MinneTESOL June 2026 Newsletter

Letter from the President

Dear MinneTESOL members,

2026 has been one of the most difficult years of our professional lives. Yet, only four months have passed. Between the trauma of Operation Metro Surge, ongoing elevated immigration enforcement, global conflict, and looming budgetary cuts, our field does not appear in line for any sort of relief.

However, I have hope. I am inspired by the numbers of our communities’ members volunteering as legal observers, mutual aid distributors, fundraisers, and advocates. I know many of you have been showing up for your communities, and it makes me so proud to be part of such a caring and dedicated organization of educators. Together, we can accomplish great things. 

2026 is an important year for MinneTESOL as we celebrate our 50th anniversary as an organization. Our annual conference will rebrand to its previously used name, The MinneTESOL Conference. Though our conference will once again be named after our organization, I want to stress that our organization is more than an annual conference. That’s where you come in. 

My primary goal as MinneTESOL President is to build the organization’s capacity and ensure we are meeting the needs of all of our members. To achieve this goal, I have a couple of actionable items. First, we must fill our executive board. We are currently in need of a Treasurer and six Regional Officers (Northwest, Northeast, Metro, Southwest, South Central, Southeast). We also need one or two Adult Interest Section Leaders. With our board filled, and all regions of Minnesota represented, we can start holding smaller scale events across the state to reach MinneTESOL members who may not be able to attend the annual conference. If a leadership position is not right for you, I encourage you to get involved with our Interest Sections and Standing Committees. Throughout the year, we hold various gatherings to bring together like-minded members for professional development and networking opportunities. I would love to see more of you there! If you’re interested in any of the positions mentioned above, or have any suggestions for how the organization can better serve you, please contact me at president@minnetesol.org. 

Thank you all for being members of MinneTESOL and everything you do supporting the multilingual learners of Minnesota. I hope you all can join us to celebrate MinneTESOL’s 50th anniversary, so please start those discussions early with your schools, districts, or administrators.

Take care, stay safe.

Nick Reishus
President, MinneTESOL 2026