Minnesota Educators Gathered for Annual Conference
Teachers converged at the St. Paul RiverCentre this week for professional development and state relicensing sessions.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Should school districts limit the number of non-instructional days during the academic year?
Minnesota educators attended the annual Minnesota Educators Academy conference this week, focusing on professional development and relicensing. The event, held at the St. Paul RiverCentre, provides thousands of teachers with specialized coursework.
Why it matters
The conference offers essential time for teachers to complete relicensing requirements and participate in professional development. Many school districts across the state align the conference schedule with a student break, allowing families to travel.
Education Minnesota hosts the conference for its 80,000 members, with 659 educators attending in person at the St. Paul RiverCentre in 2025. Minnesota state statute requires a minimum of 160 days of instruction for students annually.
The players
Education Minnesota
This organization serves as the primary union and professional representative for teachers across the state.
The details
Conference sessions this year featured topics including AI in the classroom, teacher burnout, and grief support. While hundreds attended in person, thousands of educators opted to participate in courses through online platforms during the school break.
Timeline
The conference has been held annually since the 1800s.
In-person attendance reached 669 people in 2023.
In 2024, the conference saw 621 in-person attendees.
In 2025, in-person attendance was 659 people.
The 2026 annual conference took place during the third week of October.
Culture Shift
The timing of the educators' conference follows the pattern set by the Minnesota state statute requiring 160 days of instruction. This structure dictates the academic calendar and creates the concurrent fall break period used by families across the state.
Families across Minnesota may notice increased crowds at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which expects roughly 50,000 passengers during this school break. Residents should plan for potential travel delays as passenger volume is expected to rise above the typical fall average.
The takeaway
The fall educator break provides a consistent window for professional growth and family travel throughout the state. Teachers can utilize this time to balance their relicensing goals with the needs of the school calendar.
Further reading
For more information on state academic requirements, visit the Secondary Education page.
Live Poll
Should school districts limit the number of non-instructional days during the academic year?
