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SY24 Great Start Cohort Kickoff Day

July 24, 2024

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Set up music first -

Set up food second -

Set up notecards/table resources third -

Dave set up technology -

When people arrive, give them their name tags, name plates, and note cards with their name on it - ask them to write 3 facts:

Fact #1 - Something you think you have in common with almost everyone in the room.

Fact #2 - Something you think you have in common with some people in the room.

Fact #3 - Something you think is unique only to you (that you are willing to share more about with the group)

Collect cards as they finish so we have them all by the end of the day. Email virtual participants for the same info. Use these at the October session.

Also when people arrive, give a hard copy survey of feedback/topics/ideas for today. Collect these at the end of the day.

At 8:30, begin the day with

Welcome and Plan for the Day -

Good Morning and welcome to the kickoff event of the 2023-24 Great Start Cohort. I’m Lori Zimmerman, Director of Professional Learning for MASA and I am so glad you’re here today with us. Ryan Fetters, Director at Baker Tilly will be joining us after he drops his son off at school this morning and we will ask him to introduce himself at that time.

Also with us today is Dr. Deb Henton, Executive Director of MASA, who I know would like to extend a warm welcome to you as well. Deb -

I’d also like to introduce Dave Christians. Dave is the MASA Director of Communications and Marketing and is here supporting us today. If you have technology related questions, or you need help locating Great Start resources on the website, he’s your guy!

Here’s some additional information that may be helpful to you today -

We have some morning treats, beverages and snacks out for you. Please avail yourselves of them whenever you need them.

Just outside the door and to the left are restrooms - please use them as you need.

We understand that you may be called away at any time - for a variety of issues or needs. If you must take or make a call, please feel free to step out of the room or, if you are joining virtually, please feel free to turn off your camera so we know you have stepped away. If you anticipate you may need a more private space for communication, please let us know and we will do our very best to accommodate that request.

You should have received a copy of the agenda and we have placed a few hard copies for your reference at the table. Links to today’s presentations will be shared with you as they are available to us - please feel free to reference them as you need. After today’s session, we will share a link to the Great Start resources on the MASA website as well as a survey for you to offer feedback on today’s session and what you might like to see included at future sessions. One thing I would really encourage you to do today is to ask questions. You are in a position in your communities where you are often expected by others to have all the answers. As we learn more about the real role of school leaders today, it’s really to be the person in the room that asks all the best questions to help lead others to the best answers - practice that here! The more information you have, the better the questions you can ask to create these opportunities for others.

With that - are there any questions from you before we start?

Let’s begin!

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Icebreaker Activity - The Boys in the Barbershop

Discussion Questions:

What would you say about the way Coach Dale handled himself? How effective was the interaction? What might you suggest he have done differently or do next?

What specific behaviors do you observe that control the situation, make destructive conflict avoidable? To what extent are those behaviors practiced in your organization/teams/departments? Which teams or departments in your world are you most concerned about now?

What messages seem to be aimed at Coach Dale from the men in the barbershop? What are some of the veiled messages aimed at you in your work environment? How do you normally handle the messages - how do you normally handle yourself?

What seemed to be some of the assumptions people were making? What assumptions do you think people make about you?

What do you suppose the conversation was after Coach Dale excused himself?

To what extent were these things present in the scene: respect, civility, thoughtfulness, warmth, welcome? To what extent are they present in your work environment?

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What does your new group of school leaders look like?

49 school districts have new superintendents this year, down from last year’s high of 70.

Of those 49, 25 are brand new superintendents and enrolled in the Great Start cohort - and we are so glad you’re here together!

Where do you serve?

Minnesota Map

Please share - your name, your first paid job in education, and if you have more than one official title, what it is.

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Who Can You Contact?

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Mr. Dave Christians

Communications and Marketing Manager

dave.christians@mnasa.org

Ms Stephanie Kastanos

Manager of Accounting,

Events and Business Partnerships

stephanie.kastanos@mnasa.org

Ms Taylor Ethen

Executive Assistant

(Executive Director, Board of Directors and Director of Professional Learning)

taylor.ethen@mnasa.org

Ms. Deb Larson

Administrative Coordinator

(Membership, Accounts and Events)

members@mnasa.org

Dr. Deb Henton

Executive Director

deb.henton@mnasa.org

651-439-7719

Dr. Lori Zimmerman

Director of Professional Learning

lori.zimmerman@mnasa.org

651-295-7761

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THIS IS WHO WE SERVE

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Board and Superintendent Relationships

What your SPED Director Wishes you Knew or Thought About

Principal Leadership: What your Principals Need from You

What your Technology Director Wishes you Knew or Thought About

What your Curriculum Director Wishes you Knew or Thought About

What your Business Manager Wishes you Knew or Thought About

Budget Planning Calendar

Levy Certification and Truth in Taxation 101 - (aka Super Bowl of School Finance)

Financing Options for MN Schools

Aligning Resources to District Goals, Staffing Analysis and Financial Performance

Strategic Financial Planning: Analyze Needs and Allocate Resources

Budget Considerations from an Equity Lens

Communicating about School Finance (and other things) Across Multiple Audiences

Special Education Finance

Contract Negotiations

Legislative Platform Update and Advocating on Behalf of your District

Tracking School Finance - What Should be on a Superintendent’s Radar?

Best Financial Advice from New Superintendents

Leading for Equity

Policy Review from an Equity Lens

Liability Issues and Employee Discipline

Legal Issues on the Horizon - What your Attorney Wishes you Knew or Thought About

Building Your Leadership Team

Growing New Leaders

What your Students wish you Knew/Thought About

What your BIPOC students/colleagues wish you Knew/Thought About

Similarities between urban, rural and suburban school districts

How to Remain Current/Connected

Leading in our Current Political Climate - Being the Leader we Aspired to Be

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It’s hard when you don’t know what it is you don’t know, so I wanted to give you a sneak preview of what’s coming. The topics highlighted in red reflect the three days we are combined with the Finance Academy in November and December, so we will add some folks to our conversations on those days.

As you look at this list and as you find yourself doing the work, if you have ideas about topics you’d like to see addressed or resources you need, please reach out to me. We can’t help what we don’t know is a need. Our topics are based off of feedback from last year’s participants as well as suggestions from currently serving superintendents, things that Deb hears as she is in meetings across the state and things we see popping up or coming soon that we want you to be prepared for. That said, you are the “boots on the ground” people and you will certainly know it if you aren’t as prepared as you would like to be for something, so reach out and let us know!