Sourcewell

10/09/2026

Thanks for playing along with us!

Our sixth annual Early Childhood Conference last week brought 162 educators together to discover the foundational value of play in children’s growth.

Thanks again to our keynote speaker Mia Sundstrom from the National Institute for Play. Thanks to the Innovative Schools Project for donating play sets to eight attending schools. And thanks to Teddy Bear Band and The Rock 'n' Read Project for a showstopping capstone to the conference!

10/09/2026

The world is changing quickly, and instruction is changing, too. But some things don’t change: The need for safety, support, and collaboration.

Join principal Jenessa Green and instructional coach Matthew Parker as they explore modern instruction. They’ll share lessons from implementing the High Reliability Schools framework, plus strategies for measuring progress, building staff buy-in, and staying the course regardless of turnover or time.

Listen now > sourcewell.co/podcast
Watch > sourcewell.co/watch-ed-soul

10/06/2026

The 2026 Family Childcare Conference recently brought together 102 family childcare providers from 11 counties for a day of learning, connection, and celebration. Sessions focused on early literacy, business development, inclusion, advocacy, and licensing providing practical resources and support for providers.

A highlight was the keynote presentation, Literacy: The Power of Picture Books with Infants and Toddlers.

One long-time provider shared: “A big thank you for one of the best literacy workshops I’ve ever had in 43 years of early childhood education.”

The conference also celebrated the 2026 Family Childcare Providers of the Year, recognizing the dedication and impact of family childcare providers in their communities.

Thank you to Congrats to this year’s honorees!

Watch the award video:

This is "2026 Provider Of The Year" by Sourcewell on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

09/25/2026

Four years. Almost 15,000 downloads. 100 in-depth, educator-focused episodes. Ed Soul has a lot to celebrate today, and you’re invited!

Ed Soul’s one hundredth episode, “A Look Back, A Look Forward,” brings back some of our most popular guests. We revisit timeless themes like belonging, behavior, and mental health in schools. What still resonates today, and what’s important as we move into the next 100?

Share with an educator friend in your network to help us hit our “100 shares for 100 episodes” challenge!

Listen now > sourcewell.co/podcast
Watch > sourcewell.co/watch-ed-soul

09/24/2026

Going to Minnesota Association of School Administrators - MASA conference next week? Make sure to check out the two sessions offered by Sourcewell!

1) Literacy Leadership Teams: A critical driver for achieving your district literacy goals
2) Making Cybersecurity Everyone's Business Moving Cyber Preparedness: Beyond the IT Department

Details at > www.mnasa.org/events/masa-fall-conference-2026

09/22/2026

We’re honored to announce Sourcewell's first time being recognized as a Remote Work Top Workplace by Top Workplaces!

Our team's wide range of talent, perspectives, and experiences makes us better. Expanding to a nationwide, remote workforce has helped us:
• Build new partnerships
• Better serve public agencies
• Generate resources to invest in our five-county region

Thank you to our team for helping make Sourcewell a great place to work! Learn more: https://sourcewell.co/remote-work-top-workplaces

09/18/2026

College, career, military service, or moving away from home. Rural Minnesota youth take many different paths after high school. What can we learn about where those paths lead?

Join the Center for Rural Policy and Development for Pathways After High School, a webinar exploring new statewide research following rural youth into postsecondary education and the workforce, including where graduates go, which pathways lead to stable employment, and the factors that shape long-term outcomes.

Tuesday, Sept. 22
1-2 p.m.

Register now > https://sourcewell.co/crpd-webinar

09/14/2026

Let’s have class outside today! Student events don’t just offer a day away from the building: They connect classroom lessons to the real world.

Ed Soul’s latest episode, “Moments That Matter,” explores why student trips and events are worth the time and investment, how districts can find and enable them, and how they help students find their voice, their agency, and their passions.

Listen now > sourcewell.co/podcast

09/09/2026

What an impactful Paraprofessional Conference 2026!

The Paraprofessional Conference was all about recognizing, celebrating, and investing in the incredible paraprofessionals who make a difference in the lives of students across the region.

The feedback says it best:
• “Will definitely be taking some of the strategies I’ve learned today and use with the kids I serve."
• "A wonderful conference! The best one I have been to as a para of 10 years!"
• "Today was a wonderful, engaging learning day. Thank you!"

Thank you to everyone who joined us and brought such incredible energy to the day.

We hope you left feeling appreciated, supported, energized, and reminded of the Power of YOU.

09/08/2026

Where do rural Minnesota youth go after high school, and what shapes the paths they take?

Join the Center for Rural Policy and Development for Pathways After High School, a webinar exploring new statewide research that follows rural youth from high school into postsecondary education and the workforce.

We’ll look at where graduates go, which pathways lead to stable employment, and how academic preparation, training, and geography shape long-term outcomes.

Tuesday, Sept. 22
1-2 p.m.

Register today: https://sourcewell.co/crpd-webinar