October 15th, 2025
- Jessica Premo
- Oct 14
- 4 min read
Breaks and Beginnings
As we wrap up the first round of conferences and head into MEA weekend, I hope you’re able to take a moment to rest and recharge. Your hard work in launching a strong start to the school year hasn’t gone unnoticed. Thank you for all you do to support our students, staff, and school communities. It’s time to take a well-deserved break!
After the break, several of our union committees will begin their work, including the Meet & Confer committee. We’re still looking for representatives from Oak Point and Valley View to serve on Meet & Confer. If you’re interested, please reach out!
Together. Onward. Forward.
Josh Axtman
President, Eden Prairie Education Association
Union Dues Deductions Begin
Starting October 15 and continuing through the end of June, EPEA dues will be automatically deducted from your paycheck. These dues directly support our work advocating for fair contracts, fostering safe workplaces, and fighting for the professional respect every educator in Eden Prairie deserves.
We’re proud to note that our local dues have remained unchanged for the past eight years. During that time, we’ve increased our impact through careful budgeting, creative collaboration, and additional grant funding, ensuring that every dollar does more.
Relicensure Representatives
Each site has a designated Relicensure Representative to help members navigate the license renewal process. Their responsibilities include reviewing CEU activities, aligning clock hours, and recommending Tier 3 and Tier 4 license renewals in accordance with Minnesota Rules, Chapter 8710.
Representatives work with the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to certify eligibility and ensure accurate tracking of CEUs through site-based professional development systems. They also review and recommend state-level relicensure requirements and oversee the appeals process for CEU-related ineligibility decisions.
In January, site-specific protocols will be shared by your Relicensure Representative.
Here is the EPEA 2025–26 Relicensure Committee:
Dawn Head (Forest Hills) – Chair
Brent Bovitz (TASSEL, EPO, Cedar Ridge, Oak Point)
Lindsay Klaverkamp (CMS)
Maria Chepokas (Eagle Heights)
Liz Taylor (Eden Lake)
Karen Linscott (Community Education)
Kevin Koetke (EPHS)
Justin Kieffer (Prairie View)
Q-Comp
The district’s Q-Comp plan, which has been agreed to by our union, is a contractual right. This means the observation process is defined and protected.
The Danielson Framework serves as the foundation for all teacher evaluations.
Tenured teacher: Domains 1–3 are evaluated by a peer observer in the first two observations; Domain 4 is evaluated by an administrator.
Probationary teachers: All four domains are evaluated by the third observation.
Observers must communicate proficiency determinations directly. For tenured staff this is after the second observation, by the teacher observer. For probationary staff, this is: after the third observation, by the administrator.
Teachers may appeal an observation report and request an additional observation. Appeals must be submitted to the Director of Human Resources within 10 working days of the post-observation conference or the completion and submission of the observation form, whichever date shall happen later.
Guidance from Your Member Rights Advocate
If you are in need of support at an administration meeting, believe there is a contract violation, or have performance/conduct-related support request, please connect with Carla Thompson (Lead MRA)
cthompson@edenpr.org or 952-240-6577.
Member Benefits:
Built In Benefits With Membership
ESI PerksConnect - discounts to area activities and restaurants
NEA Discount Marketplace - discount tickets and travel programs
Teacher of the Year Nominations are Open!
Nominations for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year are open until November 1.
Eligible nominees must meet these criteria:
Teach in a public or nonpublic Pre-K through 12th-grade school or EFCE or Adult Basic Education program, working at least 50% of the time directly with students.
Hold a bachelor’s degree and a Minnesota teaching license
Have completed at least five full years of teaching by the nomination deadline.
Intend to teach in Minnesota during the 2026-27 school year.
Find out more about nominations, the selection process, eligibility, and past recipients – including the current Teacher of the Year, our own Linda Wallenberg – at: https://educationminnesota.org/news/awards-and-honors/teacher-of-the-year/
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On Tuesday, October 7, the school board had a joint meeting with the Eden Prairie City Council to review the City’s Quality of Life community survey results, the district’s own school-based survey results, and discuss demographic and housing trends in Eden Prairie.
On Monday, October 13, the school board held its regularly scheduled workshop meeting. There was a review of the board’s governance process policies, but most of the meeting was focused on the 2025-26 School Board Annual Work Plan. The work plan shows what work is expected of both board members and the superintendent for each meeting through the end of the school year.
October 16 MEA Conference, St. Paul RiverCentre
October 27 EPEA Rep Congress
November 1 MN Teacher of the Year nominations due
November 6 End of the 1st Quarter
"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." -Elizabeth Lawrence
In Solidarity,
Josh Axtman, EPEA President
Kristen Mantel, EPEA Vice President
Jessica Brent, EPEA Treasurer
Jessica Premo, EPEA Secretary