Education Conversations is a new monthly half-hour interview program produced by the Minnesota Department of Education. The program series is hosted by Education Commissioner Dr. Brenda Cassellius and features conversations about current education topics and initiatives, such as STEM and Better Schools for a Better Minnesota: A 7-Point Plan for Achieving Excellence, including Closing the Achievement Gap, All-Day Kindergarten, Reading Well by 3rd Grade, Better Early Childhood Education, Better School Funding, and Better Testing.
Taping Date 12/20/11
In this episode, Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius announces that Minnesota has received the Race to the Top grant. She interviews Keith Hovis, deputy communications director, regarding the Minnesota Department of Education's new website; and she talks with Sam Kramer, NCLB state program administrator, regarding the No Child Left Behind waiver application and what that means for Minnesota.
Taping Date 10/11/11
In this first segment, Education Commissioner Dr. Brenda Cassellius interviews Karen Cadigan, director of the Minnesota Office of Early Learning. They talk about the importance of early childhood education, improving young children's readiness for school and how it relates to closing the achievement gap, and how the Minnesota Office of Early Learning will bring together several state agencies to coordinate and focus their efforts together on this goal. In segment two, Commissioner Cassellius interviews Barbara Yates, chair of the Early Learning Council, regarding the responsibilities of this new advisory council to the Governor, and Minnesota's Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant application, which could provide $50 million for Minnesota's early learning efforts.
Taping Date 8/16/11
In this first segment, Education Commissioner Dr. Brenda Cassellius interviews 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Katy Smith, Early Childhood Family Education Teacher from the Winona School District and they talk about how parents and kids can prepare for school. In the second segment, Minnesota Department of Education Director of Communications Charlene Briner talks with Commissioner Cassellius about the outcome from the legislative session regarding the E-12 Education Budget.
Taping Date 6/9/11
In this first segment, Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius interviews Washburn High School robotics team members, including Mike Meyer, who won an award for his video in the C-SPAN network's 2011 StudentCam video documentary national competition. In the second segment, Commissioner Cassellius interviews team members, and mentors, from South Education Center Alternative in Richfield, who submitted their Porcupine Sliders recipe in the First Lady Obama's Healthy Recipe contest. Since this taping, the team has placed 1st in the grains category and on July 25 at the competition's cook-off, they won the Grand Prize at the 2011 American Culinary Federation National Convention in Dallas, Texas.
Taping Date: 5/4/11
In this first episode, Minnesota Department of Education Director of Communications Charlene Briner introduces Education Commissioner Dr. Brenda Cassellius and interviews her about her vision for education in Minnesota, including "Better Schools for a Better Minnesota: A 7-Point Plan for Achieving Excellence".
