Regions 5 & 7
The Minnesota Centers of Excellence for Young Children with Disabilities is the statewide professional development system for early childhood special education (ECSE). Professional Development Facilitators (PDF) in each of the state's eight economic development regions work to connect, support and empower local leaders to build capacity. Through these joint efforts, young children and their families are accessing and benefiting from high-quality programs and services throughout the state.
In some instances, the boundaries of educational districts do not align with the eight economic development regions' boundaries. In instances when a cooperative or district's boundaries are found in more than one region, the district's PDF and service region are assigned based upon the county in which a program's leader is housed.
Counties: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena, Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, and Mille Lacs
Jodi Altringer
jodi.altringer@sourcewell-mn.gov
Jodi Altringer is an Early Childhood Special Education Professional Development Facilitator for Region 7. From 1994-2015, Jodi was an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in the Buffalo, Hanover, Montrose Public Schools. During the 2015-2016 school year, Jodi was an instructional coach in the Buffalo Hanover Montrose Public Schools. While in this role, Jodi earned her Cognitive Coaching certification and gained valuable experience in coaching and providing support to professional learning communities.
Jodi has an undergraduate degree in Special Education from St. Cloud State University. She has a Master of Science degree in Child and Family Studies from St. Cloud State University and obtained a Teaching and Technology certificate from Hamline University. Jodi lives in the Howard Lake area with her husband.
Michelle Steele
michelle.steele@sourcewell-mn.gov
Michelle Steele is an Early Childhood Special Education Professional Development Facilitator for Region 5. From 1993-2009, Michelle was an ECSE teacher in Southwest Minnesota. During these years, Michelle provided services to children and families in Birth - 2, center based preschool classrooms, inclusive preschool classrooms and Kindergarten. From 2009 - 2019, Michelle was the Coordinator of ECSE Services and an Instructional Coach for Alexandria Public Schools. During 2012 – 2017, Michelle worked as an ECSE Data trainer for SpEd Forms, Inc.
Michelle has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education from Minnesota State University, Moorhead. She has a Master of Education degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in the Cross Disciplinary Study of Young Children and Families and a Special Education Director's license from Minnesota State University, Moorhead.
Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, scrapbooking/photography and Minnesota seasons. Michelle lives in Alexandria with her husband, son, daughter, and pets (dogs and fish).
