State Committees

The MNEA Aspiring Educator Council shall design, present, and coordinate activities to assist the Aspiring Educator Program throughout the state. 

Special duties of the Aspiring Educator Advisory Committee

1. The Chairperson of the Aspiring Educator Advisory Committee shall serve as the Aspiring Educator member on the MNEA Board of Directors.
2. The Chairperson shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the Committee to meet the committee charges established by the President.
3. The Chairperson shall schedule committee meetings, with the assistance of the President, so that necessary timelines can be met.
4. The Chairperson shall work with MNEA staff and leadership to design, present, and coordinate activities to assist the Aspiring Educator program throughout the state.

The Aspiring Educator Advisory Committee will operate per the guidelines of the MNEA and the Aspiring Educator Constitution and Bylaws.

Chair: Faron Haase
Vice Chair: Janeii Jackson
MNEA Vice President: Rebeka McIntosh

• Assist locals in developing effective public relations committees and activities.
• Recommend organizing strategies, materials, and opportunities for locals to increase and maintain market share and engage members in MNEA activities.
• Advance local member capacity, involvement, and recruitment through membership materials and communications best practices.

Chair: Gabriel Livingston
Staff Liaisons: Mark Jones and Rishanda Richardson

 

• Introduce, present, interpret, and recommend amendments to MNEA governing documents.
• Assist locals with governing documents and best practices.

MNEA Vice President: Rebeka McIntosh
MNEA Executive Director: Patrick Layden 
Chair: Monica Miller
Board Liaison: Tammy McGrellis
Staff Liaison: Daniel Bryar

• Verify, register, and support RA delegates.
• Conduct and certify RA elections reflecting MNEA principles.

Chair: Donna Rudroff
Co-Chair: Jessica Crawford
Board Liaison: Carrie Begemann
Staff Liaison: Lauren Vinson

• Recommend organizing strategies, materials, and opportunities for locals to increase and maintain member engagement in MNEA political activities and activism.
• Assist with Leadership Development and Political Advocacy trainings.
• Build relationships with government agencies and officials, fostering regular communication.

• Recommend membership strategies for local recruitment and retention.
• Recommend organizing strategies, materials, and opportunities for locals to increase and maintain market share and engage members in MNEA activities.
• Develop membership recognition and incentive programs.
• Review programs, products, and services available to members.  
• Offer recommendations on strategies to enhance member awareness of MNEA benefits.
• Assist locals with best practices for local recruitment and retention.
• Assist with Organizing and Leadership Development trainings.

• Design and coordinate programs to address current instructional and professional development issues.
• Engage and inform members of the actions of the State Board of Education, DESE, and state advisory councils.
• Promote participation in MNEA’s NBCT, Beginning Teacher Assistance programs.
• Develop member engagement around all aspects of professional development and educator recruitment and retention.
• Assist with Leadership Development and Professional Development trainings.

Chair: Ashley Colgin
Board Liaison: Tresina Alvested
Staff Liaison: Samantha Hayes

• Ensure the Resolutions accurately reflect the Association's position and priorities on issues of public education and public sector unions.
• Review/revise MNEA Resolutions to ensure relevance and reflect current terminology, research, and best practices.

Chair: Christina Melly 
Co-Chair: Lindsey Weatherby
Staff Liaison: Otto Fajen

The Human Rights Council is dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights within the Association and public schools. The HRC will provide education and training to members of MNEA on human rights issues and work to create a culture of respect and inclusion within the Association. To effectively address specific constituencies and the Association activities that impact them, the HRC will be organized into committees with target charges.

The Human Rights Council will consist of the following committees:
● Ethnic Minority Advisory Committee (EMAC)
● Special Education and Mental Health (SEAM) Committee
● Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee (SOGI
● Women’s Issues Committee (WIC)
 

The Human Rights Council shall consist of the Association's executive officers, executive director, and the chairs of the EMAC, SEAM, SOGI, and WIC committees. 

Chair: JoWanda Bozeman

EMAC membership includes representation of Native People, Asian, Black, Latin(o/a/x), Middle Eastern and North African, Multiracial, and Pacific Islander MNEA members. EMAC supports greater racial equity, inclusion, and ethnic minority involvement:

• Provide input into programs and services that increase ethnic-minority membership and participation.
• Recognize local association efforts to involve Native People and People of Color members.
• Support the leadership development of MNEA members of color.
• Recommend and assist with Association trainings focused on ethnic-minority issues. 
• Assist with Leadership Development and Professional Development trainings.

Chair: Joaguin Cuni-Carreno
Co-Chair: Denae Bush
Staff Liaison: Kelli Ward

The SOGI Committee works to raise awareness of issues relevant to students and members of the LGBTQ+ community: 

• Curate resources, training, and best practices available to members, focusing on fostering a culture of respect and appreciation for diverse gender identities and expressions.
• Support the leadership development of MNEA LGBTQ+ members.
• Share best practices for educators as allies to students and members of the LGBTQ+ community.  
• Recommend and assist with Association trainings focused on LGBTQ+ issues.  
• Assist with Leadership Development and Professional Development trainings.

Chair: Francine Hill
Co-Chair: Trevor Kilpatrick

The Special Education and Mental Health Committee supports creating safe, inclusive, and fair public schools and workplaces for all students and members: 

• Curate resources, training, and best practices available to members regarding special education and mental health that promote academic success, safety, and social and emotional wellness for students and educators in public schools.
• Recommend and assist with Association trainings focused on special education and mental health issues.
• Advocate for developmentally appropriate special education and mental health inclusive curricula.
• Advocate for the fair administration of student discipline policies that treat all students with dignity and respect.
• Assist with Leadership Development and Professional Development trainings.

Chair: Christopher Renner 
Board Liaison: Beth Ann Roland
Staff Liaison: Rebecca Portwood

The Women’s Issues Committee promotes gender equity in public education:

• Curate resources, training, and best practices available to members that address the unique challenges faced by female students and educators.
• Share resources, training, and best practices available to members, focusing on strategies to close gender gaps in academic achievement, enrollment in STEM fields, and leadership positions.
• Recommending and assisting with Association trainings focused on women’s issues. 
• Support the leadership development of women MNEA members.
• Assist with Leadership Development and Professional Development trainings.

Chair: Joyce Bluett
Co-Chair: Moira McCracken
Board Liaison: Jamie Buchner
Staff Liaison: Kelli Dornfeld

This committee consists of two members elected by the Board of Directors, and two members elected by the Representative Assembly. Members elected by the Board of Directors serve one-year terms, and members elected by the RA serve two-year terms. The vice president is the chair of this committee. This committee recommends, prior to the April Session of the Representative Assembly, the annual program budget for review by the Board of Directors and adoption by the Representative Assembly.

MNEA Vice President/Chair: Rebeka McIntosh
Staff Liaisons: Dr. Patrick Layden and Karen Struemph
Board Liaisons: Jenny Smith and Tresina Alvested
Elected Reps: Noelle Gilzow, 1-year term, and Paul Coffman, 2-year term

MNEA's Political Action Committee reviews recommendations of local screening committees for state and federal elections and votes on endorsement recommendations. Endorsement of candidates for federal races must also be approved by the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education. Two members are elected from each Governance District by that district’s delegates to the MNEA Representative Assembly. Members serve for staggered, four-year terms.

President: Phillip Murray
Vice President: Rebeka McIntosh
NEA Directors: Andy Slaughter and DeNaé Bush
Staff Liaison: Dr. Patrick Layden, Otto Fajen, Elizabeth Zerr
Committee Members:
Gov. Dist. 1 - Jenny Weindel, Josh Freeman
Gov. Dist. 2 - Brandon Moore, David Swantner
Gov. Dist. 3 - Regina Newport, Jonathan Holz
Gov. Dist. 4 - Tyler Janke, Kate Kraybill
Gov. Dist. 5 - Amanda Bearden, Kevin Bland
Gov. Dist. 6 - Monica Miller, Jill Villasana
Gov. Dist. 7 - Adam Vishy, Terrance Howell
Gov. Dist. 8 - Jennifer Wofford (ESP), Heather McCord
Gov. Dist. 9 - Lindsey Weatherby, Irvin Chuck Howard
Gov. Dist. 10 - Anyisa Evans, Anita Kuehner
Gov. Dist. 11 - Matt Agee, Rachel Johnson
MNEA-Higher Education - Vacancy
MNEA-ESP - Vacancy
MNEA-Retired - Greg Meyer, Nancy Copenhaver
MNEA Aspiring Educators - Max Hull
Minority-at-Large - Vacancy and Carmen Hill