Great Southwest United

Fall Professional Seminar

Wednesday, Sept. 26 Wednesday, Oct. 3
4:30 – 8:15 p.m. 4:30 – 8:15 p.m.
Marshall High School Jackson High School
Come and join us for an evening full of varied workshops, conviviality among peers and
inspiring presenters! Great Southwest United looks forward to providing information-packed
sessions designed for members—sessions that focus on you as individuals, professionals
and local leaders. The descriptions of the workshops offered are listed below.
Agenda Sessions
4:30 p.m. Registration 1. Teacher Licensing Update
5 p.m. Dinner Significant changes were made to the Minnesota teacher licensing system
5:45 p.m. Welcome & Introductions during the 2017 legislative session. This training will provide an overview of both
Kelly Benson, Great SW United Chair the new tiered licensure system and the new standards board.
President Installation 2. Elections Preview
TBD Learn about what’s coming up in the November election, how you can get
 Great Southwest United Update involved in elections in a personal and fun way and ensure that all pro-public
Jim Schmidt and Jackie Baumgard, Education Minnesota education voters get out and vote.
field staff 3. Education Minnesota Foundation
6 p.m. Guest Speaker Get grants to improve and grow your practice. This training will review the
Jett Skrien, Illusionist different Education Minnesota Foundation grant applications, and show how
7–8 p.m. Sessions the easy grant writing process can benefit educators, education support
professionals and students.
4. Top 10 Reasons for Discipline
Jett Skrien, Illusionist Join one of the Education Minnesota attorneys and discuss the top 10 reasons
Recognized as one of the fastest teachers receive discipline. From boundary issues with students to paperwork
growing young illusionists, Jett Skrien compliance, we will look at why discipline commonly happens and consider
has been performing his “high caliber, best practices for avoiding discipline as a teacher.
innovative, engaging, spectacular, 5. Helping Students “do” School for ESPs
and very professional show” (Mary Students are a complex make up of their cultural and socio-economic status,
T., Marshall City Council) across maturation and mental health. This course will help you develop an awareness
the country with his “exceptional of these factors and provide you wtih additional resources to be more
personality and was a great pleasure to effective in working with all students.
work with” (Minnesota Lions). Jett not
only brings a fresh, new perspective to 6. Meeting Members at their Interests - MARSHALL LOCATION ONLY
the art of magic, but also presents his Did you know that there’s a way to find out which of your members want
award-winning magic with the “stage to get more involved? Get support from the union to improve their work?
presence of a savvy veteran” (Marshall Connect your union with the community? This course will teach you how to
Independent Newspaper). use member interest data to better engage members in your local based on
Jett has had the opportunity to perform what they want to do, not what you have to cajole them to do.
internationally in Canada and Europe, 7. Shifting to an Organizing Culture - JACKSON LOCATION ONLY
as well as in the entertainment capital
Unions are under attack and we cannot keep doing things the same way
of the United States: Branson, Missouri.
and expect to maintain our influence. By deconstructing traditional ways of
One of his leading accomplishments
union thinking, we can change our mindset about what unionism is and what
was attending a summer magic camp
we want that to look like. We can begin to build a more powerful union. This
in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where
session will explore what an organizing culture looks like and how collective
he was selected, along with 100 other
voice goes beyond the classroom.
students, to learn the art of magic from
superstars such as David Blaine, Criss Locals will be responsible for the cost for members that register and
Angel, David Copperfield and Michael do not show up to the event or cancel after the Sept. 14 deadline!
Carbonaro.
To see more about Jett, go to
www.jettskrien.com.

ABSOLUTE REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, Sept. 14

For more information on this event or to register, please contact the
Education Minnesota Windom office at 507-831-5484 or 800-862-1176.