Southeast Service Cooperative

08/26/2026

🎉Career-Connected Learning is GROWING in Southeast Minnesota!

The latest student survey results are exciting: more students are moving beyond career exploration and into real exposure and hands-on experience.
• Exposure jumped from 17% to 33%
• Experience grew from 6% to 11%
• And, fewer students are staying only in the exploration stage.

That means more students are connecting with careers, meeting employers, gaining experience and taking meaningful steps toward their futures. This is what career-connected learning is all about — helping students move from “What could I do?” to “I’m experiencing it.”

Thank you to the educators, schools, employers and community partners across Southeast Minnesota helping make these opportunities possible!

We want to keep the momentum going! Students can scan the QR code in the infographic to complete the 2026–27 Career-Connected Learning Survey.

08/24/2026

School Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Training

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering school IAQ plan trainings in fall 2026, in-person statewide and in a webinar format. This training will discuss requirements and best practices for school IAQ.

School staff (including charter and non-public schools), service providers, government officials, and others are welcome to attend. The training is free. Registration is required. Continuing education credits are offered for certain credentials.

See MDH School IAQ Plan Training for details and registration: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/schools/training.html

08/20/2026

This week, the Minnesota Department of Education announced their grant funding awards, designed to strengthen and grow Minnesota’s teacher workforce.

As part of that investment, nearly $3.4 million was awarded through the Teacher Mentorship and Retention Program to 15 organizations across the state. We congratulate the Project Momentum team on receiving one of these awards! This funding will help expand support for early-career educators, strengthen mentorship opportunities, and improve teacher retention across Minnesota.

Congratulations to our Project Momentum colleagues—you continue to make a meaningful difference for educators, schools, and students across our region. We’re proud of your work and excited to see its impact grow.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Faccounts%2FMNMDE%2Fbulletins%2F4240de1%3Ffbclid%3DIwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEyVU1zQWhwclZKNE1pbm1pc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrspCjI4IY3cw4UTdKpXh_tGdI8Xf5nOfcCF6Vir02gYYt4rASQSStzmVmNg_aem_ebZD0q-hbVah2eRvZR6fdQ&h=AUDDPokMsIRzuZrqtvGHHoWeZVbyje9yEFf2LJE7-76rNQhoO1G11CjgYYPLAsAYKeSJ4hVoCUMoS87y-ri10R_G9ByCd-NE40mzoLFqKe_UKWbLrQv-JgqOmnPcQIJ5d2jChUAfPpSrkw&__tn__=-UK*F

MDE Invests $41 Million to Grow Teacher Workforce Minnesota Department of Education sent this bulletin at 08/18/2026 10:00 AM CDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. For Immediate Release Contact: Anna Kurth MDE Communications 651-582-8798 [email protected] August 18, 2026...

08/18/2026

What if students could begin building a pathway to a high-demand healthcare technology career before graduating from high school?

That’s the opportunity behind BETA, a Biomedical Technology Career Pathway connecting college-level learning, Career Connected Learning and real-world industry experience in Southeast Minnesota.

Through two student cohorts spanning 2026–2028, SSC is bringing education and industry partners together through coursework, immersive learning and paid internship experiences.

BETA is also part of a national effort to prepare young people for an AI-enabled economy. SSC is one of four organizations selected for Jobs for the Future’s inaugural Advancing AI-Resilient Early-Career Pathways cohort, supported by Google.org with additional support from the Families and Workers Fund.

Follow the BETA journey as we share the students, careers, technology and partnerships shaping the future of Career Connected Learning.

Read the full story: https://www.ssc.coop/view-all-news/~board/latest-news/post/biomedical-technology-career-pathway-beta

08/13/2026

From sports fields to parking lots, Farm-Tech provides professional line marking that keeps your space looking sharp, organized, and ready for action.

Need fresh lines? Let Farm-Tech handle it!

SSC School Members: Take advantage of pre-season scheduled game field marking. Pricing includes travel, set up, and paint.

One time per season: $700
Two times per season: $1,200
Four times per season: $2,000
Practice field marking in August (with scheduled game field marking): $500

Get your fields game-ready before the season starts!

Contacts:
Lucas Mandt, [email protected], 507-440-7362
Dave Lagerstedt, [email protected], 507-438-2256

08/11/2026

Create a High-Performing Team with Rick Olson

SSC is delighted to bring back one of our most popular speakers, Rick Olson, for his "We is Better Than Me!" session on Thursday, October 29, 2026. In his renowned presentation, Rick lays out a master plan for getting everyone in your organization 'rowing in the same direction'.

Link for more info: ssc.coop/register

07/29/2026

STEM Day at the Olmsted County Fair is going on NOW until 4 p.m.! Join us in the Toyota Arena (Graham 4 Building) for some FREE, FUN, and high-energy activities!

This event is for all ages and packed with interactive experiences that spark curiosity and make STEM come to life. Kids and families can explore, build, create, and discover alongside industry professionals who are eager to share their knowledge and passion. From hands-on activities to real-world career connections, every experience is designed to inspire future innovators and encourage ongoing exploration of STEM opportunities.

07/23/2026

Join us for STEM Day at the Olmsted County Fair next Wednesday, July 29!
We'll be there with activities for the whole family to explore the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) with help from our industry partners.

This FREE event takes place in the Toyota ice arena (Graham Building 4) from 11 am to 4 pm.

Thanks to our partners: People's Energy Cooperative, Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service, Mayo Clinic Facilities Operations, Mayo Clinic - Career Exploration, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Geotek, IBM Rochester, Rochester GATEway, High Tech Kids, Knobelsdorff - KE, Gamehaven Council - Scouting America, University of Minnesota Extension Youth Development, FutureForward, STEM Forward, Raspberry Pi, Byron High School Robotics, Xcel Energy, SSC - YAYA (Young Authors, Young Artists), City of Rochester - Link BRT

07/23/2026

Join us for STEM Day at the Olmsted County Fair next Wednesday, July 29!

We'll be there with activities for the whole family to explore the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) with help from our industry partners.

This FREE event takes place in the Toyota ice arena (Graham Building 4) from 11 am to 4 pm.

Thanks to our partners: People's Energy Cooperative, Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service, Mayo Clinic Facilities Operations, Mayo Clinic - Career Exploration, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Geotek, IBM Rochester, Rochester GATEway, High Tech Kids, Knobelsdorff - KE, Urban Grow Store, Gamehaven Council - Scouting America, University of Minnesota Extension Youth Development, FutureForward, STEM Forward, Raspberry Pi, Byron High School Robotics, Xcel Energy, SSC - YAYA (Young Authors, Young Artists), City of Rochester - Link BRT

07/14/2026

SSC will host two inspiring speakers at our Summer Leadership Retreat on August 17, and we invite leaders in city and county government, as well as school district leaders to attend.

Author of "Beyond Grit and The Confidence Habit", Dr. Cindra Kamphoff will focus on practices proven to upgrade your leadership. She’ll weave in new content from her 7 core practices to turn self-doubt into self-belief. Attendees will leave this event feeling empowered to lead their high-performing organization with grit and confidence.

Josh Lichty's afternoon session will help leaders reframe their relationship with clock time vs. lived moments, understand transformational leadership strategies that connect to the mind and spirit, ignite confidence in their roles, and reaffirm relational leadership anchored in mission. This session is designed to complement the morning keynote and carry the day forward with reflection, application, and leadership ownership. Josh brings a unique blend of education, leadership development, and facilitation experience.

Register: www.ssc.coop/register