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Summer Leadership Seminar

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This event now happens every other year. The next Summer Leadership Seminar will be held in 2025.

Enhance your personal and professional skills at our revamped Summer Leadership Seminar.

Summer Leadership Seminar is different from our Summer Seminar of years past, with an emphasis on relationship building and shared experiences in a cohort structure. Come as an individual – or as a team – to develop or enhance your union leadership skills.  

Participants choose one leadership pathway for the duration of the conference. Each pathway will dive deeply into a focused content area and provide members with the opportunity to learn from and connect with fellow union members. 

Learn more about the conference

See a full list with course decriptions here.

  • Certified Negotiator Training for Teachers
  • Certified Negotiator Training for ESPs
  • Driving Policy Change with Research
  • ESP A to Z
  • Excuse Me… I’m Speaking
  • Financial Leadership in Your Local
  • Increasing your Sphere of Influence
  • Just for New(er) Presidents
  • Local Contract Action Team Training: Organizing fundamentals and building contract campaigns
  • MEA Professional Development Train the Trainer
  • Member Rights Advocacy
  • Political , Communications and Advocacy Leadership
  • Union Leadership Development Program
  • Local Planning Time
  • Do I need to be an Education Minnesota member to attend the conference?
    Yes, the conference is open to members only.
  • Do I need to register?
    Yes. Advance registration is required.
  • Is there an admission fee?
    Yes, the base cost is $90, covering meals, session participation, and facilities charges.
    If you would like to stay on-site at the College of Saint Benedict, the registration fee will be:
    – $105 for overnight accommodations Monday and Tuesday with a roommate or
    – $165 for overnight accommodation both nights in a single occupancy dorm.
  • What are the options for funding support if cost is a barrier to attendance?
    First, check with your local or IO to see if they can provide funding support. If you need assistance identifying who to contact within your local, please email Claire Olson at claire.olson@edmn.org.

    Education Minnesota will cover the cost of registration fees and housing accommodations for two members attending per local if they identify with one of the groups below:
    – Early career educators (first 5 years)
    – First time attendees of Education Minnesota’s Summer Seminar
    – Members of marginalized communities including but not limited to BIPOC & LGBTQ+

    Education Minnesota is providing this funding support to encourage local leaders to identify and invite new leaders within their local. Our union power grows with greater engagement!

    The names of two selected members need to be communicated to Claire Olson via email
    (claire.olson@edmn.org) for financial tracking purposes. After registration closes, we will credit the two attendees that have been previously identified by a local leader, waiving the registration and housing fee.
  • What is the difference between Summer Seminar of years past and Summer Leadership Seminar?
    Instead of choosing from a variety of individual sessions, you will select one Leadership Pathway as the primary focus. This new format allows for an extended period working within a cohort on a focused area and additional time to build meaningful connections with fellow educators.
  • Can teachers earn continuing education credit at the conference?
    You will receive a certificate of completion via the email you registered with detailing continuing education clock hours at the completion of your pathway. Your local continuing education committee determines whether to approve the credit.
  • What are the Leadership Pathway options for members to choose from?
    – Certified Negotiator Training for ESPs
    – Certified Negotiator Training for Teachers
    – Driving Policy Change with Research
    – ESP A to Z
    – Excuse Me… I’m Speaking
    – Increasing Your Sphere of Influence
    – Financial Leadership in Your Local
    – Just for New(er) Presidents
    – Local Contract Action Team Training: organizing fundamentals and building contract campaigns.
    – MEA Professional Development Train the Trainer
    – Member Rights Advocacy
    – Union Leadership Development Program
    – Local Planning Time
  • Is there an opportunity for local teams to attend Summer Leadership Seminar for the purpose of local planning? What resources are available to support local planning teams?
    Teams looking for dedicated time to collaborate with one another will be given their own classroom to connect, brainstorm and plan together. You and your colleagues bring the ideas, and we provide time, space and resources to support your in-person planning. In addition to reserving your own dedicated space for the seminar, each team will also be able to request support from Education Minnesota staff throughout your time together, including but not limited to legal, finance, organizing and/or field staff guidance.

    Eligible groups for this pathway might include Diversity and Equity Teams, Executive Councils, Building Stewards, Mentorship Teams and the list goes on! This is your opportunity to bring your ideas to life and put your plans in place ahead of the school year!
  • What are the payment options to cover fees for registration and housing to attend this event?
    After a member submits registration for Summer Leadership Seminar, an Education Minnesota staff member will review their registration and verify membership. The member will then receive a registration confirmation email from notify@eventleaf.com including a confirmation code, registration summary, and payment information in the body of the email as well as two PDFs attached – an invoice for payment and a confirmation of registration.
  • Download a copy of the FAQ document

Is your team interested in utilizing this time for local planning?
Teams looking for dedicated time to collaborate with one another will be given their own classroom to connect, brainstorm and plan together. You and your colleagues bring the ideas, and we provide time, space and resources to support your in-person planning. In addition to reserving your own dedicated space for the seminar, each team will also be able to request support from Education Minnesota staff throughout your time together, including but not limited to legal, finance and/or field staff guidance. Eligible groups for this pathway might include Diversity and Equity Teams, Executive Councils, Building Stewards, Mentorship Teams and the list goes on! This is your opportunity to bring your ideas to life and put your plans in place ahead of the school year!

Education Minnesota will cover the cost of registration fees and housing accommodations for two members attending per local if they identify with one of the groups below:  

  • Early career educators (first 5 years) 
  • First time attendees of Education Minnesota’s Summer Seminar
  • Members of marginalized communities including but not limited to BIPOC & LGBTQ+ 

Education Minnesota is providing this funding support to encourage local leaders to identify and invite new leaders within their local. Our union power grows with greater engagement! 

The names of two selected members need to be communicated to Claire Olson via email (claire.olson@edmn.org) for financial tracking purposes. After registration closes, we will credit the two attendees that have been previously identified by a local leader, waiving the registration and housing fee. 

Questions? Contact:

Claire Olson

claire.olson@edmn.org
651-292-4884

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