MDE WEEKLY SUPERINTENDENT MAIL
TO: Superintendents
FROM: Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner
DATE: September 20, 2012
MDE NEWS AND INFORMATION
ACTION ITEMS
Thank you to all of you who participated in yesterday’s conference call with Commissioner Cassellius. Your feedback was very much appreciated. The next conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17, 9:30-10:30 a.m. School district superintendents are invited to participate in this monthly dialogue via audio conference call. Call-in instructions will be e-mailed to you two days prior to the conference call. All calls will be held 9:30-10:30 a.m. 2012-2013 Conference Call Schedule:
October 17
November 19
December 19
January 16
February 20
March 20
April 17
May 15
June 19
See the revised memorandum from Assistant Commissioner Rose Hermodson; Greg Keith, educator evaluation coordinator; and Tyler Livingston, educator evaluation specialist; regarding the above-mentioned matter. Your district is invited to participate in a three-part series of workshops planned and facilitated by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to support districts’ planning and implementation of principal and teacher evaluation systems that meet the requirements in legislation. Districts are encouraged to bring a team of up to four members. Note the revised meeting schedule. Your regional service cooperative will send you the specific registration information.
On October 1st, districts will receive an electronic survey asking for information about their teacher evaluation process. That survey has been utilized in other states to study teacher evaluation processes and is designed to provide information to the MDE and the MDE’s “Teacher Evaluation Work Group” as they develop the state default model for teacher evaluation. The survey will include questions regarding information about what districts currently have in place, what districts need to implement the evaluation requirements found in statute, and what districts intend to do relative to implementing the state’s default model or designing/refining a local model. The survey is intended to be completed JOINTLY by the superintendent or his/her designee and the president of the local teacher bargaining unit or his/her designee. MDE is requesting that the surveys be completed and returned electronically no later than October 15th.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Minnesota Department of Education-Organization Reference Glossary (MDE-ORG) is now available on the MDE website. This searchable database includes a variety of Minnesota school, district and education-related organization directories and replaces the information formerly available on the Contacts-Schools and Organizations page.
Users can generate files using search parameters that can be used to create listservs, mailing lists, and more. Historical information on districts and schools, including the names and terms of administration staff, can also be found here. You may also find districts or organizations listed by region, such as city or legislative district. Tagged collections allow you to filter for school or district type, such as Alternative Learning Centers or Higher Education institutions. Visit the MDE-ORG page for more information and a link to the database.
The Minnesota Board of Teaching has taken the following licensure actions:
Minnesota Computers for Schools (MCFS) refurbishes donated computers and provides them to schools at a minimal charge. See their Special Deals for September.
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