Distinguished Educator Katie Morrow Speaks at MREA Conference

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Katie Morrow, a distinguished educator and technology integrationist, spoke today at the MREA Conference on the modern day classroom and role choice, challenge and community plays in academic achievement. Morrow works at O’Neill Public Schools, a rural district about 3 hours outside of Omaha, Nebraska. She is a former elementary teacher currently serving as middle school teacher and technology integration … Read More

MREA Recognizes Project REAL

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MREA recognizes Little Falls Community Schools’ Project REAL with the Profile of Excellence Award at its banquet on Nov. 12. Little Falls Community Schools put iPads in the hands of 1,450 students last year, marking the largest known one-time roll-out for full-time student use in the state of Minnesota. The district first launched a pilot for Project REAL in 2010 by providing … Read More

Rynell Schock Receives Distinguished Service Award

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A respected educational leader in Central Minnesota, Rynell Schock has been dedicated to improving literacy instruction in local classrooms through research-based best practices and high quality professional development. MREA recognizes Rynell for that commitment as the 2012 Distinguished Award Recipient. MREA will honor Rynell at a banquet on Nov. 12 at Cragun’s in Brainerd. As an education specialist at National … Read More

State Board Openings Announced

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You can help be The Voice of Greater Minnesota Education by applying for one of the nine E-12 education related state-wide boards that have openings as of Jan. 1. The Secretary of State today announced the vacancies. For full consideration, your application must be submitted by Nov. 27. Some of these require a geographic distribution by congressional districts. E-12 Education Related … Read More

DECISION DAY: What to Expect

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With less than 48 hours to go, candidates are scrambling across their districts to get out their vote. The presidential election appears to be tied in national polls and recent Minnesota polls indicate the race has tightened up here with President Obama maintaining a slight advantage. This means there are no big waves to carry down ballot candidates across the … Read More

MDE Recommendations on Key Education Issues Expected by Year-End

mreaadminAssessment and Accountability, Opportunity Gap, Other Rural Issues, Quality Teachers

November 7-January 5 will be a very active political season. The political ads will disappear, but victorious candidates and the Minnesota Department of Education Working Groups will have busy and consequential schedules. It will be important for you and your district to be engaged. Call up your new or returning legislator and arrange a meeting, have them come to your … Read More

Ravitch Speaks in Minnesota

mreaadminAssessment and Accountability, Opportunity Gap, Other Rural Issues

“Public education itself is at risk,” is how Diane Ravitch began her assertive address at the Ed MN conference on Friday.  With a mixture of educational statistics, headlines with the background stories, and attack lines worthy of a Presidential debate, Ravitch called attention to “the agenda of deceptively named groups including Students First, MINNCAN, Democrats for Ed Reform, who are … Read More

Cut Score Issues Visited Sept. 27

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This week, the Minnesota Board of Teaching Standards and Rules Committee plans to assess cut scores as some share dissatisfaction and challenges with the process, according to Allen Hoffman, MREA’s representative on this BOT advisory committee. Certain tests, namely World Language Content and the Basic Skills Math, have been identified as potential areas of concern. The Basic Skills Math test … Read More

Nominate for Distinguished Service Award

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 The MREA Board of Directors is seeking nominations for the Distinguished Service Award to recognize  individuals who have made significant contributions to rural education. MREA will honor award recipients  at the MREA Annual Conference Banquet on Nov. 12. The MREA Board established the Distinguished Service Award in 2003 and seeks to recognize individuals who have demonstrated contributions in one or … Read More

MREA Board Seeks Nominations

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MREA is accepting nominations for five seats on the MREA Board of Directors. You may apply yourself or nominate someone else for these openings. To apply or be nominated, a candidate must represent a full membership district of MREA, must come from a zone in which the vacancy exists, and must agree to attend meetings. Nomination forms need to be received no … Read More