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What’s your it?

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Deb Henton
MASA President Superintendent
North Branch Area Public Schools

Each summer I meet with leadership team members who determine a theme for the next school year. The theme is transferred to pins all employees receive during our first district-wide professional development day of the year.  No matter the theme, it is one with the potential to bind all of us together. We always hope the chosen theme fosters a positive culture.

Interestingly, there are staff who have collected all 11 pins I have provided.This year we are breaking from our pin tradition and will be handing out wristbands in school colors that read, “It starts with me.”  It will be fun to see how the pin collectors react to the wristbands. I’ve learned that even the slightest change can impact some in ways I never expected. No doubt you can identify!

Why this theme? We know that our attitude, our well-being, our work ethic, our care for children, our learning, our relationship building, all start with ourselves.  We are also aware how often it is easy to wish it was someone else’s task to make us happy on the job, or to find solutions to our problems. We believe a simple flick of the wristband will help remind all of us that “It starts with me!” We want our staff to feel empowered when they wear their wristband and gaze down at those four words.

As President of MASA, I know that our common agenda is children. That’s my “it” as president. It starts with me to advocate for the best education for all of Minnesota’s children. It starts with me to ensure that the organization is supporting you as you educate our children. It starts with me to get to know you better and to hear your ideas for how we can further our common agenda.

So what’s your it? A new building project? An election to pass? New school board members to orientate? Leading a vision others will follow? Regardless, your it starts with you.  

I am honored to serve as president for the 2018-19 school year. Please don’t hesitate to call on me if I can help you with your it throughout the year. Best wishes for an incredible year!

2018 MASA Fall Conference

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September 30 – October 2 • Madden’s on Gull Lake, Brainerd, MN

What do you think of when you hear the words, “public education?” What do you think your students think of? How about their parents? District staff? Community members? Our audiences are many and diverse, and every individual has an idea of what “school” means to them – and therefor what schooling should be today. So what’s your story? A critical part of school leadership is cultivating an accurate narrative about the state of public education, and sometimes that can be challenging given the range of audiences and perspectives. Let’s take some time this fall and reflect on the stories of success, the opportunities provided by a system that is accessible to all, and the great presence of our schools in communities across Minnesota. Let’s celebrate public education!

Register online!


Conference Highlights…

On Sunday afternoon, golfers will enjoy the Dale G. Jensen Golf Tournament, benefiting the MASA Foundation. All conference participants are invited to play, no matter your skill level!

Register to golf here: www.regonline.com/MASAgolf18

What better way to kick off the conference—and the new school year—than by greeting old friends and meeting our new members? 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!

Throughout the conference, we will celebrate the service of our honored colleagues. In addition to celebrating our members’ years of service with recognition marking their milestone years, we will present the 2018 Richard Green scholarship to Dr. Kim Gibbons, Director, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI), University of Minnesota and the Polaris Award to Dr. Lynne Kovash, Retired Superintendent, Moorhead Area Public Schools. We will also recognize our service pin and certificate recipients.

Sometimes our attempts to foster creativity can actually stifle it. Our Monday morning keynote speaker Peter Gamwell, a former teacher and superintendent who has spent more than three decades studying creativity, will share a fresh perspective on how to nurture creativity, innovation, leadership, and engagement — and of course, celebrate public education.

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 members ARE our experts, and here is a great chance to share knowledge and ideas.

The Exhibit Fair is a convenient way to visit with representatives of companies offering the latest products and services of value to school leaders. Our exhibitors’ participation also helps us reduce conference tuition for our members, so let’s thank them for being with us by being with them!

Our Executive Development leaders have chosen three sets of compelling concurrent sessions scheduled for Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Our Monday afternoon program features the work of our 2018 Richard Green Scholar Dr. Kim Gibbons. Kim’s work, entitled, “Effective Universal Instruction: An Action-Oriented Approach to Improving Tier 1,” will inform us of the requirement to ensure high levels of learning for all students. Join Kim and hear the findings of this important work.

Our closing keynote speaker Bill Sainton says that public education taught him how to interact with people with diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, and other backgrounds and that he firmly believes that a robust, healthy, and world-class public education system is the most important ingredient for a world-class future. Join us and hear about Bill’s experiences (including behind-the-scenes stories with celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Nye the Science Guy) and how creative, enthusiastic leadership can create magic worth celebrating!

We look forward to seeing you at Madden’s!

2018 Dale G. Jensen Classic Golf Tournament

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Join us for the annual Dale G. Jensen Classic Golf Tournament!

The tournament supports the work of the MASA Foundation (a 501(c)(3) organization), providing leadership development for Minnesota’s school leaders and supporting the field of school administration.

Register online at: www.regonline.com/MASAgolf18

Sunday, September 30, 2018

4 Person Team Event, 18 Hole Scramble, Shotgun Tee-off at 12 pm NOON
Registration/Check-In opens at 11:00 am

Pine Beach East Golf Course
Madden’s on Gull Lake
11266 Pine Beach Peninsula, Brainerd, MN 56401 | Map

Feel like your game is off? Purchase mulligans at the check-in desk. We have putting, open, and power mulligans for purchase! And don’t forget to participate in the chipping contest!

*Unless noted prior to the event, foursomes will be assigned in random order to provide a mix of all participants.

Show up early (11:00 am) to check-in.


Sponsor the Annual Dale G. Jensen Classic Golf Tournament

Sponsorship Level:

Ace ($500 – $999)

Eagle ($300 – $499)

Birdie ($200 – $299)

Par ($100 – $199)

IF you are NOT golfing but wish to donate or sponsor, please email Mike Hoheisel.

You can also call Mike Hoheisel at 651-260-6451.

2018-19 MASA Foundation Board

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President, Retiree, Chris Richardson

Treasurer, Jamie Skjeveland, Crosby-Ironton Schools

2017-20, Krin Abraham, Houston Public Schools

2004-19, Eric Bartleson, Retiree

2014-20, Rob Brown, Nexus Solutions, LLC

2006-21, Don, Bungum, Retiree

2009-21, Robert Cavanna, Retiree

2007-19, John Christiansen, Retiree

2017-20, Diane Cordes, Breckenridge Public School

2012-21, Marty Duncan, Retiree

2017-20, Rachel Gorton, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District

2011-20, Peter Haapala, Warroad Public Schools

2017-20, Jen Hegna, Byron Public Schools

2012-21, Deb Henton, North Branch Area Public Schools

2008-20, Mike Hoheisel, Robert W. Baird & Co.

2004-19, Dale Jensen, Retiree

2005-17, Antoinette Johns, Retiree

2018-21, James Johnson, St. Cloud State University

2017-20, Brad Johnson, Hibbing Public Schools

2011-20, Charles Kyte, Retiree

2006-21, Janet Mohr, Retiree

2005-20, Fred Nolan, Retiree

2007-19, Allen Ralston, Retiree

2012-21, Diane Rauschenfels, University of MN, Duluth

2012-21, Harold Remme, Retiree

2007-19, Charles Rick, Retiree

2017-20, Kelly Smith, Springsted Incorporated

2007-19, John Thein, Retiree

2016-19, Rachel Udstuen, Spring Grove Public Schools

2018-21, Steve Unowsky, Richfield Public Schools

2017-20, Michelle Van Den Top, Anoka-Hennepin School District

2017-20, Jim Wagner, Kimball Area Public Schools

2005-17, Ed Waltman, Retiree

2017-20, Shawn Yates, Ada-Borup Schools

2018-19 MASA Business Partners

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Special thanks to our 2018-19 MASA Business Partners! The MASA Business Partner Program provides opportunities for businesses to connect with Minnesota’s educational leaders. Our core belief is that MASA’s role in engaging business partners is to facilitate a rich conversation that helps our practitioner members understand what resources are available to support their districts, and our business partner members understand the needs of our school districts.

Premier ($15,000+)

ICS Consulting
Kraus-Anderson
NWEA
Sourcewell (formerly NJPA)

Executive ($10,000-$14,999)

Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors (formerly Springsted)MSDLAF+/PFM Asset Management, LLC
Teachers On Call, a Kelly Services ® Company

Leader ($7,500-$9,999)

Ehlers
Infinitec
Nexus Solutions, LLC
PMA Financial Network, Inc.
Robert W. Baird & Co.

Fellow ($5,000-$7,499)

Lifetouch
The Horace Mann Companies

Key ($2,500-$4,999)

ATS&R Planners/Architects/Engineers
Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc.
DLR Group
Edgenuity
Hiller Commercial Floors
InGensa, Inc.
Kennedy & Graven, Chartered
Marsh & McLennan Agency
PFM Financial Advisors
Scholastic Education
SchoolFinances.com
Wold Architects & Engineers

Friend ($1,000-$2,499)

#SocialSchool4EDU
Ameresco, Inc.
Architects Rego & Youngquist, Inc.
Big River Group
CAREI
College of St. Scholastica
Cooperative Purchasing Connection
Discovery Education
Donlar Construction
Education Minnesota ESI
Fisher Tracks, Inc.
GLTArchitects
Hallberg Engineering, Inc.
Infinite Campus, Inc.
Institute for Environmental Assessment
KFI Engineers
Knutson, Flynn & Deans, P. A.
Larson Engineering, Inc.
LHB, Inc.
Lightspeed Technologies, Inc.
McKinstry
Milliken & Company
MLA Architects
Modern Teacher
National Insurance Services
Northland Securities, Inc. Financial Advisors
Palmer Bus Service, Inc.
R.A. Morton & Associates
Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, PA
Rupp, Anderson, Squires & Waldspurger, PA
SFE-Southwest Foodservice Excellence
Sodexo
Spur
Unesco Corporation
Vaaler Insurance, Inc.
Wenck
Widseth Smith Nolting