Commissioner Ricker Holds Listening Sessions at Hibbing High School and Leech Lake Tribal College

Minnesota Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker started in her new role on Janaury 7, 2019 and has been busy meeting with students, parents, educators and staff across Minneosota to listen to concerns and ideas about education in Minnesota. Commissioner Ricker visited Hibbing, her hometown, to host her first listening session. Parents, educators and students expressed the importance of providing mental health supports to students, proper funding for all students, and the importance of providing wrap-around services. A closer look at the visit is available from KBJR-TV.  Commissioner Ricker traveled to Leech Lake Tribal College with Office of Higher Education Commissioner Dennis Olson. Commissioners Ricker and Olson hosted an hour- long listening session with students and faculty, where they heard about the unique programs at Leech Lake Tribal College. More about the visit is available from Leech Lake News. Commissioner Ricker brings decades of experience in education to her new role. A graduate of Hibbing High School, Commissioner Ricker began her teaching career in St. Cloud, teaching middle school English, followed by teaching in St. Paul Public Schools and around the globe. She is also a National Board Certified middle school English teacher. After 13 years in the classroom, she was elected to serve as a teacher on leave, leading the St. Paul Federation of Teachers, and later, holding a leadership role at the national American Federation of Teachers. As she settles in to her appointment as Minnesota’s commissioner of education, she is looking to engage directly with Minnesotans on ways to build on Minnesota’s strong schools.  Read more about Commissioner Ricker and find her contact information on our website.

Check out our new series: Coffee in the Car with the Commissioner

Commissioner Ricker is hitting the road to hear from students, educators and community members about what our students need in order to be successful in school and life. After each listening session, Commissioner Ricker hops in the car with a hot cup of coffee and recaps in a short video what she heardr. Check out what she is hearing across Minnesota, learn her favorite new proton pun and more, in our new Coffee in the Car with the Commissioner series! 

Episode 1: Hibbing High School in Hibbing Public Schools
Episode 2: Leech Lake Tribal College with Office of Higher Education Commissioner Dennis Olson
Episode 3: West Junior High School in Hopkins Public Schools
Episode 4: Minnesota Homeless Education Conference and McKinley ALC in St. Cloud with Minnesota Housing Commissioner Ho

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Help serve healthy meals to students over the summer months

We are looking for eligible schools and organizations to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program and provide free meals to Minnesota children ages 18 and under during the summer when school is out. There are many low-income areas in Minnesota that are underserved and in need of a sponsor to operate a summer feeding site, especially in greater Minnesota. 

Read the press release to learn how you can get involved. 

Minnesota awarded federal grant to coordinate early learning systems

Minnesota recently received a $4.7 million federal grant to help build an even better early learning landscape for children and families. Families across Minnesota now have access to more early learning support than ever before. The grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will allow Minnesota to address suggestions from a recent report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor. The Minnesota Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, along with the Children’s Cabinet, will study and plan for how to best coordinate policies, programs and resources across departments.

Read the full press release for more information.

Upcoming trainings and events

You can always find an up-to-date list of events and trainings on our calendar. 

• February 19, 2019: School Nutrition Tuesdays @ 2- Ready, Set, Survey! 
• February 21, 2019: Developing a Shared Understanding of the 2018 Physical Education Standards and Benchmarks
• March 6, 2019: English Learner Coordinator Webinar

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