2026 MCEA Fall Conference

2026 MCEA Fall Conference

11:15am CDT

Space: The Final Frontier - Teaching Space Science to Your Community Suite 108 - Lower LevelBen Joslin Wheels Up Wednesday: Bridging the Gap for Our 55+ Neighbors Suite 111 - Lower LevelCullen Bahn Community Connections: Helping Students Navigate the Road to the College Classroom Suite 109 - Lower LevelLeslie Haack • Jeff Lepper Early Childhood Program Budgeting: From Aid to Accountability Suite 103 - Lower LevelMike Brown Gathering Support, Not Just Funds: Why Relationships Redefine Community Engagement Suite 104 - Lower LevelJohn Double I Need An Adult...Wait, That's Me: The Reality of Imposter Syndrome Suite 102 - Lower LevelAshley Fabian Kimmell High Impact, Low Stress Marketing Suite 106- Lower LevelMischelle Squire We're Creating a new "NCEA" - a National Community Ed. ARCHIVE! Suite 101 - Lower LevelKim Ratz Non-FAPE IEP Accommodations in After-School Programs Suite 105 - Lower LevelNicole Mueller • Nate Schriever • Melissa Stenke Feeding Confidence: Shifting the Narrative on Food, Bodies, and Youth Well-Being Suite 107 - Lower LevelKatie Hackman • Anna Oldenburg

1:30pm CDT

Bus Tour Basics Suite 111 - Lower LevelLori Murphy • Robert Halberg • Amanda Shadoin • Katherine Bodger Adult Drivers Education and becoming a third party proctor Suite 109 - Lower LevelSusan Edmonson Beyond the Language Barrier: Masterful Collaboration with Professional Interpreters Suite 104 - Lower LevelMiguel Benjamin Early Childhood Screening: Using local data and partnerships to reach all families Suite 110 - Lower LevelMargo Chresand Leading for the Future: How to Lead, Serve, and Build Flatter, More Humane Organizations Suite 101 - Lower LevelCourtney Green • Stephen Keeler The Ripple Effect: Building Stronger Communities Through Connection, Kindness, and Leadership Suite 103 - Lower LevelCindy Rowe The Neighbor Effect: Building Community Belonging Through Digital Platforms Suite 106- Lower LevelBecky Montpetit Strengthening School Age Care: An Interactive Introduction to Minnesota’s SAC Accreditation Program Suite 105 - Lower LevelDevin Hanson • Christa Perkins Lessons from One Immigrant's Experience: Success is All About Mindset Suite 107 - Lower LevelMustafa Sharif Poetry Out Loud Suite 102 - Lower LevelLisa Higgs • Mandy Ruggeri Supports and Strategies for Working with Neurodiversity in the Educational Setting Suite 108 - Lower LevelMaja Katusic • Annie Redlin • Kelly Rentfrow

2:45pm CDT

Community Voices, Shared Solutions: A Collaborative Path to Substance Use Education Suite 111 - Lower LevelGayle Olsen, MS, APRN, CNP • Benjamin Lai • Abby Tricker Twin Cities PBS Viewers Like Us Club: Building Community Through Media Suite 101 - Lower LevelKalia Vue Digital Skills for All: Opening the Door to Possibility Suite 109 - Lower LevelTheresa Sladek Best Practices for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) in Community Education Suite 104 - Lower LevelTiffany Weeks 2028 Early Childhood Licensure: Statewide Updates, Deliverables, and Field Q&A Suite 110 - Lower LevelMike Brown • Kelly Kazeck • December Lynch Executive Presence for All - PART 1 Suite 103 - Lower LevelSheila Neidert POURing the Foundation for Accessible Communication: ADA Digital Compliance Suite 106- Lower LevelMichelle Glynn From Struggle to Success: A Framework for Student Behavioral Support Suite 105 - Lower LevelBrynne Crockett • Melissa Laatsch Self-Care and Mindfulness Suite 108 - Lower LevelDeborah Saari "Avoiding Power Struggles" - Managing behavior through connection and empathy Suite 107 - Lower LevelDavid Sabotta • Sarah Trom

4:00pm CDT

Beyond the GED Study Hall: Transforming Learning in Correctional Education Suite 109 - Lower LevelStacy Everding • Lisa Woll Community Care as Resistance: Healing, Grounding, and Solidarity in Difficult Times Suite 104 - Lower LevelDr. Leonardo E. Candelario-Perez • Stephen Keeler Early Childhood Screening To Go! Suite 111 - Lower LevelEarly Learning Coordinator TBD MN Presenters Network (MPN) and How to Utilize Your School's Fine Arts Theater Suite 108 - Lower LevelAnnmarie Lacher • Marie Reszel Everyone Wins, When We’re All on the Same Team! Nurturing family and community support for every student through Nested Civic Infrastructure Suite 105 - Lower LevelJackie Blagsvedt • Julie Ruzek Executive Presence for All - PART 2 Suite 103 - Lower LevelSheila Neidert From Moments to Movements: Unlocking the Storytelling Superstars on Your Staff Suite 102 - Lower LevelJohn Casper Getting UnSTUCK: from Problem to Possibility Suite 101 - Lower LevelMegan Hartman Mastering Meta for Schools Suite 106- Lower LevelKatelyn Zacher

1:30pm CDT

Art as a Tool for Connection Suite 111 - Lower LevelLaura Campbell • Helene Gautier Award-Winning Ideas in Action: 2025 MCEA Project Award Showcase Suite 101 - Lower LevelKristal Berg • Kate Andersen • Cassie Riopelle • Kaitlyn Koehler Utilizing Northstar Digital Literacy to Improve Digital Literacy Skills for Adult Learners Suite 109 - Lower LevelKaren Cook Belonging by Design: Creating Inclusive Learning Spaces Where Everyone Can Thrive Suite 104 - Lower LevelAmrita Prakaashana A Decade Strong: Essential Practices for Sustaining Social-Emotional Learning and the Pyramid Model Framework at Pearson Early Learning Center Suite 110 - Lower LevelSteph Kaste • Cortney Olson Do You Speak Emergency? The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) in Community Education Environments Suite 103 - Lower LevelDustin Vincent Engage! Reimagining the Community Needs Assessment Process Suite 102 - Lower LevelTamra Lennox • Marnita Schroedl Beyond the Print Catalog: A Practical, Low-Cost Start in Digital Marketing Suite 105 - Lower LevelTim Dalton • Jake Sturgis Classrooms to Care: Launching a Leased Family Childcare Within School Walls Suite 108 - Lower LevelLynn Jenc Talk Nerdy To Me: Generative AI You'll Actually Use Suite 106- Lower LevelPaula Skoviera Eff The Vape: Youth Advocates Take Action to Protect Their Peers Against Big Tobacco's Harm Suite 107 - Lower LevelPa Houa Moua • Christa Seymour

2:45pm CDT

Building Dynamic Community Partnerships: How 125 LIVE & Rochester Community Education Are Expanding Lifelong Learning Suite 111 - Lower LevelKen Baerg • Robin Hoelzle Equity in Action Lab: Tools for Belonging, Inclusion, and Public-Sector Change Suite 104 - Lower LevelStephen Keeler • Lisa Rahn Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) at Winona Area Public Schools Suite 108 - Lower LevelLynnea Pfohl • Mikayla Wolfe Early Identification of Mental Health Concerns for Children Birth to 5 Suite 110 - Lower LevelTheresa Becoming a Community Education Director Suite 102 - Lower LevelDr. Jim Johnson From Insights to Impact: Using Community Feedback to Strengthen Connection, Impact, and Growth Suite 101 - Lower LevelDeb McDermott-Johnson • Daren Sievers Staff Voices, Stronger Schools: Practical Engagement Strategies That Work Suite 105 - Lower LevelJulie Baeb • Sara Ison • Raycheal Zamora, Ed.S, NCSP Talk Nerdy To Me: Generative AI You'll Actually Use Suite 106- Lower LevelPaula Skoviera Managing and Supporting Staff During Uncertain and Unprecedented Times Suite 103 - Lower LevelShannon Brown Build a Partnership with the Master Gardener Volunteer Program Suite 107 - Lower LevelEmily Whitcomb and Carol Wells

11:15am CDT

Award-Winning Innovations: Building Stronger Communities Through Partnership and Workforce Development Amercian Legion Room - Upper LevelErica Bjerketvedt • Julie Morris Equity 101: Equity and Inclusion Work in Community Education Suite 104 - Lower LevelStephen Keeler Making Circle Time Meaningful, Musical, and Memorable! Suite 110 - Lower LevelJodie Guhl • Amy Ward Storytime Books and Beyond! Grand Lobby WestIngrid Alvarez • Jill Kobler Safe After the Bell: Implementing Standard Response Protocols in OST Suite 103 - Lower LevelTiffany Clifton • Scott Lhotka • Annette Sallman The Operational Edge Suite 102 - Lower LevelTiffany Weeks Stop Starting from Scratch: A Canva Template Workshop Suite 106- Lower LevelEmily Abel Building Impactful Targeted Services Programs: Strategies for Student Success Beyond the School Day Suite 101 - Lower LevelAmanda Beckler Demystifying "Misbehavior" in Children and Youth Suite 109 - Lower LevelHaeli Gerardy Introducing N-CAPS: Non-Competitive Active Play Spaces Suite 105 - Lower LevelOwen Kilanowski • Jane Tierney Navigating the Discomfort: Mastering Difficult Conversations Suite 111 - Lower LevelPam Webb Child Development 101: Toddlers through Adolescents Suite 108 - Lower LevelCarley Hofer • Beth Larson

1:15pm CDT

Cultural Considerations: Building Relationships with ELL Families Suite 109 - Lower LevelKaren Cook Building Belonging Through Family Engagement: Lessons, Tools, and Strategies from Minnesota’s Family Engagement Practices Project Suite 108 - Lower LevelDecember Lynch • Mi Yang Updates to the Community Education Annual Report and How to Fill it Out Suite 104 - Lower LevelKarl Brown • Roxy Olsen-Hurst • Ann Riebel • Celest Stang • Alex Wolter Creating (or Enhancing) your Program's Equity Plan Suite 103 - Lower LevelJodi Abrahamson • Tiffany Weeks MCEA Foundational Standards for School-Age Care Programs Guide Suite 105 - Lower LevelJenn Bratvold • Shannon Gavrilov • Angie Parker How to Eat Your Way to Better Mental Health Suite 102 - Lower LevelSara Kelly You Can't Pour From Empty: Sustainable Wellbeing for Community Education Professionals Suite 110 - Lower LevelAmrita Prakaashana Connection Before Content: Building Spaces Where Students Thrive Suite 107 - Lower LevelKristy Buchalla From "What Do I Do?" to "I've Got This!: Guiding Challenging Behavior Suite 101 - Lower LevelLanette Hess Pause. Notice. Connect. Forest Therapy Practices for Wellbeing and Community Education Suite 111 - Lower LevelNicole Brudos Ferrara Youth Voice and Leadership: Creating Space for Young People to Lead Suite 106- Lower LevelKeem Anderson