Required: February 2009 Title III Update

Click here for important information on meeting Title III mandates.

Superintendents: Agenda for March Heartland Administrators Association Meeting

Click here for the agenda of the March 3rd Heartland Administrators Association meeting.

Agenda for the March Curriculum Network Meeting

The March Curriculum Network meeting will be held on Friday, March 6th at the Zion Lutheran Church in Des Moines. Click here for the agenda.

Microsoft Settlement ICN Sessions

News is in on the Microsoft Settlement. John O'Connell will explain the online application process (the application window for schools is April 15 - May 15), provide updates on the settlement and answer questions. If you cannot attend an ICN session, a copy will be available for checkout from the Heartland library.

April 2nd, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Ames HS
Ankeny CC
Boone CC
Department of Education
Earlham HS
Exira HS
Guthrie Center HS
Johnston HS
Knoxville HS
Martensdale-St. Marys HS
Nevada HS
Newton CC1
Pella HS
Perry HS

April 3rd, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Carroll HS
Department of Education

Iowa Public Television Helps Students Find STEM Careers

In order to help students explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, Iowa Public Television (IPTV) is providing a series of no cost ICN sessions related to STEM careers. During these sessions, students will have the opportunity to meet various professionals in Iowa who are working in STEM careers. Students also have an opportunity to see the professionals on the job as they will be viewing a short video produced by IPTV during the session.

Educators know that in 7th and 8th grade, Iowa schools are required to offer career education including exploration of career opportunities. This process is designed to help students complete a high school and career development plan. These sessions are a great resource for schools needing to help students with the critical work in planning their futures. For some sessions, free copies of the 4 disc DVD set, Explore More, will be offered. Sign up today and please share this information with your colleagues!

For more information, go to http://www.iptv.org/iowa_database/event-detail.cfm?ID=9441 or contact the following:

LaShell Staley
Project Manager, Education
Iowa Public Television
6450 Corporate Drive
Johnston,IA 50131
800-532-1290
515-242-3144
lashell@iptv.org

Information on Bike to School Day

Larry Jablonski, a retired Urbandale principal, is a supporter for Bike to Work Week, an awareness event that advocates bicycling as a viable mode of transportation. One of the week's events is Bike to School Day in which students and school staff are encouraged to bike to school. Last year, Summit Middle School in Johnston had the most participation with over 800 students who rode their bikes to school on the designated day. This year's Bike to Work Week is scheduled for the week of May 9-15, 2009. Click here for more information on how your school can host its own Bike to School Day during Bike to Work Week.

Questions can be directed to Larry Jablonski, 515-249-5888 or Tina Mowry Hadden, 515-238-0609.

Scott McCleod Video from February Heartland Administrators Association Meeting

Scott McCleod, Professor in the Iowa State University Educational Leadership Program, recently presented to the Heartland-area superintendents at their monthly meeting. He provided information on our global achievement gap and the challenges facing schools to teach 21st century skills. Thanks to Gordon Dahlby of West Des Moines Schools, a video of the presentation is now available on Scott's blog at http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/.

Iowa Core Curriculum News

Visit http://www.corecurriculum.iowa.gov/Home.aspx for updated information about the Iowa Core Curriculum now available on the Iowa Department of Education Web site.

Microsoft Settlement Monies

Heartland has not received any updates about the Microsoft Settlement. We will provide new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, here are a few reminders and dates to note.

• No invoices dated before August 16, 2009 will be eligible for voucher reimbursement.
• The approved product list will be posted shortly at http://www.iowaschoolmicrosoftsettlement.com/.
• The online application window for schools is April 15-May 15. It is recommended that schools choose the 360-day extension because the state does not know the settlement amount yet. As soon as the budget is determined, the schools can go back and complete the survey.
• There will be ICN sessions March 16-24 to explain the online application process. Copies of the ICN sessions will be available at the Heartland library.

Heartland AEA 11 Regional Physics Olympics

The Heartland AEA 11 Regional Physics Olympics competition will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at the Science Center of Iowa. For rules and registration information, go to the Heartland AEA 11 Regional Physics Olympics Web site, http://aea11.k12.ia.us/science/Physics_olympics/physics_index.html.

Please send completed forms and payment to:

Brenda Royer
Heartland AEA 11
6500 Corporate Drive
Johnston, IA 50131

Registration deadline date is March 13, 2009.

Questions can be directed to Peg Christensen, Science Consultant, at pchristensen@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-0405/(800)-255-0405, extension 14553.

New Features on the Professional Development for Iowa School Leaders Web site

The Professional Development for Iowa School Leaders Web site, http://iowaschoolleadership.org, now features a calendar view that provides a quick visual look at upcoming opportunities. The calendar is expected to help leaders in planning their own professional development, as well as assisting providers in scheduling professional development. The calendar view may be accessed from virtually any page in the site.

Finding professional development is also aided by expanded menu options on the site. In addition to the original alphabetical listing, the site also offers a listing of opportunities by intended audience and a listing by the school leader standard addressed by each offering. All three search methods are available in a tabbed menu in the right sidebar of each page.

In addition, Iowa school leaders may continue to subscribe to the mailing list to stay abreast of the latest professional development posted on the site. Sign-up is available on virtually any page on the site, below the menus in the right column.

The Professional Development for Iowa School Leaders Web site offers a one-stop resource to locate professional development available from some of Iowa’s foremost providers.

Nine Iowa organizations are charter members of the project and are posting professional development opportunities that they sponsor. The partners are Area Education Agencies (AEA), Iowa Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (IASCD), Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Iowa Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE), Iowa Department of Education (DE), Iowa Leadership Academy (ILA), Iowa Superintendents Finance and Leadership Consortium (ISFLC) and School Administrators of Iowa (SAI). Other groups may be added in the future.

Professional Development for Iowa School Leaders Web site project is funded by an Iowa leadership grant from The Wallace Foundation. The grant funds several Iowa projects to improve and support school leader development with the goal of improving student achievement.

Welcome to the New Heartland Administrator Connection

We hope you enjoy the new Heartland Administrator Connection. If you look to the right on this page under the heading of "Connection Archives", you will notice that the former Principal and Superintendent Connections have been archived. Please refer to this area when looking for information prior to February 13, 2009.

If you are interested in having the Administrator Connection sent to others beside yourself, there is still time. Please contact the Heartland Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us with your referrals.

Heartland Provided News Clips

Each morning, the Heartland Communications Department provides links to local and national education news headlines. We call this service "news clips". If you would like to receive the news clips service, please contact the Heartland Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us.

Training for Preschool Program Administrators: Creative Curriculum® for Preschool

Click here for more information on the Creative Curriculum® for Preschool training provided by the Heartland AEA Early Childhood Principals Network. The training will be held on April 24, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Woodside AEA Office. Administrators who are new to the Creative Curriculum® for Preschool system are encouraged to attend.

To register for this training, visit the Professional Development page on the Agency's Web site or click here. The activity number is EC006192110901.

Two Exciting Professional Development Opportunities

Heartland Instructional Coaching Academy Information Session
The Heartland Instructional Coaching Academy (HICA) Information Session will provide awareness of the professional learning opportunities for instructional coaching sponsored by Heartland AEA 11. This session is designed for administrators and teacher leaders interested in participating in the Heartland Instructional Coaching Academy for 2009-2010. The information session will be held on March 3, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Woodside AEA Office.

To register, visit the Heartland Professional Development page on the Agency's Web site or click here. The activity number is IS012792110901.

Crafting the Art of Differentiation!
Cindy Strickland will be back to support Heartland AEA 11 teachers and administrators on our differentiation journey. Ms. Strickland will address tiered lessons for readiness and respectful differentiation for interest and learning profiles. Participants will be expected to bring a KUD (Know, Understand, Be able to do) that has been designed for a unit of study and will use the KUD to develop lessons during the session. The session will be held on June 15, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston. The cost is $45, which includes lunch.

To register, visit the Heartland Professional Development page on the Web site or click here. The activity number is AS004699990901.

Questions concerning these two sessions can be addressed to Cheryl Risen crisen@aea11.k12.ia.us.