Come to the conference for your kids!
As a local leader, have your members ever asked you, "What does the union do for me?"
Of course the answers to that are many, but each October Education Minnesota offers a ready reply by organizing an extravaganza that is free and open to all, offering dozens of workshops, hundreds of exhibits, provocative speakers and much, much more.
The Thursday and Friday in October that many call "MEA weekend" is actually time set aside for Minnesota educators to get together to improve their practice, learn about new resources and become conversant in important issues.
When the Minnesota Education Association and Minnesota Federation of Teachers merged to become Education Minnesota more than 10 years ago, the annual gathering became the Education Minnesota Professional Conference.
The 2011 conference, set for Oct. 20 and 21, will be held at Saint Paul RiverCentre. For all conference details, workshop descriptions and schedules, go to the Professional Conference section of this site. Here's a printable preview of both days.
Challenge your members to come together for their students! Like all good educators, your members are constantly looking for new ideas, strategies and resources that will help them meet the needs of their students in innovative and effective ways. Why not invite a group of your members to meet at the conference this year, check out the workshops and exhibits, and perhaps gather afterwards to share ideas and information or just to have some fun?
Thursday highlights
Take advantage of more than 60 workshops of interest to those who work with kids of all ages, many in the specific relicensure categories required by the state; engaging speakers; exhibits; flu shots; a book drive for students in need; and a Red Cross blood donation.
Thursday conference hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
Friday highlights
All Friday sessions are designed to meet specific relicensure requirements. From 8:45 to 9:45 a.m., stop by for coffee, treats and an inspiring discussion on how to better meet the needs of all learners with keynoter Dr. Patti Ralabate.
From 10 a.m. to noon, choose an in-depth session on technology, accommodations literacy or children's mental health. The conference closes on Friday at noon.
Please note that local continuing education committees have the final say on whether workshops meet the requirements.
Come together for kids! We’ll see you and your members at Saint Paul RiverCentre Oct. 20-21.
September 27, 2011