➡️Update on MSIP 6 APR Release ➡️Health & Family Education Academic Performance Standards Open for Public Comment ➡️DESE Partnership with Missouri Department of Mental Health ➡️Notice of Rulemaking & Order of Rulemaking for Gifted Education Scroll through the posting to get more info on each of these! The full report can be found at mnea.org/stateboard.   If you have any questions or concerns about the State Board or the report, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebeka McIntosh, MNEA Vice President, or Samantha Hayes, Teaching and Learning Director, at MNEA: Rebeka.McIntosh@mnea.org or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.    MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvy If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

MNEA's Otto Fajen reflects on the first 12 weeks of the session and forecasts the last 7 weeks in a conversation with Samantha Hayes about the Missouri Legislative Session (in regards to Education) so far.    MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Welcome to MNEA’s “Top Takeaways from the March 2024 Missouri State Board of Education”   ➡️Reports on Literacy Program Initiatives and LETRS Training in Missouri ➡️Accreditation of Missouri Educator Preparation Programs ➡️Beginning Teacher Assistance Program Rule Changes Approved for Public Comment  ➡️Update on the DESE and State Board Strategic Plan Scroll through the posting to get more info on each of these! The full report can be found at mnea.org/stateboard. If you have any questions or concerns about the State Board or the report, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebeka McIntosh, MNEA Vice President, or Samantha Hayes, Teaching and Learning Director, at MNEA: Rebeka.McIntosh@mnea.org or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.   MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.   If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

MNEA's Otto Fajen and Samantha Hayes recap another month of the legislative session in regard to movement on education legislation, which covers the reason behind Senate’s month delay, to Initiative Petition, to education bills that have focus at this time.   MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

NEA Senior Director, Andy Slaughter and interim NEA Director, MNEA Vice President Rebeka McIntosh, recap the latest NEA Superweek that occurred the first full week of February. They recap their work lobbying on the Hill, topics of discussion for NEA business, and how MNEA is growing strength as an association from this National presence.    MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Welcome to MNEA’s “Top Takeaways from the February 2024 Missouri State Board of Education”   ➡️MNEA Members honored as 2023 Milken Educators ➡️4-Day School Week Report ➡️MSIP 6 APR Updates and Resources ➡️Praxis Returns to Missouri July 1, 2024, Cut Scores Set ➡️Missouri State University Leads in Teacher Apprenticeships ➡️A brief note on Charter Schools   Scroll through the posting to get more info on each of these! The full report can be found at mnea.org/stateboard. If you have any questions or concerns about the State Board or the report, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebeka McIntosh, MNEA Vice President, or Samantha Hayes, Teaching and Learning Director, at MNEA: Rebeka.McIntosh@mnea.org or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.

MNEA's Otto Fajen and Samantha Hayes delve into early 2024 Missouri Legislative Session, focusing on key education legislation. The following legislation is referred to in the podcast: SB 727 (Koenig): Modifies provisions of the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts ProgramSB 728 (Koenig): This act establishes the Parents' Bill of Rights Act of 2024 and creates provisions relating to discussion of certain topics by school personnelSB 729 (Koenig): Authorizes a tax credit for certain educational expensesSB 814: Creates the Education Freedom Act and modifies provisions relating to the assessment of public elementary and secondary schoolsCalls on Supports such as Missouri Turnaround Schools Act (161.1090)Hearing with the Education and Workforce Development Committee at 1 PM on Wednesday, 1/17/2024 HB 1989 (Pollitt): Establishes transfer procedures to nonresident districts for students in public schools   Stay informed with Education policy in Missouri by signing up for Otto’s weekly Legislative Update here!   MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Happy 2024, MNEA Connects Listeners!! We are happy to bring another year of podcasting to you!    MNEA Legislative Director, Otto Fajen, and Samantha Hayes, MNEA Director of Professional Practice, discuss Otto’s experience in witnessing and finding common ground in the Missouri Legislature. Everything from term limits, to language and issue frames, to redistricting, to the impacts of the media and social media is discussed. And, of course, the appointment of Dr. Eslinger as DESE’s next commissioner is thrown into the mix!   Curious about the book that Samantha references? See A Search for Common Ground: Conversations About the Toughest Questions in K-12 Education   Stay informed with Education policy in Missouri by signing up for Otto’s weekly Legislative Update here!   MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.   Happy 2024, MNEA Connects Listeners!! We are happy to bring another year of podcasting to you!   MNEA Legislative Director, Otto Fajen, and Samantha Hayes, MNEA Director of Professional Practice, discuss Otto’s experience in witnessing and finding common ground in the Missouri Legislature. Everything from term limits, to language and issue frames, to redistricting, to the impacts of the media and social media is discussed. And, of course, the appointment of Dr. Eslinger as DESE’s next commissioner is thrown into the mix!   Stay informed with Education policy in Missouri by signing up for Otto’s weekly Legislative Update here!   MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

MNEA Legislative Director, Otto Fajen, talks about the upcoming, 2024 Missouri legislative session, including his thoughts, predications, and #hashtag (hint: see title).    MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

SDNEA member and local leader, Lindsey Weatherby, hosts an episode with Colin Davitt, Director of Imagination and Wonder at Lindbergh School District, to discuss ChatGPT in Schools and how it can be a beneficial tool for educators and students alike.    MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.   If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

MNEA Legislative Director, Otto Fajen, gives the history and general format of the MNEA Resolutions and explains how they help him in his work at the Missouri capitol.   MNEA Resolutions NEA Resolutions (NEA Webpage for Resolutions here)   MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Welcome to MNEA’s monthly “Top Takeaways from the Missouri State Board of Education”!   Top Takeaways from the October 2023 State Board meeting ➡️Greg Kester, Potosi MNEA Member, Recognized as 2024 Missouri Teacher of the year! ➡️Dr. Margie Vandeven, Missouri Commissioner of Education, Stepping Down ➡️Local Control returns to Riverview Gardens & Normandy Schools Collaborative ➡️New Charter School Approved for St. Louis ➡️State board No Longer seeking standards status for CORE Skills ➡️State Board Changes Position on Voluntary Open Enrollment If you have any questions or concerns about the State Board or the report, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebeka McIntosh, MNEA Vice President, or Samantha Hayes, Teaching and Learning Director, at MNEA: Rebeka.McIntosh@mnea.org or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.    Visit MNEA's website for the full report to get more info on each of these takeaways: https://bit.ly/3QsxiIB.

In the final installment of this three-part, member-led episode, Social Studies Teacher, MNEA member and NEA Director, Andy Slaughter, interviews Dr. DeAnna Massie, Professor at Lewis and Clark College in Illinois and NEA member, to discuss student use of social media and technology and the impact on students. This timely and very relevant discussion focuses on social media usage by students, impacts of technology usage on student behavior, and references to Dr. Vivek Murthy’s recent publication on Loneliness.    MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Missouri NEA discusses Horace Mann’s Educator Advisory Panel Study white paper, Checks & Balance: How Financial Stress and Heavier Workloads are Accelerating the Teacher Shortage, from November 2022, with Rob Curtis (robert.curtis@horacemann.com).     MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

In Episode 123, Samanth Hayes talks with Dr. Jason Adams, Learning Forward Missouri President and Assistant Superintendent of Learning for Webster Groves School District, about Learning Forward Missouri and their annual Conference, which will occur March 11-12, 2024 at the Lake of the Ozarks at Margaritaville Resort and Conference Center.    “Learning Forward-MO is dedicated to improving the state of professional learning in Missouri.  [They] believe high quality professional learning for all teachers can improve the teaching and learning resulting in higher achievement throughout the state.  [They] provide an annual conference dedicated to providing new learning for teachers, professional development committees, administrators, coaches, and central office administrators to learn new skills and information to take back to their respective districts and share.”    MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Agenda, Minutes, and Recordings from August 15, 2023 of the Missouri State Board of Education Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.Consideration of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Amend 5 CSR 20-200.275, Mental Health Awareness Training DESE has put together a model curriculum for this training, which can be found here. For all Rule approvals, see State Board Agenda here Consideration of School Innovation Waiver Request for the Success-Ready Students Network Innovation Waiver (161.214, RSMo) 7 items in 5 CSR 20-100.125 (MSIP 6) Section 171.031 (2-4) RSMo. Consideration of Blue Ribbon Commission Recommendations  Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) MNEA full response Update on Social-Emotional Learning Standards Public feedback for DESE and Workgroup Report on the 2022-23 Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) Grade-Level and End-of-Course Preliminary Statewide ResultsUpdate on the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 6 MSIP 6 Comprehensive Guide161.855.4 RSMo The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be held on September 12, 2023 at DESE in Jefferson City, Missouri.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.    MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

In June 2023, Otto discussed what happens when the Missouri Legislative Session ends. Now in August, as the summer comes to a close and recently-signed bills go into effect soon (August 28th), Otto discusses the Education Bills that were signed (a lot of bills that have to do with retirement), background check bills (which impacts educators), and what triggers a veto session.    Sign up here for direct updates from Otto on major happenings at the Missouri Legislature, specifically regarding or impacting Missouri Education.    MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Missouri Educators, as you gear up for the start of the coming school year, we know that you are doing everything you can to make your classroom perfect for your students, which means you are likely spending a lot of your own money. As you are using these last few weeks of summer to get ready, consider Donors Choose as an option for funding so that you are not breaking the bank! In this episode, Rob Curtis with Horace Mann gives an overview of Horace Mann, their Donors Choose partnership, and tips and tricks to run a successful Donors Choose project. If you have any inquiries or questions about Horace Mann or Donors Choose, email Rob Curtis at robert.curtis@horacemann.com.    MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.   If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Taking a trip before the start of school? Don’t do anything until you listen to Darby Boyd, NEA Member Benefits Affiliate Relations Specialist, give an overview of NEA Travel Deals and tips and tricks as you search and secure the best deals! Find all NEA Travel Deals at https://www.neamb.com/products/nea-travel     MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.   If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org

Darby Boyd, NEA Member Benefits Affiliate Relations Specialist, gives a brief history and overview of NEA Member Benefits that are available to all members of NEA Affiliates. Please visit https://www.neamb.com/ for more!    MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org