Minnesota educators to learn about AI, student mental health challenges at annual MEA conference
For more information, contact:
CHRIS WILLIAMS
651-292-4816 (work)
651-247-5539 (cell)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 13, 2025 — Minnesota teachers will explore how to responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into classrooms and support students facing mental health challenges, among dozens of other topics at the 2025 Minnesota Educator Academy on Thursday at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.
The conference, hosted by Education Minnesota for members of the union, will feature three new sessions on AI education, including building custom classroom chatbots, creating AI-powered elementary projects, and using generative tools to develop individualized behavior interventions for students.
Many of the most popular sessions will help educators meet state relicensure requirements in areas including reading instruction, identifying early-onset mental illness, suicide prevention, positive behavioral interventions, cultural competency and teaching English language learners.
“The 2025 Minnesota Educator Academy is more than the largest professional development event for educators in the state of Minnesota. It’s an opportunity to find solidarity with each other during these challenging times for public education,” said Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota.
Byron noted that while many educators remain skeptical of new education technology, students are already using AI tools daily. “AI is already part of how our students interact with their world, from the apps they use to the homework help they access online,” she said. “As educators, we need a better understanding of this technology.”
The AI sessions will help educators understand how the technology works, its limitations and ethical concerns, and how to make informed decisions about classroom integration, Byron said.
Byron noted that policy changes in Washington, D.C., are creating new challenges for educators. “Questions of academic honesty, inclusion and the basic freedom of our students to be accepted as their authentic selves in schools are now disputed at the highest levels in the U.S. Department of Education and the White House,” she said.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Anton Treuer, an author and professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University, who will present “Teaching Truth in Tough Times.” Treuer will argue that authentic cultural education strengthens not only Native students but every student, drawing on examples from Ojibwe immersion schools and Indigenous revitalization efforts. He will discuss Minnesota laws requiring the delivery of language and culture in schools and offer practical strategies for fostering genuine equity and belonging.
The event will also feature Linda Wallenberg, the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, who is marking her 50th year of teaching.
The conference is open to members of Education Minnesota, the union of educators in K-12 schools and two-year colleges statewide.
While the conference is limited to members of Education Minnesota, the news media is invited to book interviews about the conference, either in advance or on Thursday, with Chris Williams at chris.williams@edmn.org.
About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.
