MAASE Membership

The MAASE Board of Directors are expecting to meet virtually for the 2020-21 school year. The virtual meetings will be held on Mondays, from 4:00-7:00 pm as follows:

• October 12, 2020
• December 7, 2020
• February 8, 2021
• April 12, 2021
• June 7, 2021

If you have any questions regarding Board meetings, email Sue Leach, at maase.exec@gmail.com

One of the greatest benefits of MAASE membership is the ability to learn alongside our colleagues. The 2020-21 virtual meeting format presents a unique opportunity to become more involved in MAASE. Our Communities of Practice (CoP) and Committees are open to all MAASE members and provide a forum for learning, sharing resources, and problem solving with small groups around a particular topic or need area.

If you have questions about a CoP/Committee or need access to their virtual meeting, please reach out to the Chairperson for more information.

If ever there was a time for creativity, it’s NOW.

MAASE is pleased to offer ten (10) $500 mini grants to schools that are offering innovative special education programming. Let your staff know of this opportunity. The deadline for submitting a mini grant application is Friday, October 30, 2020.   

Message from Kim Samelstad, Committee Chairperson:

I am looking for readers for the Mini Grants. It is a wonderful opportunity to read about new and innovative happenings around the state.

The Mini Grant timeline is as follows:

1. Deadline for applying for Mini Grants is Friday, October 30th by 5:00 pm.
2. Mini Grant applications and scoring Rubric will be sent to readers by Friday, November 6^th.
3. Readers will have from November 6^th to December 4th to review and score Mini Grants
4. The 10 Winners will be announced on Friday, December 11^th.

If you have any questions or would like to be a reviewer, please contact me at ksamelstad@vbisd.org.

The Board of Directors has determined that MAASE events will be held virtually for the foreseeable future. To simplify the registration process and use only one Zoom link, the schedule will be as follows (times may change slightly):

• 8:00-9:00 – MDE Office of Special Education Update
• 9:00-10:00 – MAASE General Membership Meeting (including legislative updates)
• 10:00-10:15 – Break
• 10:15-1:00 – Professional Learning (Developing Leaders topics taken through the chat feature)
• 1:00-1:30 – Lunch
• 1:30-2:30 – Developing Leaders (3 breakouts)

Please mark your calendar:

• Tuesday, October 13, 2020
• Tuesday, December 8, 2020
• Tuesday, February 9, 2021
• Tuesday, April 13, 2021
• Tuesday, June 8, 2021

One fee of $70 will be charged for the day for all membership categories (voting, non-voting and guests). Registration will be available on the website later this week.

Note: Board of Directors will meet virtually at 4:00 pm on Mondays prior to Tuesday events.

The MAASE Professional Learning committee is excited to introduce the 2020-2021 Professional Learning Series focused on the power and promise of collective efficacy to acquire knowledge, develop skills, build capacity and summon will for the influential leader in each of us, and influencing the behaviors of those around us.

Engage in the process of professional and personal growth with your MAASE colleagues and learn how to increase your capacity to develop collective efficacy competencies for yourself and the ability to cultivate competencies in others. The power and promise of collective efficacy are the communal beliefs and behaviors evident in a systemic transformative culture where the impact leads the way to improved educational outcomes.

Note: It is anticipated that professional learning will be presented virtually (via Zoom) for the 2020-21 year.

The MAASE Four Focus Areas White Paper was approved by the Board in February 2018.  

Your comments to the Four Focus Areas Project Team are welcomed: Becky Smith, Co-chair, Brenda Tarsa, Tammy Hazley, & Bob Fall