Join our inaugural book club over the summer. Education professionals often don’t find time to read for themselves. This offering takes this reality into account, and we seek a community of readers looking to refresh over the summer. We have selected, JOY!, by Timothy Kanold, a reflective and practical guide for educators seeking to cultivate lasting joy in their personal and professional lives.  The group will meet in June, July, and August to discuss the book and its personal and professional impact. Registration is required by May 15 to ensure timely delivery of the book.

Language is ever evolving and changing. Sometimes knowing which terms or descriptions to use can be difficult and sometimes we don’t even know we are using outdated or harmful language. This webinar is focused on promoting positive language around topics such as race, gender, and common school-based labels and language.

The Social Studies Standards Workshop is a two-day workshop series designed to equip K–8 teachers and school leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully implement the new social studies standards by the 2026–27 school year. Participants will engage in a guided exploration of the revised standards, including analysis of major content shifts, vertical alignment across grade levels, and implications for curriculum planning.

Throughout the workshop, teams will connect the updated standards to the C3 Framework, deepening their understanding of high-quality instructional practices and identifying necessary instructional shifts to support student learning. Time will be provided for participants to apply their learning to their own curriculum (with a focus on inquiry and interdisciplinary skills).

Sourcewell hosted the Special Education Licensure Via Portfolio Kick-Off with PELSB staff on Oct. 7, 2025. The participants made the request to have multiple full day supports to work with Sourcewell staff and each other as they navigate the competencies in their Core Skills and Licensure Portfolios. The Special Education support team at Sourcewell has identified five full days to provide on-site support for the participants in this cohort.

This professional development training focuses on equipping K–5 educators with research-based strategies to intentionally build students’ vocabulary and academic language across content areas. Participants will explore techniques such as explicit vocabulary instruction, interactive read-alouds, and structured student discourse to incorporate throughout unit plans and daily lessons. This session will also highlight scaffolds that support multilingual learners and students with diverse language needs. Teachers will leave with practical tools and resources to foster rich language development and improve both comprehension and academic achievement.

Transformational leadership is a leadership approach characterized by the ability of district and school leaders to inspire and support their staff, fostering an environment of high expectations and continuous growth. This training will provide you access to training and tools focused on distributed leadership and change management that will support superintendents in becoming transformational leaders.

It is more important than ever that we embrace practices known to insulate young people from the impact of traumatic events. These practices support students who are experiencing adversity, allowing them to remain/become ready to learn, connect, and thrive. Participants will examine the trauma responsiveness of current practices and pedagogy, then use scenarios to apply trauma responsive practices and interventions. This training focuses on strategies and interventions that are trauma responsive, trauma protective, and also academically sound pedagogical practices. The course will provide and use the text, Trauma Responsive Educational Practices: Helping Students Cope and Learn.

To better support students impacted by trauma, educators must first understand the various types of traumas (beyond ACES) and how trauma affects the brain and behavior in both students and adults. This equity-infused training is embedded with trauma-informed practices that support resilience and address its insulating factors of relationship, regulation, and responsibility. The topic of trauma is approached with care and consideration for people with a wide range of lived experience.

Minnesota’s 2020 ELA standards elevate student self-selection and choice, diverse texts and perspectives, and authentic literacy experiences that honor student identity and voice. In this hands-on session, grades 5–12 ELA teachers will learn how to build purposeful text sets and literature circles that support a genuine exchange of ideas. Learn engaging routines and management practices that make small-groups engaging and sustainable as an alternative to the whole-class novel.

Anton Treuer speaks nationally and internationally to schools, universities, tribal communities, nonprofits, and public institutions. His presentations are known for being accessible, candid, grounded in scholarship, and engaging across diverse audiences.

Common themes include:

• Indigenous history and contemporary Native life


• Ojibwe language and cultural revitalization


• Cultural competency and equity


• Education and addressing opportunity gaps


• Tribal sovereignty, treaties, and governance


• Building respectful relationships across difference

Anton Treuer speaks nationally and internationally to schools, universities, tribal communities, nonprofits, and public institutions. His presentations are known for being accessible, candid, grounded in scholarship, and engaging across diverse audiences.

Common themes include:

• Indigenous history and contemporary Native life


• Ojibwe language and cultural revitalization


• Cultural competency and equity


• Education and addressing opportunity gaps


• Tribal sovereignty, treaties, and governance


• Building respectful relationships across difference

In this evidence-based course, learn to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among young people. You’ll build the skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial and continuing support to young people experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis, including suicide. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

Participants gain certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid.