefferson Elementary, Faribault
Pendelton Adrain: Galtier Magnet, St. Paul
Perron, Paula: Isle Schools
Quiram, Thomas: Hilltop Elementary, LeSueur-Henderson
Schmitt, Christi: L'Etoile du Nord, St. Paul
Schultz, Tamara: Marshall Public Schools
Smith, Patrick: Zachary Lane, Robbinsdale
Wassman, Karl: Mountain Lake
Willey, Jeremy: Savage Elementary, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage

• Seminar date and location:
  Thursday, October 9, 2008
  8:00 a.m, Registration, networking, and continental breakfast
  8:30 am. - 3:30 p.m., seminar
  TIES Education Center
  1667 North Snelling Avenue
  St. Paul, MN 55108

  The seminar day includes continental breakfast, lunch, handouts, and administrator clock-hour credits (CEUs) .
  The cost is $95 for MESPA members, $150 for non-members.
  

• Optional Day 2, Three-Minute Walkthrough seminar: To help new principals in guiding their staff toward a continuous improvement cycle, we offer an optional second day to the New Principals' seminar: the Three-Minute Walkthrough.

  Seminar date and location:
  Friday, October 10, 2008
  8:30 a.m, Registration, networking, and continental breakfast
  9:00 am. - 3:00 p.m., seminar
  Brimhall Elementary School
  1744 West County Road B
  Roseville, MN 55113

  The seminar day includes continental breakfast, lunch, handouts, and administrator clock-hour credits (CEUs).

  A three-minute walkthrough is a brief, focused classroom visit. Learn to use this tool to guide your teachers and set your school on a continuous improvement cycle. Kathy Larson, national professional growth and development consultant, will lead you on the walkthrough, using the school as a live laboratory, allowing seminar participants to observe and use the process in its classrooms.

  The combined cost for the Surviving and Thriving in the Principalship (Day 1) and the Three-Minute Walkthrough (Day 2) for a MESPA member is $195.
  

Image Gallery: Highlights from the Class of 2008-2009

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