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.

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.

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 recognize early warnings signs of a mental health challenge and how to reach out and provide initial and continuing support to young people experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis, including suicide. You will also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.