A “best practice” is a method that reliably leads to desired results. Great school leaders create effective systems that adapt to rapid and pervasive change, provide a culture supporting risk-taking and experimentation, and nurture a climate of possibilities. A best leadership practice in school districts manifests itself in strong systems that support those targets and therefor excellence for all students. Join your colleagues this fall as we share our own regional best leadership practices.
Networking, Networking, Networking! There will be numerous opportunities to socialize with colleagues you already know, as well as grow your professional network with fellow administrators from around the state. On Sunday afternoon, golfers will enjoy the MASA Foundation Golf Tournament Mixer. The tournament is newly named the Dale G. Jensen Classic to honor Dale’s many years of spearheading this important fundraiser. Information to register to golf can be found at http://www.mnasa.org. Sunday evening after dinner, we’ll gather for a casual Welcome Reception. We will announce the golf tournament results, so all the winners will get their bragging rights early in the conference!
Inspiring Keynote Speakers! Monday will feature a keynote address from Dave Weber, who will present one of his most frequently requested programs, “Sticks & Stones Exposed: The Truth Behind Words & Relationships.” The high demand for this program is due to its impact on the culture and climate of a school and the resulting improvement in student achievement, through the creation of a positive learning community. Tuesday will feature MASA’s 2016 Richard Green Scholar Dr. James Johnson, presenting his research “An Evaluation of Implementation and Effectiveness of Professional Learning Communities in Minnesota Public Schools.” Dr. Johnson’s presentation will inform us of the proper understanding of professional learning communities’ (PLC) concepts and practices. His study sought to determine if PLCs were being implemented effectively based on best practices described in research by: describing and contrasting the characteristics of PLCs employed in public school districts in Minnesota, the districts’ duration of use of PLCs, and barriers teachers and administrators have encountered when implementing PLCs.
Customize Your Experience! Individualize your professional learning with ten different breakout sessions presented by your fellow MASA members to choose from – and visit Monday’s Exhibit Fair. With more than 80 exhibitors offering the innovative products and services, you’ll discover the latest educational technology available for your students and communities.
Celebrate Your Colleagues! Throughout the conference we will be celebrating the service of our colleagues. In addition to celebrating our members’ years of service with milestone pins, we will present the 2016 Richard Green Scholar scholarship to Dr. James Johnson (special thank you to Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc.) and the 2016 Polaris Award to Dr. Jim Hess (special thank you to Ehlers).
Gain Association Insights! Make plans to attend the Annual Meeting Monday afternoon. In addition to our annual business meetings, we will recognize our colleagues achievement with service pins, learn about MASA strategic plan progress, and hear from Gary Amoroso about the vision for next year.
Edcamp! Join us on Monday afternoon for our Edcamp, an opportunity for all of our participants to design their own conference experience by exploring the topics you determine. Our Edcamp subcommittee will be on hand to help participants arrange for the conferencing spaces and to extend invitations to the discussions. Our members ARE our experts, and here is a great chance to share knowledge and ideas.
