Client MnEEP and PELSB host stakeholder meeting to shape the future of teacher licensure in Minnesota

Over 100 educators and administrators met virtually with board members and staff from the Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) on July 29th, 2020 to rethink parts of the teacher licensure process in Minnesota. The meeting, hosted by Collectivity client Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP), aimed to gather insights and feedback from a broad segment of the educator community as teachers enter a new year amid a global pandemic and renewed calls for racial justice. 

PELSB is the state agency responsible for the legislative rules around teacher preparation and licensure standards in Minnesota and they are currently engaging in rule making processes. In these processes, standards for teacher preparation and licensure are developed, commented on by the public and eventually put on track to be adopted. 

One of MnEEP’s biggest goals is advocating for a diverse teacher workforce in Minnesota. This initiative is overseen by Dr. Rose W. Chu, MnEEP’s Senior policy fellow and main organizer of this event.   “When Dr. Chu calls, people will show up” stated one of the participants.  This statement felt especially true as dozens of teachers, school leaders and education advocates provided direct feedback to PELSB and also engaged directly with its board members. 

Joe Munnich, managing director of Generation Next commented on this MnEEP event he attended, “Once again, I am in awe of how you [Dr. Chu] took something that was necessary but no one was willing to step up and make happen in the way it needs to happen – and made it successful, meaningful, and impactful!” 

Collectivity’s team played a role in every stage of organizing this event - from drafting and sending invitations, to managing the Zoom call to compiling and sharing the insights provided by the attendees.  By organizing this and other events that engage stakeholders in the education space, Collectivity is able to build and support coalitions that work toward the same goal.