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PURPOSE
MASE strives to:
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Offer information that is concise, consistent and predictable to support the work you do in your communities
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Streamline our communications and reduce the number of messages in your mailbox
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A message from Erin Toninato,
MASE Executive Director:
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 Happy New Year
As we begin a new year, I am mindful of the mix of hope and heaviness that so many are experiencing across our communities.
This week, I keep coming back to the quote, “No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” Within MASE, many are experiencing heavy and unsettling moments. The impact is felt in our communities, our schools, our homes, and in personal and professional ways. At times like these, it can be difficult to know what to do or how best to help, but compassion still matters—checking in, offering grace, and being present for one another in both big and quiet ways. Those small acts remind us that we are not alone and continue to reflect the care and connection that are at the heart of MASE.
Thank you for the many ways you quietly support one another as we move into the year ahead.
And as always...thank you for all you do.
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✨ Sharing a Glimmer ✨
“I have been so impressed with the passion the Princeton Special Education Team and Administrators do to provide the best they can for students and families. The community and climate of Princeton School District is kind, loving, and nurturing. Their hearts are definitely in the right place and the families and students of Princeton are so lucky to have such great people working in the schools! Not only are the teachers and administration wonderful, so are the paraprofessionals, nurses, custodians, and bus drivers! It takes a village!!”
– Lana Talberg, Princeton School District 477
Share your own “MASE Moments of Awe.” These are the stories—the glimmers—that highlight the beauty and importance of what we do.
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Paraprofessional Recognition Week 2026
Gov. Tim Walz has proclaimed the week of January 19-25, 2026 as Paraprofessional Recognition Week.
Paraprofessionals work in a variety of positions and are included in a range of important school roles. We celebrate paraprofessionals with you and have provided suggestions of how their contributions can be recognized. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) invites you to share any additional suggestions you may wish to offer.
Read the full memo from Commissioner Willie Jett, including ideas for how to recognize and celebrate paraprofessionals next week. Schools can use this signed certificate from Commissioner Jett to honor each of the paraprofessionals in your school community.
Special Education Teacher (SPED) Pathway Program Grant Informational Webinar Announcement
MDE is hosting an information session about the upcoming Fiscal Year 2027(FY2027) SPED Teacher Pathway Program Grant opportunity. The grant opportunity is anticipated to be posted on January 12, 2026, on MDE's competitive grants opportunity webpage.
MDE has funding available under Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 122A.77, for grants under the SPED Pathway Program to develop trained and licensed Tier 3 or Tier 4 special education teachers.
Grant recipients must prioritize using grant funds to support participants who are employed by the grant recipient (or any joint applicants) as Tier 1 or Tier 2 licensed special education teachers. The funds may also be used to support other employees who wish to become special education teachers or to add additional special education licenses and who demonstrate a willingness to enter the field after completing the program.
The session will be held over Zoom on Thursday, January 15, from 11 a.m. to noon. Register for the SPED Pathway Competitive Grant FY27 Informational Webinar to receive the meeting link. The session will be recorded, and session materials and recording will be shared with those who register for the session.
To request a reasonable accommodation or for assistance with questions, contact Gricel Escobedo-Kingwell (gricel.escobedo@state.mn.us) (651-582-8778).
Speech and Language Pathologist Available!
Southern Plains has an extra speech and language pathologist (SLP) available for the months of April and May. She is an experienced telepractice SLP with good success in telepractice. We will charge only a small amount above cost. Approximately $26,000 for the two months or $530 per day. Contact Sarah Mittelstadt if interested smittelstadt@specmn.org
MDE Special Education Updates, January 9 | Read more
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ONGOING
Grant Opportunity:
Grow Your Own (GYO) FY27 Grant Now Posted
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From MDE
The FY27 competition for the Grow Your Own (GYO) grant is now posted.
GYO programs are partnerships between districts, charter schools, service cooperatives, or Tribally Controlled Schools, and teacher preparation programs that help local residents—such as parents, school staff, and students—become teachers in their own communities, with a focus on diversifying the teacher workforce by prioritizing candidates of color and Indigenous candidates. Districts, charters, cooperatives and Tribally Controlled Schools may apply for either adult, student, or both programs to support candidates to become teachers.
For assistance with questions, contact Kleber Ortiz (Adult Pathway) or Kristie Anderson (Student Pathway). The grant application is due on January 15, 2026.
Read more in the Dec. 5 MIYM
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Innovations in Service Learning Grant Funding Available
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MDE has funding available for grants to schools to initiate or expand and strengthen innovative service learning opportunities for students in kindergarten through grade 12.
Partnerships consisting of youth, community-based organizations, and schools will identify a community need or opportunity that could be met, expanded, or strengthened through youth-led service learning. The partnership collaborates on all aspects of the initiative, establishing sustainable relationships based on mutual interest and trust. The result of this work will be more systemic support in schools, which results in more opportunities for underserved youth to participate in service learning.
Applicants may apply for up to $50,000 for the anticipated grant period of April 2026 through June 2026. Fifty percent of the awarded funding must be conveyed to the community partner. The service learning partnership must provide matching funds or in-kind contributions at an amount equal to or greater than the total amount of the award. The matching fund requirement may be waived for schools serving a population where 50% of more of the students qualify for educational benefits. Applications must be received by February 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST to be considered.
Resources for interested applicants:
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Informational webinar about this grant. Note that this is the webinar from the Fiscal Year 2024-25 grant opportunity. There will not be a webinar held for this posting period. The information is the same, but the dates have changed for this posting period.
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Q and A document. Additional questions regarding the grant opportunity should be submitted in writing to compgrants@state.mn.us by January 20, 2026.
Information and materials are available on the MDE Competitive Grant Opportunities page.
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Submit a Nomination for the MASE Board of Directors
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The Minnesota Administrators for Special Education is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for two positions on the Board of Directors:
President-Elect
Secretary
If you are interested in serving in one of these positions, please fill out this quick form.
Nominations are open until end of day on Friday, February 6, 2026.
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Submit a Proposal for the MASE Best Conferences Conference
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The Minnesota Administrators for Special Education is excited to head to Madden’s this spring for our Best Practices Conference from May 13-15, 2026. We can’t wait to celebrate our colleagues with our theme, Unity in Complexity. If you or someone you know has a proposal related to this theme, please submit a proposal.
MASE is now accepting proposals for breakout sessions of 1 hour each. Please complete your submission by using the online form with all the required information.
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We will consider all submissions sent in by February 1, 2026.
We can’t wait to see you this spring!
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Members, Tell Us about Yourself
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We are bringing back the MASE Member Spotlights! We have some new questions and we’re hoping to hear from some of our members. We will feature Member Spotlights in this newsletter and in our social media posts so that members get to know more about one another.
Complete Our Short Questionnaire
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Join Us for Our Next SLICE of Collaboration Session: Statewide Updates
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | 12 p.m.
The topic for this session is Statewide Updates; the presenters will be Sonia Smith, Director of the Special Education Division at MDE, plus MASE members who are participating in state work groups. These sessions are open to members only. You'll receive the link to join in your confirmation email.
Reminder: You must login to our website to see the registration button for this event.
You can register for additional SLICE sessions on the MASE website—check our Calendar.
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CAREIMath
Improving math outcomes is a priority for districts nationwide, but many efforts fall short because they focus on isolated strategies rather than the system as a whole.
At the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI), we partner with districts and states to turn research into practice in ways that strengthen instructional systems. CAREIMath was created to do exactly that—bringing coherence, consistency, and evidence-based practices to mathematics instruction across an entire district.
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Aspiring Leaders Session: January 20, 6:30–8 pm | Virtual
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Has someone tapped you on the shoulder and complimented your leadership capabilities? Join us for Professional Development opportunities with other aspiring leaders who are considering going back to school for Special Education Administration. Questions? Contact Amy Waldspurger, awaldspurger@isd721.org.
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CSTAG: Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines Training
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Hosted by SWWC Service Cooperative
Join us this January for a hands-on, evidence-based training designed to help school teams move beyond awareness and build a safe, systematic, and sustainable K–12 threat assessment and management model.
Participants will learn CSTAG’s structured decision-making process, receive practical implementation tools, and leave with a district-specific plan aligned with legal and best-practice guidelines.
📅 January 22, 2026 | ⏰ 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Registration 8:00–8:30 a.m.)
📍 Redwood Area Community Center, Redwood Falls, MN
👤 Trainer: Mark Muscat, School Psychologist & Behavior Intervention Specialist
💡 Registration Deadline: January 15, 2026
Lunch, materials, and resources included.
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Click the button above to submit your news and/or job openings! Also, please whitelist info@mnase.org and laurie.pumper@mnase.org to ensure that you receive your newsletter without interruption.
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Copyright (C) 2026 Minnesota Administrators for Special Education. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
1601 Utica Ave. S., Suite 213 | Minneapolis, MN 55416
Phone: 651-299-0502
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