This cohort is for districts who are participating in the Career Consultant program. District identified career committees will attend to engage in professional learning, collaboration, and program planning. Development of career pathways is based on the nationally recognized Redefining Ready metrics and professional learning will include outside expertise and exemplars to guide district teams in design. Cohort sessions may take place at Sourcewell or another location dependent on content of the session.

This tabletop exercise prepares participants to respond effectively to an active violence incident and the subsequent reunification process. Through realistic scenarios and guided discussions, attendees will examine the roles, responsibilities, and coordination among various agencies. Emphasis will be placed on communication, decision-making, and maintaining safety throughout both phases. The exercise promotes collaboration and identifies areas for improvement in emergency response and reunification protocols.

In the class paraeducators explore communication strategies that make the biggest difference for educators who work with some of our most fragile and misunderstood students.

The Minnesota Service Cooperatives have collaborated to bring you a virtual, asynchronous option to meeting your Cultural Competency licensure requirement. This course provides video learning, personal reflection time, an opportunity to hear from educators in the field, and many additional resources to explore as you continue your journey to be an even more culturally competent educator.

This workshop is designed for both AVID elective teachers and content area teachers, K-12, to explore strategies that support rigor and student success. Participants will engage in common content focused on Strategic Lesson Design with WICOR, emphasizing how writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading can enhance instructional practices across grade levels and disciplines. Breakout sessions will provide differentiated content tailored to specific roles, with AVID elective teachers diving into strategies to enhance AVID tutorials and content area teachers focusing on fostering student engagement and voice in their classrooms. Guided application and planning time will allow participants to immediately integrate learned strategies into their curriculum and lesson plans. Join us for a hands-on, collaborative experience that will empower you to elevate student achievement and engagement in your role!

Participants must be a Region 5 AVID school.

This on-demand course will define formative assessment and explore the benefits of utilization. Participants will learn about various formative assessment techniques for both virtual and in-person learning, and will leave the session ready to implement and achieve some formative assessment quick wins.

Using formative assessments regularly and consistently can give both educators and learners an even clearer picture around what learners know. Formative assessments also provide educators with a guide to developing learning experiences and lesson planning that can meet the needs of all learners. By using formative assessments with purpose, educators can maximize student learning and increase the effectiveness of their lesson design and delivery.

The Foundational Skills (for short-call subs): Learn the most impactful strategies to successfully engage students while also helping the adults save their energy. Based on the ongoing applied research in over 50,000 classrooms and school settings, The Catalyst Approach is committed to finding relevant and practical solutions to the most common school challenges. This course introduces the roots of The Catalyst Approach and the 12 Foundational Skills to help every adult working with students know where to focus their efforts. Hopefully you’ll finish the course with a renewed sense of hope, joy, and confidence in your work.

The Foundational Skills (for student teachers): Learn the most impactful strategies to successfully engage students while also helping the adults save their energy. Based on the ongoing applied research in over 50,000 classrooms and school settings, The Catalyst Approach is committed to finding relevant and practical solutions to the most common school challenges. This course introduces the roots of The Catalyst Approach and the 12 Foundational Skills to help every adult working with students know where to focus their efforts. Hopefully you’ll finish the course with a renewed sense of hope, joy, and confidence in your work.

Quick Start to Coaching Adult Learners (for those mentoring teachers): Gain insights about the important role of mentoring adult learners. Whether you’re working with a student teacher, a new colleague, or a school leader who supports ongoing professional development for teachers, the strategies in this brief learning experience will sharpen your mentoring skills. Even if you have previous experience in this kind of role, you’ll get to reflect and refine your skills to gain confidence and make your work even more effective!

This workshop is designed to empower school leaders to drive impactful AVID implementation from their unique roles, whether as teachers, site coordinators, principals, or district administrators. Participants will explore strategies to align AVID practices with their school’s college and career readiness goals. Through engaging discussions and activities, attendees will learn how to leverage their leadership to create sustainable systems that support AVID’s mission. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with actionable strategies and a leadership plan tailored to their role, ensuring continuous improvement and meaningful outcomes for their AVID programs. 

Important Note: This workshop is designed for school/district teams that include at least one administrative representative, ideally the principal.

School leaders will come together three times throughout the year to share a meal, network with one another on topics of interest to them, and learn up to date information on key leadership topics.

The Special Education New Teacher Academy is designed to increase confidence and capacity in novice educators by combining relevant training with growth-focused coaching support. These sessions will have collaborative interaction the morning with general educations participants and have specific special education content in the afternoon. Support throughout the year includes six full-day trainings at Sourcewell, four individual in-classroom coaching sessions, Catalyst Whole Group Leadership, and Catalyst Live.

Together with the Open Windows Books Foundation, we will learn deeply through books, with speakers, and each other. The following themes have been selected for this cohort; environment and sustainable practices, social emotional learning and development, and community and healthy living. Discussion and planning will include the use of the current Minnesota State Standards to create lessons and learning opportunities in your classrooms and schools. Each participant will leave each session with 6-12 new, relevant books to keep.