The Division of School Support provides high-quality training, tools and technical assistance for several practices related to teacher development and evaluation (TDE), Quality Compensation (Q Comp), principal development and evaluation (PDE), and staff development. We consult with educators, state professional organization leaders and national experts to help Minnesota districts and schools design, implement and continuously improve teacher and leader effectiveness models.

To achieve our shared vision of continuous improvement of principal leadership, teacher practices and student outcomes, we:

• Offer high-quality, customized professional development for districts and charter schools.
• Are flexible and use multiple support methods (e.g., workshops, webinars, site-based assistance) to differentiate and supplement district and school professional development needs.
• Consult with district leadership teams to support continual improvement (e.g., be a critical friend or thought partner; engage in problem-solving; provide a unique perspective informed by emerging best practices and other district and state practices; provide tools to assess the quality of plan design, implementation or both).
• Clarify statutes, including TDE, Q Comp and staff development, and provide support to complete applications, program updates and reports.
• Work with districts and charter schools across the state by being a visible, accessible and supportive resource.

Use our contact information on the left navigation menu to ask how our team can partner with your educators.
 

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Note: If you need assistance or prefer to register for any of the training opportunities below by phone or email, contact our office.

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Teacher Development and Evaluation (TDE) and Q Comp Professional Learning Events

MDE is hosting several professional learning opportunities focused on particular aspects of TDE/Q Comp plans. Explore the list below and use the links to register. If you have general questions about TDE/Q Comp, reach out to mde.q-comp@state.mn.us and one of our team members will be available to assist.

Classroom Observation and Feedback: Community of Practice for Peer Coaches

Have you recently accepted a role as an instructional coach for teachers? Are you a veteran peer coach looking to expand your network and practice? This community of practice for peer coaches is for you.

In this community of practice, we will use a flipped classroom approach. Participants will engage with a variety of independent learning activities (e.g., readings, viewing recorded presentations, interviews with colleagues) at their own paces. As a community, we will meet virtually approximately four times (depending on community needs, the pacing of the content, etc.) to discuss and apply these concepts. Note: This community of practice for observation and feedback is replacing the multi-day, in-person workshop MDE has provided in past summers.

Outcomes:

• Describe the roles, responsibilities and dispositions of instructional coaches, and how coaches can create conditions for a coaching relationship.
• Learn about classroom observation cycles and strategies to facilitate each stage of the cycle (pre-observation conference, instructional observation, post-observation conference).
• Analyze your local instructional framework or rubric and learn methods to establish inter-rater reliability with your observation team.
• Explore tools for conducting growth-focused conversations.

Audience: teacher, school or district leaders who have a role that includes classroom instructional observations and feedback/coaching tied to that observation.

Facilitator: Tyler Livingston, Supervisor, Educator Effectiveness and Workforce Programs

Registration: To express your interest in the community of practice, contact the facilitator, Tyler Livingston, at 651-582-8427. A reasonable accommodation will be provided by request with at least two weeks’ notice.

For assistance with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the facilitator, Tyler Livingston, at 651-582-8427 at least two weeks prior to the kickoff event.

Community of Practice for New Teacher Leaders

I am a Teacher Leader: What Now? Are you interested in exploring this question with other teacher leaders? Participants will identify the skills needed to strengthen and be successful in their teacher leadership roles while applying an equity lens to examine their own beliefs, assumptions, and experiences.  Topics will include, but not limited to: National Teacher Leader Standards, Adult Learning Theory, transformational coaching, resolving conflict, communication skills, and working with diverse populations.

This is the first of an ongoing series of virtual networking sessions designed to enhance previous learning, reflect on leadership practices while developing strong connections with other teacher leaders. Additional sessions will occur in October, November, January, April, and May and will last around 90 minutes to 2 hours. Dates and times will be confirmed during the first meeting.

Audience: Teacher Leaders

Registration: Space is limited; registration is required. Registration will close Thursday, September 10 or when registration is full.

Participants can register for one of the following first meeting dates:

• September 21, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• September 22, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Please contact Tamara Valmé at 651-582-8413 at least two weeks before the event to request a reasonable accommodation.

Questions about this workshop can be sent to Tamara Valmé.

Professional Learning Community Series

This series includes the following opportunities. Please register for each session as described below.

For assistance with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the facilitator, Kristie Anderson at 651-582-8860 at least two weeks prior to the first event.
 

Focus on Learning and Results Orientation for PLCs

This session will focus on unpacking two of the big ideas guiding PLCs, Focus on Learning and Results Orientation, as well as examining the essential questions that guide PLCs:
 

• What do we want students to know and be able to know and be able to do?
• How will we teach it?
• How will we know when students have learned?
• What will we do when students have not yet learned?
• What will we do when students have already learned?

Register for the 2:30—4 p.m. session on September 21, 2021

Register for the 9—10:30 a.m. session on September 23, 2021

Assessing PLCs and Planning for the Future

This session will discuss ways to assess the successes and challenges in the PLC system and how to use this information to plan for next year. Participants will have multiple opportunities to interact with each other, ask questions and share ideas.

Register for the 2:30—4 p.m. session on May 10, 2022

Register for the 9—10:30 a.m. session on May 12, 2022
 

PLC Community of Practice

The PLC Community of Practice, is an opportunity for participants to identify and dive more deeply into various PLC topics and processes as well as share tools, practices and resources. Participants will identify topics for discussion related to PLC implementation and have the opportunity to explore new resources and share experiences during sessions.

The sessions will also be an opportunity for participants to build relationships with other PLC leaders. The sessions will occur from 9—10:30 a.m. on October 26, 2021, January 25, 2022, and April 12, 2022.

 Register for the PLC Community of Practice

Q Comp Application Writing Workshops

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) offers Q Comp application writing workshops, upon request. Contact mde.q-comp@state.mn.us. Currently, there is a waiting list for Q Comp funding.
 

Principal and Principal Supervisor Professional Development

For future principal and supervisor training, please contact Ann Mitchell.