Collaborative Office Hours
2025-06-17 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Invenshure, 1015 Glenwood Ave, Fourth Floor, Minneapolis, MN, 55405, United States
**Please let us know you are coming by registering for a free ticket below.**
What is “Collaborative Office Hours”?
Office Hours offer dedicated, uninterrupted time for school leaders to focus on the projects and initiatives that matter most to YOU. Whether you’re looking to strategize, create, or get inspired, this is an ideal setting to connect with other leaders and the i2i team for feedback and fresh ideas.
What should I bring with to work on?
Some ideas of projects you could bring with you are strategic planning, program development, PD prep, community engagement initiatives, complex challenges you want to problem-solve, event planning…the time is yours!
Who will be there?
Edleaders who have been at past Collaborative events, Collaborative Mastermind members, the Collaborative Team, and anyone else you want to extend the invitation to.
Is there a cost?
No! Collaborative Office Hours is a free opportunity to take a break from your campus and spend the afternoon in downtown Minneapolis!

EdLeader Collaborative
2025-08-07 08:30 - 13:00 | Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN, 55435, United States
August 7 EdLeader Collaborative Event
Join fellow Christian school leaders for connection, learning, and inspiration this August.
This Year’s Theme:#PowerofTogether: United in Purpose, Strengthened by Community
This year, we’re focusing on how collaboration can unite and empower Christian school leaders. Through vision-casting, peer learning, and practical takeaways, you’ll leave equipped to lead with clarity and purpose.
View the Agenda
Featured Keynote
We’re welcoming back Trey Boden, founder of Roar and former Chief Brand Officer of The Mount Vernon School in Atlanta, GA. In his session, “Songs and Stories: How Uniqueness Shapes Your School’s Story”, Trey will share tools for discovering and communicating your school’s uniqueness with authenticity and clarity. He will also tell stories about his experience as a school marketer. And… he might be bringing his guitar along as well!
What is The Collaborative?The Collaborative is a half-day event designed for Christian educators in Minnesota to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful collaboration. This gathering brings together school leaders who share a commitment to faith-based education, offering a space for networking, professional development, and discussions on the most pressing topics in Christian education.

Voices that Protect: Building Trust Through Reporting
2025-10-01 12:00 - 12:30 | MN
**This is a free virtual event for the entire Collaborative Community**
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 | 12:00–12:30 PM CT | Virtual via Zoom
This 30-minute Lunch & Learn with Mike Olson from 360 Security Services offers school leaders essential strategies for creating a culture where students and staff feel safe to speak up.
Why This Matters In nearly 75% of school attacks, someone had advance knowledge but chose not to report it. This session will help you build trust, encourage early intervention, and support well-being across your community.
What You’ll Gain Aligned with U.S. Secret Service and National Threat Assessment Center best practices, the session equips you to:

Enable anonymous, confidential reporting
Build stakeholder confidence to speak up
Create responsive systems that protect and serve

Bonus Opportunity 360 Security Services is offering a complimentary 1-hour consultation to explore reporting program options for your school. Details will be provided at the virtual event.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81328082442

EdLeader Collaborative
2025-11-06 08:30 - 13:00 | Acre, 1601 Utica Ave S, St Louis Park, MN, 55416, United States
VIEW THE AGENDA
Cost: $70Location: Acre, 1601 Utica Ave. S., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
This Year’s Theme:
#PowerofTogether: United in Purpose, Strengthened by Community
Join us at our next Collaborative event, uniting EdLeaders across the Midwest. We’ll be hearing from Jay Bennett and Shelly Van Epps with the National Christian Foundation on partnering with Collaborative Schools to harvest financial resources, and from Laurel Hardgrove with Generis on best practices for capital campaigns and year-end development.
What is The Collaborative?The Collaborative is a half-day event designed for Christian educators in Minnesota to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful collaboration. This gathering brings together school leaders who share a commitment to faith-based education, offering a space for networking, professional development, and discussions on the most pressing topics in Christian education.
What to Expect:

Networking & Connection – Meet and engage with other Christian education leaders who share your mission and challenges.
Interactive Workshops & Presentations – Gain practical insights and strategies from experts in education, leadership, and spiritual development.
Keynote Speakers – Learn from thought leaders who will share wisdom on faith-centered leadership and education.
Earn CEUs – Attendees will receive CEUs to support their professional growth.

Why Attend?Christian school leadership is a calling, but it doesn’t have to be a journey taken alone. The Collaborative provides an opportunity to grow, reflect, and build lasting connections with peers. Leave equipped with new ideas, strengthened by shared experiences, and encouraged to lead your school with clarity and confidence.
We will cover the topic of Fundraising and Capital Campaigns at this event, led by our friends and colleagues at National Christian Foundation Twin Cities and Generis.
We hope to see you there!

January Collaborative Office Hours
2026-01-09 12:00 - 15:00 | Invenshure, 1015 Glenwood Ave, Fourth Floor, Minneapolis, MN, 55405, United States
**Please let us know you are coming by registering for a free ticket above.**
Bonus: Bring a friend! For every colleague you bring who is new to The Collaborative, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a helicopter ride for two! The winner will be drawn at the end of the February 26 EdLeader Event!
What is “Collaborative Office Hours”?
Office Hours offer dedicated, uninterrupted time for school leaders like you to focus on the projects and initiatives that matter most. Whether you’re looking to strategize, create, or get inspired, this is an ideal setting to connect with other leaders and The Collaborative team for feedback and fresh ideas.
What should I bring with to work on?
Some ideas of projects you could bring with you are strategic planning, program development, PD prep, community engagement initiatives, complex challenges you want to problem-solve, event planning…the time is yours!
Who will be there?
EdLeaders who have been at past Collaborative events, Collaborative Mastermind members, the Collaborative Team, and anyone else you want to extend the invitation to.
Is there a cost?
No! Collaborative Office Hours is a free opportunity to take a break from your campus and spend the afternoon in downtown Minneapolis!

Lunch & Learn: Creating Efficient Admissions Systems & Time for Personalization Using Data + AI
2026-01-28 12:00 - 12:30 | MN
Virtual Admissions Lunch & Learn
Featuring: Kirsten Beard, Chief Admissions Officer, The Mount Vernon SchoolHosted by: The CollaborativeDate: Wednesday, January 28, 2026Time: 12:00–12:30 PMLocation: via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/97026418465)
Admissions teams are busier than ever balancing data management, communication, and relationship building. In this session, Kirsten Beard will share how The Mount Vernon School efficiently manages over 1,400 inquiries and 500 applications annually—while still maintaining personal connections that convert prospects into their 200 new enrolled students. Learn how their strategic use of data and AI tools creates systems that free up time for what matters most: authentic family engagement. You’ll leave with practical insights for using analytics, automation, and personalized messaging to strengthen your funnel and streamline your workflows.

February 26 - EdLeader Collaborative
2026-02-26 08:30 - 13:00 | Continua, 9800 8th Ave N, Plymouth, MN, 55441
VIEW THE AGENDA
Cost: $70Location: Continua, 9800 8th Ave N, Plymouth, MN 55441
This Year’s Theme:
#PowerofTogether: United in Purpose, Strengthened by Community
Gathering is one of the most common experiences in every school, yet its influence on learning is often overlooked. Join us at our next Collaborative event where we’ll be hearing from Jill Ackers, Director of Education with VS America on creating spaces that enhance learning environments. This session explores how the ways people come together in a space can strengthen engagement, connection, and the overall feel of a campus down to the classroom. When environments support movement, communication, and belonging, students and educators experience an ease and sense of joy that elevates daily learning.
Participants will reflect on how space shapes culture, how simple spatial decisions can enhance teaching practices, and how campuses can become places that feel alive with purpose. The session opens a fresh way of thinking about environments as part of the instructional story and invites deeper curiosity about what becomes possible when gathering is designed with intention.
Bring a friend! For every colleague you bring who is new to The Collaborative, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a helicopter ride for two! The winner will be drawn at the end of this event!
A HUGE thank you to our sponsors ATSR and Continua Interiors.

What is The Collaborative?The Collaborative is a half-day event designed for Christian educators in Minnesota to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful collaboration. This gathering brings together school leaders who share a commitment to faith-based education, offering a space for networking, professional development, and discussions on the most pressing topics in Christian education.
What to Expect:

Networking & Connection – Meet and engage with other Christian education leaders who share your mission and challenges.
Interactive Workshops & Presentations – Gain practical insights and strategies from experts in education, leadership, and spiritual development.
Keynote Speakers – Learn from thought leaders who will share wisdom on faith-centered leadership and education.
Earn CEUs – Attendees will receive CEUs to support their professional growth.

Why Attend?Christian school leadership is a calling, but it doesn’t have to be a journey taken alone. The Collaborative provides an opportunity to grow, reflect, and build lasting connections with peers. Leave equipped with new ideas, strengthened by shared experiences, and encouraged to lead your school with clarity and confidence.
We hope to see you there!

Lunch & Learn: The Value of Christian Higher Education
2026-04-15 12:00 - 12:30 | https://zoom.us/j/94057062114?pwd=[REDACTED]
Virtual Lunch & Learn
Featuring: Janet Pargeter, Director of K-12 Development, NACCAPHosted by: The CollaborativeDate: Wednesday, April 15, 2026Time: 12:00–12:30 PMLocation: via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/94057062114?pwd=[REDACTED]
As Christian school educators and leaders, we are shaping both spiritual formation and vocational discernment. In a culture focused on rankings and ROI, how do we clearly and honestly articulate the distinct value of Christian higher education?

This virtual session will highlight the heart of Christian higher education and explore how we can thoughtfully, honestly, and consistently share its value with students and families.

Be sure to share this with your guidance counselors, college advisors, admissions teams, and division leaders involved in post-secondary planning.

Lunch & Learn: Supporting Teachers to Strengthen Classroom Management
2026-06-17 12:00 - 13:00 | https://zoom.us/j/94009314244
Virtual Lunch & Learn
Featuring: Jessica Werner, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Northshore LearningHosted by: The CollaborativeDate: Wednesday, June 17, 2026Time: 12:00–1 PM CSTLocation: via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/94009314244)
Classroom management is one of the most common pressure points for teachers and one of the most consistent challenges administrators face when supporting their staff. This Lunch and Learn gives school leaders a neuroscience-informed framework for understanding student behavior and practical tools for coaching teachers toward proactive, consistent practices. Walk away ready to strengthen classroom climate and reduce reactive discipline across your building.
Dr. Jessica Werner is the founder and CEO of Northshore Learning and has worked with schools worldwide as an instructor, professor, and consultant. Her work focuses on behavior support, student regulation, social-emotional learning, and educator wellbeing. She is passionate about equipping administrators and teachers to build classrooms where all students can thrive.

August 6 - EdLeader Collaborative
2026-08-06 08:30 - 13:00 | Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN, 55435, United States
What if the most memorable thing about your school wasn’t its programs, but how people experience your community?
In this keynote, Jim McKenzie explores why hospitality matters in Christian schools, how Jesus modeled a radically different kind of welcome, and what it looks like to reflect that same heart in everyday school life. Through a clear and practical framework, you’ll learn how to elevate ordinary interactions into meaningful, memorable moments.
You’ll walk away with a renewed vision for hospitality’s role in shaping culture and simple, actionable ways to create experiences that truly embody your school’s mission and vision.

Cost: $70Location: Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN 55435
View the agenda
What is The Collaborative? The Collaborative is a half-day event designed for Christian educators to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful collaboration. This gathering brings together school leaders who share a commitment to faith-based education, offering a space for networking, professional development, and discussions on the most pressing topics in Christian education.
What to Expect:

Networking & Connection – Meet and engage with other Christian education leaders who share your mission and challenges.
Interactive Workshops & Presentations – Gain practical insights and strategies from experts in education, leadership, and spiritual development.
Keynote Speakers – Learn from thought leaders who will share wisdom on faith-centered leadership and education.
Earn CEUs – Attendees will receive CEUs to support their professional growth.

Why Attend? Christian school leadership is a calling, but it doesn’t have to be a journey taken alone. The Collaborative provides an opportunity to grow, reflect, and build lasting connections with peers. Leave equipped with new ideas, strengthened by shared experiences, and encouraged to lead your school with clarity and confidence. We hope to see you there!

August 6 - General Ed Teacher Training (Member School Only)
2026-08-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN, 55435, United States
Cost: Free for all Collaborative Member Schools – Up to 10 teachers per member school may attend!Location: Christ Presbyterian Church Address: 6901 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN, 55435
Every classroom has students who learn differently. For many general education teachers, supporting those students well feels like one more thing on an already full plate, without clear tools or a shared framework to work from.
This two-hour professional development session, led by Dr. Jodi Wolkerstorfer, gives your teachers exactly that. Grounded in biblical truth and built around practical application, the session establishes a common language around learning differences, walks teachers through how to use classroom data to guide their instruction, and introduces evidence-based strategies they can put to work right away.
Teachers will leave with tangible tools and a clearer sense of how to come alongside the students in their classrooms who need a little more. Up to 10 teachers per member school may attend, and participants will earn 2 CEUs.

ABOUT DR. JODI
Dr. Jodi Wolkerstorfer serves as Academic Intervention Director at Legacy Christian Academy and is The Collaborative’s Special Education Readiness shared service provider. Through that shared service, she works directly with member schools to assess their special education capabilities and build a concrete path forward, from initial SWOT analysis through ongoing coaching and implementation support. She is also the creator of the Every Student Matters webinar series and the Welcoming Every Student ebook, two resources developed specifically to equip Christian school educators to serve all learners well.

November 12 - EdLeader Collaborative
2026-11-12 08:30 - 13:00 | MN
More information and specifics about this event are coming soon!
Cost: $70
Location: TBD
What is The Collaborative?
The Collaborative is a half-day event designed for Christian educators in Minnesota to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful collaboration. This gathering brings together school leaders who share a commitment to faith-based education, offering a space for networking, professional development, and discussions on the most pressing topics in Christian education.
What to Expect:

Networking & Connection – Meet and engage with other Christian education leaders who share your mission and challenges.
Interactive Workshops & Presentations – Gain practical insights and strategies from experts in education, leadership, and spiritual development.
Keynote Speakers – Learn from thought leaders who will share wisdom on faith-centered leadership and education.
Earn CEUs – Attendees will receive CEUs to support their professional growth.

Why Attend?
Christian school leadership is a calling, but it doesn’t have to be a journey taken alone. The Collaborative provides an opportunity to grow, reflect, and build lasting connections with peers. Leave equipped with new ideas, strengthened by shared experiences, and encouraged to lead your school with clarity and confidence.
We hope to see you there!
