PreK-3 Principal Leadership Series - Twin Cities Cohort

This will be the last cohort of this series. We have recently delayed our dates to accommodate all who are interested in completing this series! Don't miss out! SEE NEW DATES BELOW!

This comprehensive, 5-day series supports elementary level principals in improving their school's readiness and the alignment of policies and practices across the birth-to-age-eight learning continuum. Developed in partnership between the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association and the Minnesota Department of Education, this series will cover a range of topics to help principals and their team members prepare strong PreK-3 programs in their schools. Plus, you earn 30 CEUs for attending the full series!

This series has been nationally recognized and was featured in New America's Early & Elementary Education Policy Program: Principal's Corner: Perspectives on Teaching & Learning in PreK-3rd Grade. Minnesota is leading the country in principal professional development in PreK-3: come be a part of it!

Each session is designed for a principal and various team members to attend, depending on the session focus. See individual day descriptions for details.

Hear about the value of this series from a team!

Principal Sue Hoeft of Greenway Public Schools, along with Jan Reindl and Kim Tillman of Invest Early discuss the incredible benefit of this series!

"The sessions are helpful and full of great information. The team planning time is very helpful and I am in a better position to lead... I can't tell you how much this program has helped me grow as a leader! All I can say is 'wow'!"
- Mark Ziebarth, Principal in Cambridge-Isanti

Who should attend? 
A team must include an elementary level principal. From there, you build your team based on the session content and the needs of your district! Your team might consist of your building's curriculum/instructional leader, your School Readiness Coordinator, etc. We strongly encourage your district's superintendent to attend at least days 1 & 5. 

How to register
Teams should be registered under the principal's name. The principal should plan to attend each day of the series. You will then list the rest of your team's attendance by day. 

Cost
This series is both affordable and flexible. Registration also includes a copy of NAESP's Leading PreK-3 Learning Communities book for your team!

• Teams with a MESPA member: $125 for principal (includes all 5 days), plus $25 per team member per day.
• Teams with a Non-MESPA member principal: $175 for principal (includes all 5 days) plus $35 per team member per day.
  

Session format
Participants will have opportunities to learn from national and state PreK-3 leaders on the principal's role in leading PreK-3. Teams will reflect on their current context and needs identified through self-assessments. Each session includes built-in work time to discuss essential information and create action plans to support effective implementation with your team. This series is designed to develop principal competencies outlined in NAESP's Leading Learning Communities: Competencies for Effective Principal Practice (available for purchase through the registration).

Agenda by day -- NEW DATES!
Each session offers built-in work time for you and your PreK team! CLICK HERE to access the PreK-3 Principal Leadership page where you can view content from past cohorts.
Day 1: Embracing the PreK-3 learning continuum
When: Monday, October 30

Day 2: Ensuring high quality learning environments and teaching
When: Tuesday, December 5

Day 3: Providing personalized, blended learning environments
When: Monday, January 22

Day 4: Using multiple measures to guide growth in student learning
When: Monday, March 12

Day 5: Building professional capacity and making your school a hub of P3 learning
When: Tuesday, April 10

Featured speakers
Terrie Rose, Ph.D. (@terrierose1), a MN local and leader in the field of early childhood development and emotional readiness. Author of "Emotional Readiness: How Early Experiences & Mental Health Predict School Success," Rose is nationally recognized and has developed curriculum for infants and toddlers to ensure emotional readiness. She'll share insight into the current science of early learning and fostering family engagement.

Sharon Ritchie, Ed.D. and Adam Holland, Ph.D. are principal investigators of the FirstSchool initiative, a national effort to develop innovative schools and schooling practices that focus on development and learning for 3-8 year olds with an emphasis on African American, Latino, and low income children and their families. Ritchie & Holland will offer their expertise in PreK-3 program design, engaging & effective instruction, and more! 

Yvonne Caamal Canul, Michigan's 2015 Superintendent of the Year, also served as Director of Implementation for FirstSchool. Her passion for early childhood (and humor!) radiates as she shares insights into district- and community-level PreK to grade 12 implementation and reform.

Steve Tozer, Ph.D. is founding coordinator of the EdD Urban Educational Leadership Program at the University of IL at Chicago and an expert on urban school leader preparation. Dr. Tozer will help participants formulate key strategies in their leadership roles to to support instructional quality in PreK.

Megan Gunnar is a professor of Child Development and operates The Gunnar Laboratory for Developmental Psychobiology Research at the University of Minnesota. She is the principal investigator for The International Adoption Project and co-principal investigator of The Early Experience, Stress Neurobiology, and Prevention Science Network. Dr. Gunnar received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Sanford University in 1978. Following her graduate work she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford Medical School in Developmental Psychoneuroendocrinology. A Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Regents Professor, Dr. Gunnar's main interest is stress and coping in infants and young children.

Doug Paulson (@DPaulsonSTEM) is the STEM Specialist at the MN Department of Education where he leads STEM initiatives and educational technology. He has experience teaching and as an administrator from Kindergarten through 9th grade. He provides leadership as a Board Director on several MN organizations as well as the Council for State Science Supervisors and was appointed to the National Academy of Engineering Committee on Guiding Implementation of K-12 Engineering Education. He is currently working on his Ed.D. at Bethel University and is currently working on research projects on data system indicators, gender equity in STEM, and integration of computer science.

General Information/F.A.Q.
If a team member cannot attend, principals are welcome to bring a different team member in their place. We respectfully request that you contact us in advance so we can accommodate.

All sessions will take place from 9am-3:00pm (check-in begins at 8:30am) in the Grand Hall of the TIES Education Center. Lunch will be provided each day of the series. CEUs are also provided (both administrative & teacher).

For other questions, please call the MESPA office at 651.999.7310.