Staff Lounge, Issue 39

May 13, 2019

Check-in from Senior Director for Teaching and Learning Dr. Heather Mueller As districts and charters move through the final push toward the end of the school year, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for consistently working on behalf of students, families, and staff. Our mission is Leading for excellence and equity. Every day for every one. As a result of living our mission, every day the work of our MDE team is present in classrooms, schools, districts, and communities. While we do not get the amazing end of a school year, or the excitement of graduation within our walls, those that do benefit from your leadership and commitment to what really matters…our students. Check out this "Farewell letter to my students" and, just for fun, this commencement speech video.

Employee Appreciation Week Recap There was plenty of laughter in the halls last week as we came together to celebrate Public Employee Appreciation Week. Photo: Chief of Staff Luchelle Stevens, Assistant Commissioner Daron Korte and Human Resources' Heather Stein welcome staff to the breakfast.

One of the highlights was the Welcome Breakfast provided by our Executive Team. Minnesota's First Lady Gwen Walz stopped by to meet everyone and hand out pastries and fruit!

Pictured, left to right (behind table): Denise Anderson, CFO; Heather Mueller, Senior Director of Teaching and Learning; Commissioner Mary Catherine Ricker; First Lady Gwen Walz

The third annual bar crawl was also a success, thanks to the creative bakers who donated their time and talent. Many have asked for a way to share recipes from this event. If you are a baker interested in sharing, please post your recipe on the MDE Bulletin Board in the "Free Stuff" category.

Office 365 Photos

Many of you had your Office 365 profile photo taken last week. These photos will be added in the coming weeks, as MNIT has time to upload them to your accounts. If you did not have a chance to get your photo taken but want to, please contact the Communications Team at mde.communications@state.mn.us to request a photo appointment.

Employee Transitions

New Employees: Welcome!

Lauren Walker – Student Testing and Assessment

Separated Employees

April Schnell – Career and College Success

Building Work Workers will be adding stepping stones to the plant beds throughout the building today. Please be aware of their work and equipment as you enter and leave the building.

Complete Statewide Safety Perception Survey by May 17

The Department of Administration, along with the support of the Interagency Safety and Health Committee, started a five-year project in 2017 to understand state employee perceptions about workplace safety through the use of a survey.

We will be participating in the second statewide safety perception survey May 6-17, 2019. Completion of the survey should take less than 20 minutes and all responses will be anonymous. The survey is being conducted to provide all state employees an opportunity to express your opinions about workplace safety and provide us with the information needed to proactively manage staff safety.

Please contact our agency perception survey coordinator Jennifer Cole (651-582-8612) if you have any questions.

Employee Spotlight: Holly Andersen Find out what Disciplinary Incident Reporting System coordinator Holly Andersen doesn't want you to tell her cat!

Accessibility in Action

Thursday, May 16 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Join your colleagues, 10-11 a.m., in CCB, Room 15, for a lively presentation from the Minnesota Online Digital Accessibility Cohort.

Cohort members, including our own Jeff Plaman and Kim Wee, will share their experiences working with schools, vendors and MDE professionals in a collaborative process to improve the accessibility of digital instruction and communications. You will learn about the approach and activities that made this collaboration successful, and leave with tips to make your own work more accessible to everyone.

Stick around after the presentation to try the tasks in the Experience Lab. These activities give users a sense of how our content is perceived and accessed by those using assistive technology and why this work is so important.

                                                                                                      – Gloriann McDonald

Garden News Tasting Tuesdays Help bring Tasting Tuesdays back this summer! Join a group of your coworkers to grow and share fresh produce from the MDE garden. You can commit as much or as little time as you want; no experience necessary. Share a CSA Share with a Co-Worker Are you interested in signing up for a CSA share this year, but aren’t sure you will be able to eat all of the weekly produce? Consider teaming up with a co-worker to split a CSA share this summer! Half shares are $410 for the 18-week season; that’s only $11 a week for each of you. Shared Ground Farmer’s Cooperative provides lots of resources on how to use the various vegetables you will receive throughout the season. The deadline to sign up is Wed., May 15. If you are interested in participating in either of these opportunities, need help finding a co-worker to split a CSA share with, or simply want to learn more, please email Molly Butala.

State Government Innovation Awards (SGIA) Nominations Open to May 22

For six years, the State Government Innovation Awards (SGIA) have given state agencies a unique forum to recognize innovative work happening at state government. Behind these awards there are stories that deserve to be told—from good intentions to improving how government works for the people we serve.

If you are an innovator, a change agent, a contributor to a project that has saved time through efficiencies or saved costs through time or technology, I challenge you and your colleagues to submit your project to be considered for a State Government Innovation Award.

Nominations are now open through May 22. To learn more and apply, visit the SGIA website.

– Governor Tim Walz

Books for Africa Exceeded Expectations MDE’s Green Team wrapped up its third Books for Africa book drive Wednesday, May 1. This year, we collected well over 1,200 books, surpassing previous years’ donations. Books for Africa has received seven consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator and has delivered more than 44 million books to 55 countries in Africa since 1988. Thank you for your contributions on behalf of Books for Africa and the Green Team.

Kudos

Thank you to all of the staff who participated in all of the Employee Appreciation Week Events last week! We are so grateful to our staff for the work you do each and every day, and for all of the parents, students, and community members that you directly impact. While this week was an opportunity to have some fun and do some public recognition, we hope you know that we appreciate you every day and have a great admiration for all that you do.

– Human Resources Team

Do you have a story idea, event or kudo to share?

Contact the Staff Lounge editor.

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