AI Unleashed 2026: STEM Forward Educator Forum! Join us Wed., February 11, 4:30-7:30 PM at Wood Lake Meeting Center.

Network with educators, share best practices, & build connections. CEUs & dinner provided. Perfect for K-12 educators, STEM enthusiasts, future teachers, & those hiring a STEM workforce.

Preview Session Descriptions Here!

Free for STEM Forward members, $125 for non-members.

Contact: Vic Dreier | vdreier@ssc.coop

Join us virtually for an opportunity to connect with other school mental health professionals (school social workers, school counselors, etc.) to discuss relevant topics to our day-to-day work. More information about the agenda will come out closer to the date.

CEU's provided.

Attendees will discover how to tap into their true leadership potential, overcome any challenge, and position their business and their team for the Next Level success they desire. With an emphasis on teaching the power of Inclusive Leadership, today’s leaders will learn how to unlock the unlimited potential of a fully aligned and highly engaged team. Learn strategies to revolutionize leadership in your organization. - Understand how to fulfill your leadership purpose. - Discover new ways to catapult the performance of your team. - Set and accomplish goals, by sustaining cultural integrity. About the Presenter: Marine Corps veteran, leadership expert, and author of The Leadership Connection, Erik Therwanger shares the elite actions necessary for business leaders at every level to achieve the game-enhancing breakthroughs necessary to boost results in their entire organization. If you’d like to bring a team of three or more, please contact info@ssc.coop to receive discounted pricing and streamlined registration!

MASA Region 1 Training

8:00-8:30 Networking and Check-in

8:30-12:30 Program Featuring: :

• MASA, MREA, MSBA, SAFF Updates and Legislative Issues
• MNIT, The Guard, and CISA on Cybersecurity
• Leadership in an Age of Intelligent Systems

12:30-1:00 Closing & Lunch

Look for more details to come!

School Nurse Community of Practice for the 25-26 School Year.

Agenda will be shared closer to the date

This full-day, hands-on workshop introduces business professionals to the practical side of AI. You’ll learn how tools like custom GPTs, automation workflows, and modern language models can streamline operations, improve communication, and unlock new capacity across your team. The day blends clear explanations, real examples, and guided activities that help you identify high-impact opportunities in your own work.

The focus is simple: show you what’s possible, what’s practical, and how to take the first steps with confidence. You’ll leave with ideas you can use immediately, a better understanding of the AI landscape, and a roadmap for applying AI responsibly and effectively in your organization.

Christine Gregory is one of SSC's most beloved presenters. She is an AI genius, and a curriculum and assessment consultant. For the past several years, she has worked with schools all over southern Minnesota on data analysis, data visualization, and curriculum development. Previous to that she worked for Rochester Catholic Schools as the Director of Teaching and Learning working alongside teachers and principals. She has spent a great deal of time recently on investigating AI for educators as she is a firm believer in its transformative power for education as well as its potential to help educators avoid burnout. Her areas of focus include: AI for education, data analysis, data visualization, and curriculum development. In addition to professional life, Christine is a mother of four, football fan, coffee lover, and avid board game geek.

Financial Forecasting and Comparative Analytics in Times of Budget Cuts and Financial Uncertainty

Session description: 

As school districts face rising costs and aging infrastructure, fiscal sustainability is vital. This session offers a practical framework for long-range financial forecasting to identify budget gaps and viable strategies. Learn to evaluate and present revenue and expenditure options where districts have successfully engaged stakeholders, built public trust and adopted sound financial plans. Tools for financial forecasting will be illustrated.

Learning objectives 

·       Identify key financial trends impacting school district budgets 

·       Engage stakeholders effectively in fiscal planning discussions 

·       Employ strategies for balancing revenues and expenditures

Presenter contact information and bios

Lori Volz

Director

Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors

(612) 876-4505

lori.volz@bakertilly.com

Bio: Lori Volz has more than 40 years of experience in school finance and has worked in three Big 9 school districts over the course of her career as executive director of finance and operations/deputy superintendent. She currently serves Minnesota public schools as financial advisory consultant with Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors.

Facilitated by Shannon Helgeson and Ross Herdina of Agile Ideas Leadership, this is an opportunity for instructional coaches and educational leaders of all levels of experience, and for those who want to strengthen their facilitation skills.

Peer-to-peer leadership, such as in instructional coaching and peer mentorship, can have a significant impact on student achievement and lead to actual implementation of initiatives and professional development. However, many schools implementing this model discover quickly that peer support roles can be difficult - and even isolating. Topics for this 3-part cohort include: Coaching Conversations and Feedback Models, Facilitating Adult Learners, and Building a Culture of Learning through Transformational Coaching.

By the end of this series, participants will be able to do, know, or understand a) how to establish a coaching system in your organization, b) structured conversation models that drive decision making and create team buy-in, c) feedback systems and culture, d) the power of facilitative leadership, and e) the partner approach to learning and growth.

Participants will have opportunities to share ideas, practice conversational and coaching strategies, increase their professional skills, and establish strong systems that will help your coaching program flourish. Instructional coaches and others who lead teams and give feedback are encouraged to participate.

Audience: Instructional coaches, peer mentors, and others who provide job-embedded feedback and support

Join us virtually for an opportunity to connect with other school mental health professionals (school social workers, school counselors, etc.) to discuss relevant topics to our day-to-day work. More information about the agenda will come out closer to the date.

CEU's provided.

School Nurse Community of Practice for the 25-26 School Year.

Agenda will be shared closer to the date

Participants will learn practical, brain-based strategies to shift from negative, reactive thinking to patient, growth-oriented responses that support wellbeing at home, work, and in their community. Through hands-on activities and real-world practice, they will leave with concrete tools to strengthen emotional regulation, communication, and community-minded habits.

Stay tuned for details regarding the agenda.