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Sourcewell Cohort

Course Dates


Oct 24, Jan 9, April 8, Upcoming Fall 2025 Dates

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About the Course

Join our 2025 Educator Cohort at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and become a catalyst for inclusive education!


Learn more at Sourcewell.


Why Participate?

  • Diverse Literature Integration: Enhance your teaching with multicultural books that reflect varied perspectives.

  • Professional Development: Engage in workshops designed to equip you with inclusive teaching strategies.

  • Collaborative Learning: Connect with fellow educators dedicated to fostering empathy and understanding in classrooms.


Program Highlights:

  • Expert-Led Sessions: Learn from experienced professionals in literacy and diversity education.

  • Resource Access: Receive curated book collections and teaching materials to support your curriculum.

  • Flexible Scheduling: Sessions are designed to accommodate educators' busy timetables.


How to Register:

  1. Complete the Application: Fill out the registration form available on our site.

  2. Confirmation: Receive a confirmation email with session dates and preparatory materials.


About Open Windows Books:

We are committed to providing free multicultural books to teachers and media specialists in Greater Minnesota, aiming to expand opportunities for rural children to read stories from diverse perspectives.


Contact Us:

For questions or additional information, please reach out to us at info@openwindowsbooks.org.


Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your teaching practice and make a meaningful impact on your students' lives.


Cohort Instructors 

Session 1 presenter: Ferin Davis Anderson & Shelly Munoz

Ferin Davis Anderson is an environmental scientist and an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe/Mitchifs in North Dakota. She works as the supervisor of environmental sciences for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Land and Natural Resources Department where she is responsible for stewarding and restoring natural areas for the SMSC. Ferin weaves traditional knowledge and western science together to make more holistic management decisions, including using fire as an ecological and cultural tool to achieve beneficial and healing outcomes.

Shelly Munoz specializes in science education including Next Generation Science Standards. Her experience as a classroom educator and knowledge of Indigenous wisdom will support both the integration of the NGSS and Indigenous Wisdom as you work to integrate both into your classroom.

This session can be used to fulfill the new licensure requirement, "American Indian History and Culture."

Session 2 presenter: Kao Kalia Yang 

Kao Kalia Yang is a Minnesota Hmong American teacher, speaker, and award-winning writer. Her classroom teaching experience, immigrant and refugee story and texts are the perfect support for integrating new social studies standards including the required ethnic studies course.

Session 3 presenter: Ellie Krug

Ellie Krug is a writer, speaker, podcaster, human rights advocate, lawyer, and fellow human, using her story to help create understanding, empathy, and supports for our LGBTQIA+ youth in rural areas.

Empowering Educators for Inclusive Teaching + Open Windows Books Cohort

Gain access to most recent state standard changes and alignment to text choices and lesson planning.

Date: Multiple dates

Time:

8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. daily

Agenda:

Cohort dates:

Oct. 24, 2024 (This session can be used to fulfill the new licensure requirement, "American Indian History and Culture.")

Jan. 9, 2025

April 8, 2025

Location:

Sourcewell

Cost:

$175/session or $475 for all three sessions for schools in Sourcewell's five-county service area;

$200/session or $550 for all 3 session for school's outside of the service area;

Comprehensive Package pricing: $17.50/session or $47.50 for all three;

Lunch is provided

Learn more about the Comprehensive Package and see a list of participating districts here >

Prerequisites: None

CEUs: Teacher CEU; Administrator CEU

Learning objectives:

  • Access the most recent state standard changes and alignment to text choices and lesson planning.

  • Learn strategies to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments.

  • Learn from first person experts in each of the identified speaker series topics.


Description:

Join us for a transformative speaker series designed to empower educators with the knowledge and tools to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments. Our series focuses on three timely topics in education. Register for a single day session that fits your professional learning goals or all three with access to the Open Windows Books Cohort.


Recommended follow-up:

Learn more about Sourcewell's equity programs.

Event Registration

Registration deadline: March 25, 2025

Check-in: 8 a.m.

Questions: education@sourcewell-mn.gov

CONTACT US

Have questions or want to learn more about Open Windows Books? We’re here to help! Whether you’re a teacher, volunteer, donor, or community member, feel free to reach out.

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