Edina Public Schools: Thought Exchange Webinar

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Magnet programming concepts

Future of elementary programming

STEM/STEAM integration

Language immersion and trilingual programming

Thought Exchange crowdsourcing tool

K-12 Comprehensive Literacy Plan update

Developing 21st-century job skills

Strategies for open enrollment competitiveness

Areas of Interest (5)

Edina Public Schools explores aggressive shift toward STEAM and trilingual programming models.
Declining enrollment competition forces district to pivot elementary strategy toward 'attractive' magnet concepts.
Controversial push to adopt 'coding' as a third language in potential trilingual immersion curriculum.
Internal push for STEAM integration in elementary schools amidst crowded literacy and numeracy schedules.
Community survey and demographic data influence strategic shift toward language-heavy programming.

Notable Quotes (2)

Our programming has to be designed in such a way that it builds and augments these skills and attributes.
— Randy Smalls

STEAMDiscussing the need for STEAM to improve job competitiveness.

We are working especially hard on supporting teachers in understanding more deeply what students need when they aren't at grade level.
— Jody D. St. Hubert

LiteracyExplaining the Comprehensive Literacy Plan action steps.

People (3)

Randy SmallsAssistant Superintendent

Lead administrator for Edina Public Schools elementary programming future.

1 quote

“Magnet means attract or magnets attract and this is programming that we believe will be attractive to residents.”

Explaining the rationale behind magnet programming naming.

Jody D. St. HubertDirector of Teaching and Learning

Expert on the Comprehensive Literacy Plan and early learning curriculum.

1 quote

“We have identified literacy... as a priority across the district.”

Confirming the district's primary academic focus.

Hazel ReinhardtDemographer

Contracted to study future enrollment patterns and competitive programming demand.

Places Mentioned

Edina Public SchoolsHighlands ElementaryCountryside ElementaryNormandale ElementaryValley View Middle SchoolSouthview Middle School

Events & Meetings (4)

September 27: Staff Thought Exchange session
October 4: Community presentation
October (Upcoming): Board presentation of administrative recommendations
Week of October 11: Thought Exchange closing date

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