Missouri Educators, as you gear up for the start of the coming school year, we know that you are doing everything you can to make your classroom perfect for your students, which means you are likely spending a lot of your own money. As you are using these last few weeks of summer to get ready, consider Donors Choose as an option for funding so that you are not breaking the bank! In this episode, Rob Curtis with Horace Mann gives an overview of Horace Mann, their Donors Choose partnership, and tips and tricks to run a successful Donors Choose project. If you have any inquiries or questions about Horace Mann or Donors Choose, email Rob Curtis at [email protected].

 MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or [email protected] 

Taking a trip before the start of school? Don’t do anything until you listen to Darby Boyd, NEA Member Benefits Affiliate Relations Specialist, give an overview of NEA Travel Deals and tips and tricks as you search and secure the best deals! Find all NEA Travel Deals at https://www.neamb.com/products/nea-travel 

 MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or [email protected] 

Darby Boyd, NEA Member Benefits Affiliate Relations Specialist, gives a brief history and overview of NEA Member Benefits that are available to all members of NEA Affiliates. Please visit https://www.neamb.com/ for more!

 MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

State Board Updates June 2023

• Agenda, Minutes, and Recordings from June 6, 2023 of the Missouri State Board of Education

• Update on the School Innovation Waiver Program 

• Success Ready Student Network 

• Senate Bill 681 (RSMo: 160.560)

• Update on the Strategic Plan  

• Report on the Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission 

• BRC Webpage

• Commission Phase 2 Members are listed here with their bios.  

• The Practitioner Input report from MNEA can be found here. 

• Report on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Council 

• All proposed and approved rules linked in MNEA Report

The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be held on August 15, 2023, at DESE in  Jefferson City, Missouri. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at  800-392-0236 or [email protected].   

 MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

In this three-part, member-led episode, MNEA members from MNEA Resolutions Committee discuss their research into student use of technology and social media and its impacts on students, teachers, and classrooms. Guest Host, Andy Slaughter, Social Studies Teacher at Meramec Valley School District and NEA Director, has a conversation with Alicia Kleoppel, gifted Education Teacher at North Kansas City, and Lindsey Weatherby Special Education Teacher at Special School District, to summarize, process, and discuss their research. This episode is Part II of a three-part episode. 

MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

If you have any questions or suggestions about MNEA Connects, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or [email protected]  

Ever curious what happens next for bills that passed in the Missouri Legislative Session? MNEA Legislative Director talks about what next steps are for truly agreed upon bills in the Legislative Session and how they become law. 

Subscribe to Otto Fajen’s daily Legislative Update during the Missouri Legislative session here. 

To access all activity in the Missouri House and Senate, visit the follow websites:

• Missouri House of Representatives 

MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or [email protected] 

In this three-part, member-led episode, MNEA members from MNEA Resolutions Committee discuss their research into student use of technology and its impacts on students, teachers, and classrooms. Guest Host, Andy Slaughter, Social Studies Teacher at Meramec Valley School District and NEA Director, has a conversation with Alicia Kleoppel, gifted Education Teacher at North Kansas City, and Lindsey Weatherby Special Education Teacher at Special School District, to summarize, process, and discuss their research. This episode is Part I of a three-part episode. 

MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

If you have any questions or suggestions about MNEA Connects, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or [email protected]  

MNEA Missouri State Board of Education report for May 2023, along with all State Board Reports, can be found here. The report has all links referred to in the podcast episode.

MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link (http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb) or contact Samantha Hayes.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or [email protected]

MNEA Legislative Director, Otto Fajen, gives a recap from the final month of the Missouri 2023 Legislative Session and his reflections on the session in its entirety. 

To receive Otto's daily updates during the session, sign up for the Legislative Update Listserv with MNEA at https://www.mnea.org/get-involved/subscribe-email-listservs

MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or [email protected] 

State Board of Education April Meeting Links

• Consideration of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Adopt 5 CSR 20-200.275, Mental Health Awareness Training
  • 5 CSR 20-200.275
    • 170.307 RsMo

• The following rules and proposed rules were approved:
  • Consideration of an Order of Rulemaking to Amend 5 CSR 20-100.340, School Board Member Orientation and Training

MACCE April Meeting Links

• Information about MACCE can be found here
  • MACCE Statute

 MNEA Members: Interested in becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.