Enhancing driver ed in Minnesota

Winter Workshop

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
5 - 8 PM

Join driver educators, driving schools, and leaders in driver education at our winter workshop. This year's topic is a roundtable of issues and concerns. A DPS examiner will present.

Registration 5:30 PM and Meal at 6 PM.
Speaker/Program to follow the meal.

$25 per person includes dinner

Choose the location nearest you:

  • Marshall: Pizza Ranch, 1420 Boyer Dr
  • Willmar: Pizza Ranch, 1612 Lakeland Dr SE
  • Perham: Pizza Ranch, 720 3rd Ave SE
  • Duluth: Pizza Ranch, 1600 Miller Hwy
  • St Cloud: Pizza Ranch, 110 2nd St S
  • Maplewood: Crooked Pint, 1734 Adolphus St
  • Lakeville: Perkin's Restaurant, 17387 Kenyon Ave
  • Matorville: Hidden Pines, 25202 615th St
  • Mankato: Pizza Ranch, 1551 Tullamore St
  • Thief River Falls: The Hive, 1582 US-59
Register for the Workshop

Annual Conference

Friday, April 4 & Saturday, April 5, 2025

Join driver educators, driving schools, and leaders in driver education at our annual conference in Spicer. Learn about new products, services, and organizations dedicated to keeping our nation's drivers safe.

Friday: 9 AM to 5 PM, Banquet at 6 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM to Noon

$130 for both days, $110 for Friday only, or $90 for Saturday only

Little Crow Resort & Conference Center by Wyndham
15980 MN-23
Spicer, MN 56288
View hotel website.

We have negotiated a discounted room rate at at the Little Crow Resort where the entirety of the conference will take place. Please call 320-347-1450 to reserve your room. An online reservation link will be posted after the first of the year.

Register for the Conference
Conference Speakers

Speakers

We are looking for dynamic speakers to give us interesting information or tools to enhance driver education programs. We appreciate those who volunteer to speak without charge at our events, helping keep registration fees low for our members.

Contact us today
Conference Sponsors

Sponsors

Without our sponsors we would have a hard time putting on our annual conference. Sponsorship opportunities are available as another way to support improving traffic safety education in Minnesota. Gain great exposure for your business; sponsor the conference today!

Contact us today
Conference Exhibitors

Exhibitors

The exhibit hall will be opened for entire time during the conference. As an exhibitor, you get a booth space, exhibitor badges, and an attendee list.

Register to be an exhibitor

About & Resources

Minnesota Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (MDTSEA) promotes and enhances traffic safety education in both for-profit driving schools and non-profit organizations.

MDTSEA is the professional organization of driver educators in Minnesota. Its purpose is to assist driver educators in their professional development and support improvements in curriculum and instruction for teaching people to drive safely and effiencetly. Each year, it offers its members regional workshops and a spring conference. MDTSEA strives to improve traffic safety and education by lobbying the state agencies and the state legislature for public policy that enhances not detracts from the quality of traffic safety programing. MDTSEA keeps its members informed of organizational activities, traffic safety news, Minnesota's traffic laws and regulations, and other pertinent information.


Minnesota Resources

National Resources

Matt Barry Award of Excellence

Each year the MDTSEA presents the Matt Barry Award of Excellence for outstanding contribution to traffic safety education. Frank Thissen wrote this explanation of who Matt Barry was.

"Matt Barry was an educator and business person in Minnesota. I first met Mr. Barry in the autumn of 1945 when he accepted the position of principal of Blooming Prairie (MN) High School I was in the junior year of high school and fortunately for me and my algebra classmates, Mr. Barry, in addition to serving as our principal, also taught one hour of advanced mathematics each day. I was in his class. He was a very good mathematics teacher in addition to being a fine principal.

After a few years Mr. Barry left Blooming Prairie and entered the theater business in Winona, MN. Subsequently he moved to Pipestone, MN and entered the education field again. Among other professional duties and responsibilities in education, he became a driver education teacher too.

In 1969, I had another productive educational experience with Mr. Barry. Several driver education teachers and I enrolled in a driver education visual-perception workshop at Winona State University. Mr. Barry was the professor of this very valuable driver education learning experience.

Mr. Barry continued his work in driver education and was an active MDTSEA member for many years. The “Matt Barry Award of Excellence” is an example of his heritage. Mr. Barry is remembered for his many contributions to our important field of driver education!"

Frank Thissen 1930-2014: Frank dedicated over 30 years to the St. Paul Public Schools as teacher, counselor, and administrator of community education, drivers' education, and programs for adults with special needs.

The following is the listing of award recipients:

  • 2024: Debra Joseph
  • 2023: Jennifer Sletten
  • 2020: Bob Cole
  • 2019: Curt Quiner
  • 2018: Ray Kroll
  • 2017: Phillip Toconita
  • 2016: Don Hoechst
  • 2015: Carol Olson
  • 2014: Bea Kehr
  • 2013: Brad Isberner
  • 2012: Pat Irsfeld
  • 2011: Cheri Salzer
  • 2010: Terry Suneson
  • 2009: Larry Fossness
  • 2008: John Bothum & Shirly Suneson
  • 2007: Tom Margo
  • 2006: Jerry Anderson
  • 2005: Mark Lee
  • 2004: Harold Olsen
  • 2003: Joe Meyerring
  • 2002: Joe Christensen
  • 2001: Warren DeMuth
  • 2000: Dave Stodolka
  • 1999: Carl Buraglio
  • 1998: Marv Keogh and Dennis Caughey
  • 1997: Mike Meyers
  • 1996: Frank Thissen and Lloyd Belford
  • 1995: Duane Mettler
  • 1994: Fred Schreiber
  • 1993: John Palmer
  • 1992: Marty Rossini
  • 1991: Joe Shields
  • 1990: Corinne Schommer
  • 1989: Howard Mathias
  • 1988: Bob Provost

Teacher of the Year Award

The Teacher of the Year Award recognizes excellence in driver education teachers who are dedicated to traffic safety, innovative teaching, and commitment to producing skilled, responsible drivers. The following is the listing of award recipients:

* Denotes ADTSEA Teach of Year Award Recipient

  • 2024: Duane Kjono
  • 2023: Mary Rostedt
  • 2022: Jennifer Sletten *
  • 2019: Ray Kroll *
  • 2018: Andrew Unseth *
  • 2017: Jan Jensen-Skoviera
  • 2016: Carol Olson
  • 2015: Bea Kehr
  • 2014: Charles Benda
  • 2013: Bob Cole
  • 2012: Don Porath
  • 2011: Pat Irsfeld
  • 2010: Fred Schreiber *
  • 2009: Larry Fossness & Clyde Doepner
  • 2008: Dave Barnum *
  • 2007: Joe Christensen *
  • 2006: Mark Lee *
  • 2005: Terry Suneson
  • 2004: Shirly Suneson
  • 2003: Martie Rossini
  • 2002: Martie Rossini
  • 2001: Dewey Mettler *

Partners

Board of Directors

Debra Joseph

Debra Joseph

President

John Palmer

John Palmer

Treasurer

Janice Jensen-Skoviera

Janice Jensen-Skoviera

Secretary

Jennifer Sletten

Jennifer Sletten

Past President

Pete Hosmer

Pete Hosmer

President Elect

Charles Benda

Charles Benda

District 1 Director

Greg Davis

Greg Davis

District 2 Director

Curt Quiner

Curt Quiner

District 3 Director

Jesse McCann

Jesse McCann

District 4 Director

Ray Kroll

Ray Kroll

District 5 Director

OPEN

OPEN

District 6 Director

Chad Owens

Chad Owens

District 7 Director

Brian Rosenberg

Brian Rosenberg

District 8 Director

Joseph Christensen

Joseph Christensen

At-Large

Pat Irsfeld

Pat Irsfeld

At-Large

Guy LeBlanc

Guy LeBlanc

At-Large

Mark Lee

Mark Lee

At-Large