For trainers
Develop Approved Trainers support Minnesota’s early childhood professionals by offering professional development opportunities. Whether you are an aspiring trainer or an experienced trainer, TARSS is here to support you! We offer a variety of services, from one-on-one help to online courses.
Do you want to be a trainer? Start by checking out our free, on demand courses.
Are you a trainer who wants to deepen your practice? Take a course, sign up for observation and coaching, or join our informal Trainer Community Meetings.
Find it here
Trainer Start-up Fund
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) recognizes that becoming a Develop-Approved Trainer requires financial investments. To support professionals in this process, DCYF is piloting a Trainer Start-Up Fund Program.
The TARSS program at the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) will distribute the funds. Funding is available as a one-time opportunity for a limited period. The application window will be open from January 5 to February 6, 2026. Applications will be reviewed, and applicants will be notified by February 13, 2026.
All participants must agree to the program’s terms and conditions before funds are distributed.
Eligibility
Recipients must be Develop Approved Trainers or commit to becoming a Develop Approved Trainer by June 1, 2026.
Priority will be given to the following:
- Trainers who train in a language in addition to English
- Trainers who identify as part of a historically underrepresented population
- Trainers approved within the last 12 months
- People in the process of becoming a Develop Approved Trainer
- Trainers living outside of the Twin Cities Metro area
- Trainers who train for a tribal community
These priority groups have been set by DCYF.
Program agreements
Trainers awarded funds will agree to the following conditions:
- Complete the agreement to purchase materials as selected in the application.
- No additional funds will be given.
- DCYF and CEED are not responsible for missing, damaged, or lost materials.
- Approved Trainers agree to participate in a minimum of one trainer observation by June 20, 2026.
- Trainers not approved yet agree to become a Develop Approved Trainer by June 1, 2026.
Choice of funds
- Laptop - $400
- LCD Projector - $300
- Printer - $200
- Training Supplies - $100
You may select your desired materials, but the amount cannot exceed $600. If you select more than the maximum amount, TARSS will contact you to make a different selection.
If the purchased items exceed the amount on the gift card, you are responsible for the difference.
Application
- Applications will open January 5, 2026 - February 6, 2026
- Interested trainers will complete the application.
- TARSS staff will review the application and verify trainer status.
Notification
- Applicants will be notified by February 13.
- Accepted applicants will have one week to return an agreement and verify their email address.
- Funds will be distributed via an electronic gift card.
I want to be a trainer
For information about trainer approval requirements, see Achieve’s Resources for Develop’s Individual Membership and download the Individual Membership Companion Guide in your language of choice. Still have questions? We can help! Request more information.
First step to the Develop Trainer Membership
You must complete Minnesota Trainer Orientation 1 and 2 before submitting your Trainer Membership application. For more information on trainer approval requirements, see Achieve's Resources for Develop's Trainer Membership.
Minnesota Trainer Orientation 1 Minnesota Trainer Orientation 1
*REQUIRED FOR TRAINER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. Minnesota Trainer Orientation 1 will help you to identify the components of the Minnesota professional development system as it relates to training and trainers.
Minnesota Trainer Orientation 2 Minnesota Trainer Orientation 2
*REQUIRED FOR TRAINER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. Minnesota Trainer Orientation 2 will help you define the requirements of the trainer agreement and what it means to be an approved trainer in Minnesota.
Required for the Develop Trainer Membership
Training on adult learning is required for trainer approval in Minnesota. The Adult Learning courses help trainers meet this requirement. You must complete both Adult Learning courses to meet this requirement.
Adult Learning 1 Adult Learning 1
Implement adult learning strategies and explore ways to become an effective trainer.
Adult Learning 2 Adult Learning 2
Facilitate engaging and responsive training events with the activities and consent from this adult learning course.
- Questions about registration or need assistance? Email ceedregister@umn.edu. Responses may take up to two business days.
- To pay by check, email ceedregister@umn.edu.
- We are unable to process group registrations at this time. Please register each member of your group individually using a credit card.
- All online meetings are on Zoom.
- All online courses are on the Canvas platform.
- Develop is the online registry for early childhood professional development in Minnesota. After you complete a Develop-approved course, your attendance will be entered in Develop within three business days.
- We provide certificates for clock hours rather than continuing education units (CEUs) because our participants work in a variety of fields. Participants submit our certificates to the credentialing body relevant to their field, which determines the equivalent CEUs.
- To earn clock hours, you must attend the entire course.
- For multi-session courses, you must attend all sessions in full.
- We do not offer courses for academic credit.
- No cancellations or refunds are offered for on-demand courses.
- No transfers are allowed.
The TARSS Program offers a scholarship for 50% of the course fee for the following courses:
- Adult Learning 1
- Adult Learning 2
- Course Writer 1
- Course Writer 2
These scholarships are prioritized for potential trainers and course writers across Minnesota who meet any of these criteria:
- Live outside of the 7-county Metro area
- Deliver trainings in another language (example: Spanish, Somali, or Hmong)
- Identify with communities that have been marginalized
- Work in family child care settings
You must have a Develop membership to apply for a scholarship. If you do not have an Individual Develop Membership, please apply on the Develop website or see Achieve’s Individual Membership Resources Page.
Scholarship applications are due 48 hours before the registration deadline for the desired training event.
Email tarss@umn.edu if you need assistance completing the application form or have additional questions.
How do I register for a course?
Step 1: Click the “Register” button on the course page of your choice.
Step 2: Register for a University of Minnesota Guest Learner account.
- Go to the Registration for Professional & Personal Growth Opportunities website.
- In the upper-right-hand corner, click on the "Login" drop-down menu, and select "Learner Login."
- On the right-side of the page under "I'm new to the University," click on “Create Account.”
- Complete the “Create Guest Account” form and click on "Submit." NOTE: The email address you use to sign up for your Guest
- Account will be your username. Please remember to save the password you choose somewhere safe.
- Click on “Continue” at the bottom of the confirmation screen.
- Complete the checkout process.
NOTE: If you experience technical difficulties creating your account or have login issues, please contact UMN Learner Services and Support at 612-301-4357 or help@umn.edu, or use their submission form.
Step 3: An invitation to enroll in the Canvas course site will be sent to the email address you used to create your Guest Account. Open the email and accept the invitation to access the course.
Note: The email will originate from an email address ending in “@umn.edu”. If you do not receive the email, please contact ceedregister@umn.edu. Include the course name and start date in your email. Responses can take up to two business days.
How do I access the Canvas course I'm enrolled in?
Step 1: Visit the Canvas site and log in using the username (email address) and password you used when registering for a Guest Account.
Note: Your username is the email address you used to create your Guest Account. Log in using your username and the password you chose when you created your Guest Account.
Note: There may be a delay of 15-60 minutes before your new Guest Account is activated in Canvas. If you receive an “unrecognized guest ID” message when you try to log in, please wait and try again.
Step 2: A list of the courses you are registered for will appear. Click on the link to the Canvas course site to access a course.
Note: If you encounter any technical difficulties related to Canvas course sites, please email ceedregister@umn.edu. Include the course name and start date, and describe the problem you are having. Responses can take up to two business days.
I am a trainer
On-demand courses
Introduction to Trainer Competencies and Observation
Participants will discover the details of Minnesota's Knowledge and Competencies Framework for Trainers. They will identify the benefits of self-assessment and observation and improvement tools.
Training of Trainers
What are Training of Trainers (TOTs)?
TOTs are opportunities for trainers to learn to deliver courses owned by the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). DCYF maintains a library of over 300 courses for Minnesota’s early childhood professionals. These courses offer early childhood educators and providers across the state opportunities to build their skills and knowledge in order to better care for children.
TARSS hosts TOTs on behalf of DCYF:
- When new courses are introduced
- When new editions of a course are introduced
- When there is a need for more trainers on a particular course
In order to participate in a TOT, a trainer must meet the minimum requirements. DCYF sets the requirements. The requirements are announced when the dates and times of the TOT are announced.
Qualified trainers may apply to attend a TOT. Applications are scored on a rubric that takes into account the regional district, languages spoken, and experience with diverse communities. For more information, please see Achieve's resources for Develop's Trainer Membership.
More details
- Participants pay a fee to attend a TOT. The fees vary.
- Scholarships may be available.
- Completing a TOT doesn’t guarantee that you will be selected to deliver the course you completed the TOT for in the future.
- TOTs will be announced on this page and in our monthly newsletter, The Source.
Upcoming TOTs
TOT: Training of Trainers (TOT) Trauma Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers in Child Care Series TOT: Training of Trainers (TOT) Trauma Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers in Child Care Series
Apply to attend the TOT: Training of Trainers (TOT) Trauma Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers in Child Care Series.
Trainer observation and coaching
Would you like to improve your skills as a trainer? We offer free observation and coaching to help Develop-approved trainers!
How does it work?
We will assign a qualified observer to attend one of your training events. They will observe as you deliver the course. The observer will score your effectiveness using a rubric that is based on the indicators and competencies in Minnesota’s Knowledge and Competency Framework for Trainers (in English, Spanish, and Somali). Then they will give you strengths-based feedback.
We encourage trainers at any stage of their career to request an observation. This is a great way to get objective feedback about your training practices. You can use the feedback privately to support reflection and professional growth. Or you can request coaching for more support in goal setting, skill building, and reflection.
Observation and coaching are for your professional growth. Accessing this service will not impact hiring or trainer approval in any way.
TARSS observers
Lynn is an early childhood educator who has owned and operated Pitter Patter Play School in Alexandria, Minnesota, for over 20 years. She is a state-approved trainer with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood leadership. Her dedication and passion for early childhood education can be seen in her peer relationships and leadership in early childhood programs in her community. Lynn enjoys training all over the state to inspire others and gain inspiration from other professionals.
I am currently a family and community engagement specialist at Robbinsdale Area Public Schools. I am an approved bilingual/bicultural master trainer at the Minnesota Center for Professional Development (MNCPD), MDE-approved Teacher of Teachers (ToT) for the Work Sampling System (WSS), former mentor/observer of Care Aware of Minnesota, and observer at CEED. I obtained a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University and a master’s degree from Hamline University. Also, I am a multilingual speaker of Somali, Arabic, Amharic, and English. I am a member of the Harvest Best Academy charter school board of directors.
Dana has worked in the early care and education field for more than 25 years, including as an early childhood educator and behavior guidance consultant, trainer, adjunct faculty, and relationship-based professional development specialist. Dana currently maintains the Expert Trainer and Course Writer memberships through Achieve-MNCPD. Dana holds a master’s degree in early childhood education and a bachelor’s degree in business management. She has a passion for supporting all early care providers and trainers in finding their “why”!
As a lifelong enthusiast for self-development, growth, and learning, I am passionate about empowering others to find their voices, strengths, and pathways to goals. I look forward to assisting our educational community with actualizing the great potential of our instructors and other educators, a great honor and responsibility. I have been in the field of education for over twenty years in various roles, including as a trainer for over 10 years, an RBPD Specialist, a consultant, advocate, and a teacher in various capacities. A few of my passions include intercultural connection, advocacy for authentic inclusion, and embracing the unconventional. I am a mother of a young man, a loving wife and a critter lover. When I am not advocating, reading, or cleaning up birdseed, I am puttering in my yard, decorating, or enjoying the outdoors with my family and friends, and maybe attempting a craft or art project.
Sara has worked in the field of early childhood for more than 25 years. She has been a trainer, consultant, co-chair for a state education conference, preschool teacher, and director, as well as a university adjunct faculty member. Sara is passionate about helping others in the field of early childhood feel equipped and empowered to care for others and supporting trainers to continue to reach their fullest potential. Sara's educational background includes both an undergraduate and graduate degree in early childhood as well as ongoing training in leadership pipeline and development.
I was born in Laos and arrived in the United States in 1979 as a refugee. My educational background includes a bachelor of science in family consumer science and a master of arts in education, specializing in early childhood education. With over 33 years of experience in the field, I have developed deep expertise in early childhood development, instructional coaching, and educator training.
I currently serve as the director of professional development at Head Start, where I lead training and coaching initiatives for both parents and early childhood educators. As a certified CLASS observer for infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms, I support educators in strengthening their interactions with children and families from diverse backgrounds. My work is grounded in a commitment to equity, cultural responsiveness, and excellence in early learning.
I have been in the early childhood field for over 25 years as a teacher, center director, trainer, and coach. I hold a BS in elementary education and early childhood from MSU-Mankato. I currently work as a Quality and CLASS® coach for Minnesota’s quality rating system in southern Minnesota.
Trainer Community Meetings
Develop-approved clock hours: N/A
When: once a month for one hours
Location: virtual
Cost: free
Who should sign up: trainers who work in Minnesota
Prerequisites: none
Trainer Community Meetings are informal monthly Zoom gatherings for any trainer working in Minnesota’s early childhood system. A TARSS staff member will be on hand to introduce a different topic each month.
Sign up here to receive the Zoom link for all the meetings. You don’t need to register in advance to attend. Come to one meeting, come to all of them, or anything in between. We look forward to learning with you!
Upcoming meetings
January 12, 2026
February 9, 2026
March 16, 2026
April 13, 2026
May 11, 2026
June 8, 2026
Is there a deadline to register for each meeting?
Nope! Sign up here to receive the Zoom link, then come to meetings as and when you are able.
Is participation free?
Yes! This service is provided free of charge by the TARSS program.
Is this Develop-approved?
No. No Develop credit will be awarded for attending Trainer Community Meetings. They are purely to build community, knowledge, and peer support.