Assistant Executive Director
MASA
We know that MASA members are leaders. We know that they show up for each other and support each other in the work. With our new membership system, we can also see how we show up to learn together – and the numbers tell a story worth sharing.
Across the 2025–26 year, 97% of MASA’s 797 members participated in at least one professional learning opportunity. This might have been a Fall or Spring conference, a virtual session, or the MDE Back-to-School event. In an era when leaders are stretched thinner than ever, that level of engagement is remarkable, and it says a great deal about the value members place on learning alongside their peers.
Conferences remain the heart of MASA
Four in ten members attended at least one conference this year, and of those, more than 40% attended both Fall and Spring. Conferences continue to be where the broadest cross-section of Minnesota’s school leaders come together, and the energy in those rooms is something no webinar can match.
Cohorts are powerful
While not represented in the above numbers, but via surveys after the sessions, we know that MASA cohort learning opportunities are powerful times to learn and grow together. Whether you are participating in a regional experience supported by MASA professional learning funds or part of a group like Great Start, Aspiring Superintendents Academy or the Advanced Leadership Academy, the extended times to come together, learn, do and reflect help leaders develop powerful and lifelong connections with other leaders. They become the network that people go to to confirm their thinking, explore new ideas and problem solve challenges. They are instrumental in keeping leaders both growing and thriving.
Virtual learning goes deep
Virtual professional learning served a different, equally important purpose. While fewer members attended in large numbers, those who did went deep — more than 7% of members logged five or more virtual sessions, and a dedicated group attended ten or more.
That depth was especially pronounced in Greater Minnesota. Members in Regions 1–8 were more than twice as likely than Metro members to engage heavily in virtual learning, a clear signal that for leaders far from the Twin Cities, virtual offerings are a critical access point rather than a convenience. Regions 3, 5, and 6 led the state in virtual participation, and we’re studying what’s working there so it can be shared more broadly.
Growing across every role
Superintendents were MASA’s most engaged group this year, with nearly 12% attending five or more virtual sessions and more than three-quarters participating in some form of professional learning. That’s a strong foundation.
At the same time, we heard from the data that our curriculum, special education, and technology leaders participated at lower rates. We take that seriously. These roles are central to district success, and in the coming year we’ll be working to ensure our programming speaks directly to the challenges they face. If you serve in one of these areas, we want to hear from you: what topics, formats, and timing would make MASA learning most useful to you?
Reaching beyond our membership
One more number stood out. Of the 817 people who attended MASA events this year, 316 were not yet members — nearly 4 in 10. That reach is a sign of the reputation MASA members have built, and it’s an invitation. If you attended alongside a colleague who isn’t a member, consider extending a personal welcome and a “tap on the shoulder” for either that next level of leadership, or that it’s time to join MASA in their current district role. We know that leaders always have someone who sees potential in them long before they see it in themselves; be that leader for someone else!
Looking ahead
The takeaway from this year’s data is simple: MASA members are engaged, and the next step is going deeper together. In 2026–27, we’ll focus on:
- Sustaining strong virtual offerings around topics of importance
- Expanding programming for curriculum, special education, and technology leaders
- Exploring more “mini-cohort” opportunities to bring leaders together
Thank you for the time, energy, and commitment you bring to public education. Your participation in MASA is what ensures we remain the leading voice for public education in Minnesota. Our commitment to you remains that of supporting and empowering your leadership through high-quality professional learning, services, and support. So that, together, we can shape and influence the State and National education agenda, to support each student in every Minnesota community.
Questions or ideas about MASA professional learning? Join the Executive Development Committee or reach out to Lori Zimmerman @ lori.zimmerman@mnasa.org or 651-295-7761. We’d love to hear from you!