April 22, 2026
Grant Opportunities Available

Grant Opportunities Available

gpmartinson September 18, 2023

Please see below for upcoming grant opportunities available through Education Minnesota and the National Education Association. 

Classroom Focused Grants – up to $3,000 for project design and implementation 

PD Grants for Teachers – Up to $1500 for teachers to either facilitate or attend innovative PD sessions. 

IMPACT Grant – up to $15,000 for projects that team up with a local non-profit

NEA Foundation Grants – a variety of grants awarded through the NEA Foundation including Envision Equity Grants,  Learning & Leadership Grants, Student Success Grants and a Global Learning Fellowship grant.

EM-R Executive Board meets to plan for 2023-24 meeting1

EM-R Executive Board meets to plan for 2023-24

gpmartinson August 25, 2023

The Executive Board of Education Minnesota-Roseville met at the district center on Thursday 8/24. The agenda was really full including a conversation about the many legislative changes from the last legislative session which affect our members as well as the process of bargaining the new contract. There was an update on bargaining as well as a discussion on subs and sub plans as well as a discussion of endorsement for candidates in the upcoming school board elections.

AFT Teacher Leaders Create Awesome Work

AFT Teacher Leaders Create Awesome Work

gpmartinson May 18, 2023

The AFT Teachers Leaders Program run by RAHS Science Teacher Jodi Kyllonenrecently presented the findings on their action research. There was some amazing work done by these skilled professional leaders.

Borré, Agustina “Rethinking Sheltered Content Instruction” Presentation | Slides | Paper

Hidaka, Brooks “Education Support Staff Shortages” Presentation | Slides | Paper

Jaspers, Mark “Exploring Implications of Educator Emotional and Mental Health” Presentation | Slides | Paper

Mondanelli,  Duccio “Digital Literacy and 21st Century Skills Development in Roseville Area High School” Presentation | Slides | Paper

Morgan, Jessica “Teacher, Teacher, Where are you? A Look at the Teacher Retention Problem” Presentation | Slides | Paper

Moriarty, Lis “Workload Considerations in Early Childhood Special Education” Presentation | Slides | Paper

Rietz, Heather “The Benefits of Implementing the Pyramid Behavior Model with Fidelity” Presentation | Slides | Paper

Scierka, Stephanie “The Importance of Purposeful Academic Calendars” Presentation Video and slides | Paper

Much of this will be useful for district leadership as well as our union and our Student Support family!

Congratulations to Bee Lee

Congratulations to Bee Lee

gpmartinson April 11, 2023

EM-R would like to send out a huge congratulations to Bee Lee, art teacher at EDW, for being named one of 11 finalists for the 2023 MN Teacher of the Year!!  

The selection panel meets again May 6 to conduct individual interviews with each of the 11 finalists and to cast votes for the 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. For a look at how the selection process works, go to https://educationminnesota.org/news/awards-and-honors/teacher-of-the-year/ . 

All Teacher of the Year candidates and their supporters are invited to the 59th annual Minnesota Teacher of the Year recognition banquet on Sunday, May 7, at Saint Paul RiverCentre. At that time, all of this year’s Teacher of the Year candidates will be honored, semifinalists and finalists will receive special recognition, and the 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced.

You can order tickets here: https://www.cvent.com/c/express/18e45944-51e9-4ada-81e1-3c29208f477a.

EM-R is so proud to count Bee as one of our own and we wish her all the best as she moves into the final phase of the process!!

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Teacher Pensions Update

gpmartinson April 6, 2023
Update No. 25An amazing day at the Capitol!

On Monday, hundreds of Education Minnesota members and their families flooded the Capitol rotunda with purple passion for pensions. Our member speakers Deb Munter, Sheila Fitzgerald, Jim Reed, Julie Seiler, Steve Bliven and 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Sarah Lancaster shared their stories, led chants, shared the need for reform and even broke into song. A huge thank you to them for taking the stage and leading the way.  

President Denise Specht shared the need for action by legislators now and the unacceptable retirement penalties that Tier 2 teachers face. Some of our strongest supporters in the Legislature also continued to show their support by taking the stage as well. 

Education Minnesota members showed up in huge numbers. Some drove three-plus hours one way, many had to find subs and others arranged to get out of their buildings as soon as they could. The rotunda was packed, the chants were loud and the message was clear! Many members couldn’t make the trip but also shared solidarity from a far with group pics and signs of support. This amazing unity is our best path to success.

Check out more great pictures and video on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

We also received hundreds of photos of remote participation from teachers who wanted to be at the Capitol, but couldn’t. We’re working on compiling them into a graphic to send out soon!

If you have a picture you’d like included and haven’t sent already, please email to [email protected].LCPR and progress
On Monday morning, the LCPR met to discuss and decide what their omnibus bill would look like. They shared that they received input from pension plan staff and labor groups. It’s important to note the critical piece that was shared by LCPR Chair Rep. Kaohly Vang Her on TRA. She stated that “We are continuing to work on that plan even though our piece is settled. There are other ways we are looking to increasing teachers benefits through other budgets.”

This is good news and shows progress in our work. With the amount of funding that the LCPR was given and specifically what TRA was allocated, there wasn’t enough for substantial improvements. The only benefit improvement option shared by the LCPR would put the cost of improvements completely on the backs and out of the paychecks of teachers, which was unacceptable. This would have been a poor investment to say the least. While this information isn’t specific to a final result, it demonstrates that our work continues in our fight for more funding from the state and/or employer.  

St. Paul did share a plan they would be able to go with. It would create an unreduced benefit of 62 years of age and 30 years of service. The funding would come from raising the employee contribution by 1% and the one-time money would be able to buy down that contribution for about two years. To be clear, this is St. Paul’s position at the moment, but things may continue to evolve for them as well. Just as the TRA position will continue to evolve in the weeks to come.

Targets for advocacyContact Gov. Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic and House Speaker Melissa Hortman and ask them to increase the funding for pensions.Speak with your two legislators directly and seek their action to advocate for a bigger investment.Pension town hall recording
If you missed the virtual pension town hall with Reps. Kaohly Vang Her and Dan Wolgamott last week, you can watch a recording of the event here.April 20 – Pension Issue Lobby Day
Join members from across the state for our Pensions Issue Lobby Day from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, April 20 to speak with legislators about the importance of investing in pensions.

Register for this online event here.
Resources:Organizing and Action 
 General Information 
 Pension bill action alertEducation Minnesota pensions webpageLegislative contact templateEdMN Capitol Connection e-newsletter Tips for contacting your legislators TRA document on pension basics Find your legislators PERA member resourcesEdMN Lobby Days info Public pension terminologyLCPR membersTRA candidate voter guideIf you’ve missed any past updates, they’re available on our website.If you have any questions, please email Adam Janiak.

Keep organizing, sharing and talking to your colleagues about our plan. Sign up and forward this Education Minnesota Pension Updates signup today or use the QR code below!

Virtual Financial Planning Seminar 70add48c-c283-453c-a849-03efa71be010.jpg

Virtual Financial Planning Seminar

gpmartinson January 12, 2023
Join us for a free seminar to help you prepare for retirementOne of the many things Education Minnesota ESI Member Benefitsprovides for members are educational seminars.

EFS Advisors will be presenting a series of When Can I Afford to Retire? seminars for Education Minnesota members — both those with a TRA pension (teacher) and PERA pension (ESPs).During your working career, income comes from your salary. In retirement, your income comes from three sources: a pension, Social Security and other savings you have such as a 403(b). Whether you’re an early career educator or nearing retirement, these seminars contain valuable information for you. Register today!Topics to be discussed:Pension educationLearn how benefits are calculatedUnderstand defined benefit pension plansFinancial PlanningWhat can you expect from Social Security?Tax-deferred and tax-free savingsWhat can you expect from Social Security?Tax-deferred and tax-free savingsAsset allocation and asset management/diversification/performance and fees403(b) match and severance payment optionsVirtual seminar datesThese virtual seminars will all take place from 6-7 p.m. A Zoom link will be emailed to registered participants the day before the event.

Thurs. Jan. 19 – For members covered by a TRA pension plan (Teachers)

Tues. Jan. 31 – For members covered by a TRA pension plan (Teachers)

Tues. Feb. 7 – For members covered by a TRA pension plan (Teachers)Thurs. Feb. 9 – For members covered by a PERA pension plan (ESP)

Mon. Feb. 27 – For members covered by a TRA pension plan (Teachers)

Register today!Securities offered through Advanced Advisor Group (AAG), Member FINRA & SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Educators Financial Services (EFS). 1995 E Rum River Dr. S, Cambridge MN 55008 – (763) 689-9023. AAG and EFS are affiliates under common control D/B/A EFS Advisors and are not affiliated with Education Minnesota ESI.
Health Care Savings–A refresher

Health Care Savings–A refresher

gpmartinson November 15, 2022

A number of contracts ago, EM-R negotiated a 2% salary match for a Health Care Savings Plan as part of the benefits package found in your contract.  The Health Care Savings Plan allows you to invest money in a medical savings account while employed in ISD623. The plan is administered by the Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) and is a TAX-FREE account! Details of the plan can be found HERE and in the two minute video below.  Per statute, participation in the plan is mandatory for any locals that include it in their contract and the money cannot be accessed until you leave employment with ISD623.  You do have the option to choose how the money in your account is invested.   Click HERE to log in and check the balance of your account or change investment options (you’ll see the login portal in the upper right corner). 

Summary video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJEdFclVcRQ


Register for MEA NOW! 50f07387-1df1-4a33-9e22-473fa03efe59.png

Register for MEA NOW!

gpmartinson October 11, 2022
To view this email as a web page, go here.
Classes are filling up – register now!
Workshops are filling up fast for the 2022 MEA conference Oct. 20 both online and at the Saint Paul RiverCentre! 

You must register in advance for the conference and sessions. Sign up now to guarantee your spot!

2022 conference overview:

Check-in opens: 7:30 a.m.
Exhibits: 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
General session: 9-10:30 a.m.
Workshops: 10:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

Jennifer Berkshire will kick off the conference with her keynote about about the intersection of politics and education and the “reform movement” whose real motives are to privatize public education. The general session starts at 9 a.m. in Ballrooms A and B.

Check out the rest of our virtual and in-person workshop lineup here.  

Register now!

Join our new(er) educators at MEA!
NEW this year: We’re hosting a space just for early career and aspiring educators!

Join us anytime from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in Ballroom D at the Saint Paul RiverCentre to unwind, reflect and connect with other new(er) educators.

Also, don’t forget to register for the Practical Guidance for New(er) Educators session from 3:45-4:45 p.m. in Conference Room 15. A panel of educators will share advice and experience in the classroom!    
Debt Relief for Educators

Debt Relief for Educators

gpmartinson September 30, 2022


*Debt relief for educators: Resources and support
With the deadline for public loan forgiveness coming up in a month, we’d like to remind members of the resources and support your union is providing as Oct. 31 approaches. 

1. Training for members on loan forgiveness, including the new debt relief announcement from President Joe Biden, is available.
There is one more opportunity for members to receive training on the loan forgiveness options currently available for workers in public education at the MEA conference. Ed MN’s “Degrees Not Debt” class will be offered in-person at 1:15 p.m. and virtually at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. Register here!

Members who cannot attend either synchronous class can view a recording of the most recent training via MEA Online. The recorded webinar is titled “UPDATED Degrees Not Debt w/ Cancellation information 8.30.22” and is 90 minutes in length.

2. Virtual student debt clinics from AFT
One of our two national unions, AFT, is running virtual student debt clinics weekly for the next month for those interested in getting information on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver. We recommend these trainings for members who cannot attend Ed MN’s virtual or in-person trainings and want a virtual, live alternative. Members can register online here. 

3. Loan forgiveness fact sheet from NEA
NEA shared a great fact sheet on both the new debt relief announcement and on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver that is in place until Oct. 31. The fact sheet is linked above and is also posted on Ed MN’s  Degrees Not Debt page.

*New BRAVE program helps early career educators build resiliency and voice
Educators within the first five years of their career are invited to join other early career colleagues across the state in strengthening their resilience and professional voice.

Ed MN’s new BRAVE program, which stands for Building Resiliency and Voice with Early Career Educators, is designed to help newer educators in those critical first years of an education career.

BRAVE participants will receive support, mentorship and professional development in establishing work/life balance, building culturally-responsive classrooms and instructional strategies, and developing skills to use their voice to advocate for their students and schools. This six-session, cohort-based course provides early career educators with both time and a safe space to connect with other newer colleagues from across the state facing similar systemic concerns in their locals.

Register here by Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Contact Melissa Del Rosario  at Education Minnesota with questions.

*Foundation grants are now available
Members looking for funding for classroom projects or a professional development opportunity can apply for a grant from the Education Minnesota Foundation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Visit the Foundation grant overview page to see if the Classroom-focused, Professional Development, IMPACT Grant or National Board Certified Teachers Scholarship could be the source for your needs.

The Foundation is currently accepting applications for the fall round of Professional Development grants.

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