The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) provides opportunities for educational leaders to learn with and from each other. Last week MSBA held its annual statewide conference in Minneapolis featuring nationally known keynote speakers, general sessions and workshops geared toward improving public education. The conference was packed with school board members, superintendents and education leaders from across the state.
The Duluth Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in greater Minnesota. As such, we’re often on the leading edge of educational initiatives and practices. We’re regularly asked to share our work at the MSBA state conference and this year was no exception.
The conference opened with music by the Duluth East A’cappella Choir. They performed several songs, including the Star Spangled Banner and a beautiful piece called “Awake,” with such grace and feeling that many in the audience were moved to tears.
More of our high school students were in a booth in the “Show and Tell” section of the exhibit hall, sharing firsthand experiences in our new Aerospace Physics course. They brought model airplanes, describing with smiles and enthusiasm what they’re learning. Science curriculum specialist Aaron Salmela, Career Technical Education coordinator Brad Vieths and I conducted an hour-long workshop, “Taking Flight,” for those interested in embedding state standards in hands-on, career-oriented courses.
We provided another workshop, “Technology in the Classroom,” led by Innovation coordinator Tammi Wilkins and School Board member Annie Harala. Attendees learned how to leverage the use of technology to enhance student learning and engagement. One attendee said he
Article source: http://www.duluthbudgeteer.com/opinion/4203607-i-dont-mean-brag
