Length of Service – Employee Recognition!
This month we celebrate our colleagues who have reached milestones in their years of service to the state of Minnesota in 2019. Traditionally, we would gather in the East Atrium to recognize each one of you for this accomplishment, but, as with everything else, this year’s event is different. We came together virtually during our all-staff meeting to thank you and recognize you with the video Celebrating Your Years of Service.
Wellness at Work and Home
No Home Gym? No Problem
With winter upon us and the convenience of getting active outdoors declining, many of us are finding new ways to get in some cardio, do some stretching, and activate those desirable endorphins, even without going into gyms or fitness centers. To help you find ideas for staying active, Wellness Team members have done the research for you. We hope you enjoy our recommendations of online fitness options below. Our picks include a variety of fitness disciplines, workout lengths, and levels difficulty! Move your body!
YouTube Video Workouts
Find other free workouts on the following YouTube channels:
Check Out These Workout Apps
You may also want to check out the apps below that include workouts (some have a number of free workouts and more options if you subscribe for a small fee).
- FitOn
- Fit52 (Carrie Underwood)
- Rise (Rachel Hollis)
- Centr (Chris Hemsworth)
- Aaptiv
- Daily Burn
- FitBit Coach (Fees for workouts)
- Beach Body on Demand (Fees for workouts)
- Tone It Up
- Verv
–The Wellness Team
Accessibility 101 Training Now Available
The Communications Team is excited to announce the availability of Accessibility 101 Training — Sessions 1-4. In this training, you will learn the background of accessibility; what it is, and why we do it at the Minnesota Department of Education. The four-part series includes the steps you can take when working with documents, presentations and spreadsheets so your content meets state accessibility standards. Resources and a knowledge check are included. This series is intended for all MDE employees.
Bingo! Game Brings MDE Staff Together for Fun
 Hats off to the MDE Executive Team for arranging for a Bingo game during the Dec. 18 all-staff meeting! In this photo, colleague Marquetta Stokes reads her Bingo Card numbers to Bingo Caller (aka Deputy Commissioner) Heather Mueller. With all the hard work everyone at MDE has been doing this year, it was great to come together for some fun!
Get to Know Microsoft Teams Before Skype's Goodbye
Skype for Business Will be No Longer Available on Monday, January 25, 2020
If you’re still using Skype, it’s time to prepare for the transition to Teams. On Monday, January 25, 2021, Skype for Business will no longer be available to state of Minnesota employees. Microsoft will decommission Skype and support Teams as its only communication/collaboration tool. MDE’s Data Practices team has created guidance for MDE staff and divisions when using MS Teams. It outlines baseline expectations for MS Teams use at MDE and is reviewed and updated at least bi-annually. Additional tools, including FAQs, training videos and other resources also will support MDE staff in adopting and using MS Teams. View the guidance document on Inside MDE.
MNIT is also providing multiple trainings, office hours, and meetups to help you prepare for the transition now. Teams has the same chat features you’re used to with Skype, and it puts the Office applications you use often at your fingertips. Seamlessly schedule and attend video and audio meetings, share files, and collaborate with colleagues all in the same application.
Learn more about Teams on MNIT's Get Started with Microsoft Teams site and through MNIT's on-demand trainings.
Participate in the Engagement and Inclusion Survey
On December 1, you received an email from Management Analysis and Development asking you to complete the Statewide Engagement and Inclusion Survey. That email includes a link to the survey. Please take 15 minutes to complete the survey by Jan. 8, 2021. This is an opportunity to tell us what we’re doing well and where we can improve.
The survey is private, and no identifying information is shared with your agency.
To learn more, visit the Engagement and Inclusion Survey webpage.
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Agency Updates Related to COVID-19 Work
Safe Learning Plan Updated
On Dec. 16, Governor Walz announced a plan to prioritize putting elementary students back in the classroom. MDE updated the Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year, so that starting on January 18, 2021, every elementary school across the state may choose to operate an in-person learning model without needing to consult their Regional Support Team, as long as they are able to implement all updated health and safety measures in the Safe Learning Plan. Middle and high schools will continue to use the original process for determining their learning models, and must also implement the additional health and safety measures if they are providing in-person or hybrid learning. For detailed information, read the Safe Learning Plan.
New Mitigation Strategy
One new mitigation strategy being implemented, beginning January 4, 2021, is that all public schools providing in-person or hybrid learning must offer on-site saliva testing to all staff who interact with students. Read more about the On-site Saliva Testing for All Minnesota School Staff in In-Person or Hybrid Learning in the Safe Learning Plan. Read a questions and answers document about on-site saliva testing.
Safe Learning Plan Webinar
Staff from the Minnesota Departments of Education and Health held the Safe Learning Plan Webinar on Dec. 17 to help people learn more about updates in the plan.
Training for On-Site COVID-19 Saliva Testing
Trainings will be held for COVID-19 coordinators on Monday, December 21 (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), Tuesday, December 22 (4-5 p.m.) and Wednesday, December 23 (7:30-8:30 a.m.). These trainings will cover all of the logistics and technology needs for conducting testing, including how school staff receive the tests, how to ship them to the lab, how staff will self-administer the tests, and more.
Latest Executive Orders
Easing Some Restrictions
On Dec. 16, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-103 extending and modifying Executive Order 20-99. “The past year has been extremely difficult. Quality time with loved ones and regular exercise are critical to the mental and emotional well-being of families across the state,” he said. Based on that, the executive order eases some restrictions around household gatherings, gym and fitness studio openings, and youth sports. Read Executive Order 20-103.
Extending Peacetime Emergency
On Dec. 14, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-100 extending the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency through Jan. 13, 2021.
Ensuring Access to Counseling
On Monday, Dec. 14, Governor Walz signed Emergency Executive Order 20-101 authorizing Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy to Modify Licensing Requirements during the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency. This is to ensure that Minnesotans have access to counseling from licensed professionals, which is critical to Minnesotans’ health and wellbeing.
Unemployment Benefits
On Monday, Dec. 14, Governor Walz signed Emergency Executive Order 20-102 amending Executive Order 20-05 to Ensure Timely Unemployment Insurance Benefits During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency.
Relief Package on the Way to Small Businesses
Last week, Governor Walz signed a $216 million Small Business Relief Package that was passed by the Minnesota Legislature. Read the relief package news release.
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Shout-Outs to MDE Colleagues Who Go Above and Beyond |
Shout-Out to Cindy Heitman for Passing CPACC Exam!
Shout-Out to Cindy Heitman in Communications who recently passed her Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) exam!!
–Karen Igielski, Communications Specialist
Shout-Out to Sabrina Winkleman for SEL Work!
Sabrina Winkleman is a Social Emotional Learning Specialist with the School Climate Center in the division of School Support. Sabrina is currently facilitating three communities of practice devoted to transformative SEL in service of educational equity, which is a journey to infuse SEL into every part of the educational experience for both staff and students-across all classrooms, during all parts of the school day and out-of-school time and in partnership with families and communities. The communities of practice are focused on building knowledge and capacity in three areas: SEL resilient leadership development, systemic SEL implementation, and SEL content expertise. Districts are visioning and planning for foundational transformative SEL and cultivating transformative adult SEL. Podcasts, integration of SEL with equity efforts (e.g. five competencies aligned to Hammond’s Ready for Rigor), implementing Second Step’s adult SEL modules, engaging with Elena Aguilar’s Onward, and the systemic use of the SEL Three Signature Practices are examples of innovations occurring throughout the communities of practice.
–Greg Keith, Director, School Support
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