November 16-18, 2025 • Cragun’s Resort, Brainerd, MN
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL
Proposals due June 18, 2025
The Greater Education Summit is Minnesota’s only rural education conference, bringing together a diverse community of K-12 administrators, teachers, school board members and supporters for active engagement and learning. MREA is seeking workshop and breakout session proposals to share best practices, solutions, and research on innovative education and student learning in Greater Minnesota and rural areas.
Check out last year’s Summit details for inspiration & information.
Proposals should help maximize K-12 educator and school board learning and knowledge, focused on developing and sharing narratives from a position of rural strength and vitality. Submissions are encouraged in all contexts and focus areas at all experience levels.
Session Guidelines
Sessions will generally host from 25 to 70 participants each, depending on room size. Sessions and workshops are offered in shorter and longer durations over two days:
- 60-minute Breakout Sessions Monday and Tuesday morning sessions should provide an overview into a specific innovative or promising practice or research.
- 75-minute Workshops Monday afternoon sessions should provide more depth into innovative or promising practices or research. This format is best for an in-depth and interactive learning experience to a panel discussion, to an informal conversation where audience participation is the main component.
Timely, Relevant Rural Education Topics
MREA members and other education service professionals are encouraged to review proposal criteria and submit workshop ideas for sharing best practices, solutions, and research on rural learning, vitality, and communities. Below are 10 trending education ideas to spur some ideas for a breakout session proposal.
Technology & Innovations
- Technology design, access and use for rural education and workforces
- Critical cybersecurity insights for K-12 educational networks and data
- 21st-Century building design and learning environments to enhance student learning
- Artificial Intelligence – using, managing and monitoring
Internal Culture, Staff & Student Well-Being
- Attracting, supporting, and retaining educators and district leaders
- Avoiding educator & leader Burnout
- Positive school climate that engages rural families and supports educators
- Social media and adolescent mental health
School Financing, District Operations, Legislative Finance
- Creating understanding around instructional practices and curriculum
- Learning experiences that build age-appropriate digital literacy
- Successfully implementing new legislative policies impacting education
- Innovative ideas to improve district financial health
Proposal Development
Preference will be given to proposals with at least one Greater Minnesota educator as co-presenter. Sessions may be accepted on the condition that a rural school representative will be co-presenter.
Proposals must include:
- Compelling Title with FIVE words maximum. MREA reserves the right to edit titles.
- Session Description clearly identifying:
- Topic being addressed
- Target audience among school administrators, teachers, and school board members
- Two learning outcomes
- Engagement activities
- Participant resources
- Contact Information for presenter and co-presenter.
- Names and organizations must appear as you would like them listed in event promotions.
- Recent Groups to whom and when this presentation was delivered
Proposal Submission
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to submit your proposal and join over 500 rural education leaders from across Greater Minnesota at the Summit. Attendees will gather to listen, learn, and share insights. Proposals must be submitted by midnight on June 18.
Submit Your Proposal
Registration & Expenses
- Summit registration is required after your proposal has been accepted. Details will be emailed.
- Up to two (2) presenters per breakout session/workshop will receive free and/or discounted registration.
- Additional presenters and panelists beyond 2 must be approved by MREA and will pay the full conference registration cost.
- Presenters attending Monday only have free admission until 3 pm.
- Travel and lodging coordination and expenses are not provided.
Important Dates
May 16: Call for Proposals Opens
June 18: Deadline to Submit Proposals
July 1: Presenter Notification Begins
Late July: Summit Registration and Lodging Reservations Open
Questions?
Email info@mreavoice.org with questions.
