MAINE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

MSSA IS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF MAINE SUPERINTENDENTS AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS BY PROVIDING CONSULTATION AND SUPPORT, COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. MSSA CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A VERY ROBUST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES DURING THE 2021 - 2023 FISCAL YEAR REGARDLESS OF COVID. DURING MSSA'S ANNUAL MEETING IN OCTOBER, SUPERINTENDENTS CAME TOGETHER TO WORK WITH GEORGE CUROUS, THE AUTHOR OF THE "INNOVATOR'S MINDSET". GEORGE IS A WORLDWIDE LEADER AND AUTHOR IN INNOVATIVE TEACHING, LEARNING AND LEADING, AND HAS A FOCUS ON INNOVATION. HIS MESSAGE TO MAINE SUPERINTENDENTS WAS THAT MEANINGFUL CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN YOU FIRST CONNECT TO PEOPLE'S HEART. GEORGE CHALLENGED SUPERINTENDENTS TO INNOVATE "INSIDE THE BOX" TO ENSURE THAT WE SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS, COMMUNITIES, AND STUDENTS TO CREATE THE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE. THE WRITER CONVOCATION WAS POSTPONED DUE TO A SIGNIFICANT COVID OUTBREAK AND TOOK PLACE IN APRIL. JILL SILER, THE AUTHOR OF "THRIVE THROUGH THE FIVE" WAS BROUGHT IN TO WORK WITH SUPERINTENDENTS. JILL'S PRESENTATION FOCUSED ON THE CHALLENGES THAT SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE FACED DURING THE PANDEMIC. JILL SHARED STRATEGIES ON HOW TO GROW AND THRIVE THROUGH CHALLENGES IN ORDER TO WALK AWAY EQUIPPED, RENEWED AND INSPIRED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE HARD WORK. MSSA CONTINUED TO SPONSOR THE MAINE'S CULTURAL COMPETENCE INSTITUTE FOR THE SECOND YEAR. 150 EDUCATORS REPRESENTING 31 SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAME TOGETHER FOR A YEARLONG INTERACTIVE INSTITUTE TO LEARN TO DEVELOP A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF CREATING A CULTURE OF INCLUSION, TO CREATE BRAVE SPACES FOR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR SCHOOLS. THE INSTITUTE TOOK PLACE OVER NINE MONTHS.