Heartland AEA will again be offering the Gifted and Talented Academy during the 2011-2012 school year. Please see below for dates, locations and purposes for each course. Keep in mind that the prerequisite for Academies 2, 3 and 4 is team attendance at the previous year's sessions (recognizing that membership of the team may change from one year to the next as staffing changes occur). Register through the Heartland Professional Development Catalog and the enter appropriate activity number in the specified field. Please contact Mary Schmidt, Gifted Education Consultant, at mschmidt@aea11.k12.ia.us or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14375 with questions you may have.
Gifted and Talented Academy Year 1
Activity Number: GT006792111201
Dates: September 29 and November 29, 2011; February 7, April 3 and June 14-15, 2012
Location: Ames AEA office (511 S. 17th St)
Teams of K-12 teachers of gifted and instructional leaders from individual districts will audit, develop, and/or improve their written Comprehensive Gifted and Talented Program Plan and Programming. Participants can earn three graduate (EDMA) or license renewal credits upon completion of this course.
Gifted and Talented Academy Year 2
Activity Number: GT006992111201
Dates: October 11 and December 15, 2011; February 16 and April 12, 2012
Location: Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Teams will extend their learning, thinking and application of comprehensive gifted and talented programming with a focus on curriculum and instruction. Participants can earn two graduate (EDMA) or license renewal credits upon completion of this course.
Gifted and Talented Academy Year 3
Activity Number: GT007592111201
Dates: October 6 and December 8, 2011; February 23 and April 19, 2012
Location: Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Teams will develop their own program evaluation questions, identifying the stakeholders and data sources most likely to provide insight into the answers, and determining the most effective ways to organize, analyze, communicate, and use those data. Participants can earn two graduate (EDMA) or license renewal credits upon completion of this course.
Gifted and Talented Academy Year 4
Activity Number: (Will be sent to districts that sent teachers to GT Academy Year 3)
Dates: October 28, 2011 and March 9, 2012
Location: Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Teams will fine-tune techniques and evaluation processes that were learned in previous academies. Participants can earn one graduate (EDMA) or license renewal credit upon completion of this course.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Guidelines for Technology Support of Heartland AEA Employees Who Work in District Buildings
The below information was communicated to all district technology coordinators earlier this summer.
There has been considerable confusion in the past about how to provide tech support to Heartland AEA employees while they are working in school districts. Over this past year, Heartland AEA has been working with technology directors to develop some guidelines that will help to clear up this confusion:
We will evaluate these guidelines in the spring of 2012 to see what changes (if any) need to be made for the coming school year. If you have comments/concerns/suggestions, please contact Lance Wilhelm at lwilhelm@aea11.k12.ia.us.
There has been considerable confusion in the past about how to provide tech support to Heartland AEA employees while they are working in school districts. Over this past year, Heartland AEA has been working with technology directors to develop some guidelines that will help to clear up this confusion:
- Heartland employees will be provided with access to the building wireless network as it is available. If wireless is not available, access should be provided via hard-wired connection. Heartland employees are expected to provide their own Ethernet cable in those situations. All passwords provided by school districts will be treated confidentially. Heartland employees are expected to use bandwidth responsibly and will check ahead of time to see if the district blocks sites they wish to use.
- Heartland employees can setup or request assistance to access building printers if the district provides him/her with building printer maps and/or IP addresses. If there is concern about excessive printing by Heartland employees, school districts should contact their Regional Director or Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology.
- If Heartland employees occasionally need phone access, districts should make reasonable accommodations to provide that access.
- Districts will provide basic information such as network passwords or printer IP numbers, as appropriate, but troubleshooting problems for Heartland employees should be done by Heartland AEA tech support. Heartland AEA uses iChat extensively for resolving tech support issues, and we would greatly appreciate it if that feature is not blocked at the district level.
- Heartland AEA will provide districts with lists of Heartland employees who will be working in their buildings. If requested, Heartland AEA will provide technology directors key information (such as MAC addresses) about the AEA computers that will be used in their school buildings.
We will evaluate these guidelines in the spring of 2012 to see what changes (if any) need to be made for the coming school year. If you have comments/concerns/suggestions, please contact Lance Wilhelm at lwilhelm@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Allow Two Weeks for Heartland AEA Print & Production Orders
We appreciate that many schools are using our Print & Production services. As you can imagine, our staff are quite busy at fulfilling your printing/copying needs for the beginning of the school year. Please remind educators to allow two weeks for the completion and delivery of orders that go through our Print Center and/or Graphic services.
Iowa Future: Tools to Spark Education Reform Conversations
Iowa must begin to look ahead to provide what’s best for today’s students, not back at how things used to be. That’s why we need innovation in Iowa education: to help all students realize success and possess the knowledge and skills so they will be ready for their tomorrow, not our yesterday.
The Iowa Future website is an effort to explain the need for educational innovation and provide videos, discussion guides, presentation templates, testimonials, links to other great resources and more. Take some time to check out the site at http://www.iowafuture.org/ to see what information and resources are available.
The "Did You Know?” video has been a popular discussion starter and meeting opener over the last few years. It was shown to administrators at the SAI conference earlier this month and has been on popular demand. Often used in context of technology innovation, education and 21st century learners, the video is just one of the many resources available on the Iowa Future website. Watch the video at http://www.iowafuture.org/2011/08/04/iowa-did-you-know/ and consider using the accompanying discussion guide to begin an in-depth conversation with your educator groups.
The Iowa Future website is an effort to explain the need for educational innovation and provide videos, discussion guides, presentation templates, testimonials, links to other great resources and more. Take some time to check out the site at http://www.iowafuture.org/ to see what information and resources are available.
The "Did You Know?” video has been a popular discussion starter and meeting opener over the last few years. It was shown to administrators at the SAI conference earlier this month and has been on popular demand. Often used in context of technology innovation, education and 21st century learners, the video is just one of the many resources available on the Iowa Future website. Watch the video at http://www.iowafuture.org/2011/08/04/iowa-did-you-know/ and consider using the accompanying discussion guide to begin an in-depth conversation with your educator groups.
Iowa Education Summit Videos Now Online
Recordings of main sessions, quest speakers, round tables and break out sessions are now available on Eduvision, http://aea111.eduvision.tv.
Iowa DE Invitation to TELPA Study and Adobe Connect Session
Iowa DE Invitation to Tennessee English Language Placement Exam (TELPA) Study The Iowa Department of Education would like to invite Iowa school districts to take part in a study of the TELPA as a zero- growth point for Title I reporting of language acquisition for English Language Learners (ELL). Currently, Iowa school districts have used other assessments to place students in ESL programs that do not align to the Title I required assessment of language acquisition, Iowa-English Language Development Assessment (I-ELDA). With the availability of the TELPA for the 2011-2012 school year, schools are in a unique position to have a screening assessment aligned to the summative assessment. This allows for the possibility of using the screener as a baseline data point from which to measure student growth. Before making a policy decision, the Iowa Department of Education would like to study the use of this new assessment tool. Although Title II funds cannot be used to pay for an assessment, Title III funds can be used to pay for the TELPA for any district that wishes to participate in the testing for the testing period only. Heartland AEA will reimburse participating districts for the cost of the TELPA for this study year. Please contact Pat Latham (platham@aea11.k12.ia.us) or Stephaney Jones-Vo (sjones-vo@aea11.k12.ia.us) for the reimbursement form.
Click the following phrases for important documents.
Letter sent by Kevin Fangman to superintendents
Consent to participate form
Bubble Sheets Order Form
Directions to order the TELPA from Measurement Incorporate (MI)
The use of the TELPA is an opportunity to improve the way districts and the State support ELLs and their teachers. The added information about students’ acquisition of English and how we measure it can only help us. We understand that teachers and district leaders are busy and feel the pressures of many programs and initiatives. Your participation is truly appreciated. Of course, any district that does not wish to participate can continue using the LAS or IPT “screeners.‟ Unfortunately, Title III funds cannot be used for their purchase. If you have any questions about participating, please contact John Scott at John.Scott@iowa.gov or by calling (515) 281-3805.
Invitation to Adobe Connect Session "ESL Assessment: TELPA Training"
Please join the Iowa Department of Education in an Adobe Connect Meeting. Please forward this invitation to other Iowa educators needing this training or a deeper understanding of the TELPA Zero Growth Study. The meetings will be held on August 24, 2011 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and on September 1, 2011 from 2:00-4:30 p.m. . These are repeat meetings, so you do not need to attend both. The DE will host the video online using the following Adobe Connect Pro connection. To avoid any audio problems, the audio will be provided through a conference call connection. Click here for instructions.
Please RSVP to the invitation by contacting Mary Smith at mary.smith@iowa.gov. Please indicate which date you plan to attend.
Click the following phrases for important documents.
Letter sent by Kevin Fangman to superintendents
Consent to participate form
Bubble Sheets Order Form
Directions to order the TELPA from Measurement Incorporate (MI)
The use of the TELPA is an opportunity to improve the way districts and the State support ELLs and their teachers. The added information about students’ acquisition of English and how we measure it can only help us. We understand that teachers and district leaders are busy and feel the pressures of many programs and initiatives. Your participation is truly appreciated. Of course, any district that does not wish to participate can continue using the LAS or IPT “screeners.‟ Unfortunately, Title III funds cannot be used for their purchase. If you have any questions about participating, please contact John Scott at John.Scott@iowa.gov or by calling (515) 281-3805.
Invitation to Adobe Connect Session "ESL Assessment: TELPA Training"
Please join the Iowa Department of Education in an Adobe Connect Meeting. Please forward this invitation to other Iowa educators needing this training or a deeper understanding of the TELPA Zero Growth Study. The meetings will be held on August 24, 2011 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and on September 1, 2011 from 2:00-4:30 p.m. . These are repeat meetings, so you do not need to attend both. The DE will host the video online using the following Adobe Connect Pro connection. To avoid any audio problems, the audio will be provided through a conference call connection. Click here for instructions.
Please RSVP to the invitation by contacting Mary Smith at mary.smith@iowa.gov. Please indicate which date you plan to attend.
Student Invitation to the United States Senate Youth Program
The state of Iowa has accepted an invitation to participate in the U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP), sponsored by the William Randolph Heart Foundation. The program is designed to give young Americans a working knowledge of American political life. Each year two Iowa students have the opportunity to spend a week in Washington, D.C. The William Randolph Heart Foundation pays all expenses. In addition, the two Iowa high school representatives each receive a $5,000 scholarship.
Selection of the two Iowa high school representatives is based on the outstanding ability and demonstrated leadership qualities of elected junior and senior high school student officers for the 2011-12 school year.
Each high school may nominate up to three students (in previous years, schools were only allowed to nominate one student). Student application materials and the brochure are available on the Iowa Department of Education website http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=939&Itemid=1225
Completed applications should be submitted to Kim Thuente at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131 by 4:00 p.m. October 3, 2011. Nominees will take a qualifying examination on October 19 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 18 at the Johnston AEA Regional Education Center regarding the U.S. Constitution and government. The award recipients will be announced in December. Contact Kim Thuente (kthuente@aea11.k12.ia.us) or Cheryl Mullenbach (Cheryl.Mullenbach@iowa.gov) for more information.
Selection of the two Iowa high school representatives is based on the outstanding ability and demonstrated leadership qualities of elected junior and senior high school student officers for the 2011-12 school year.
Each high school may nominate up to three students (in previous years, schools were only allowed to nominate one student). Student application materials and the brochure are available on the Iowa Department of Education website http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=939&Itemid=1225
Completed applications should be submitted to Kim Thuente at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131 by 4:00 p.m. October 3, 2011. Nominees will take a qualifying examination on October 19 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 18 at the Johnston AEA Regional Education Center regarding the U.S. Constitution and government. The award recipients will be announced in December. Contact Kim Thuente (kthuente@aea11.k12.ia.us) or Cheryl Mullenbach (Cheryl.Mullenbach@iowa.gov) for more information.
Iowa Council of Teachers of English Fall Conference
The Iowa Council of Teachers of English (ICTE) will host their Fall Conference on October 13-14, 2011 at the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston, Iowa. Keynote speakers will include Renee Hobbs and Michael W. Smith. For information on their fall conference, visit the ICTE website. To improve ICTE’s communication with English/language arts teachers, teachers in these subject areas are invited to join their mailing list found by clicking here.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not infer sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not infer sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Save the Date for 2012 Iowa Reading Association Conference
Administrators and educators are invited to come and experience the Iowa Reading Association’s first summer conference, “Summer Vacation: Destination Literacy!” on June 26-27, 2012 at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa. Enjoy learning from nationally prominent speakers, meeting published authors, gathering strategies from experienced instructors, earning graduate/renewal credit and shopping exciting exhibitors without the hassles of attending a conference during the school year.
Administrators and educators can also become members of the Iowa Reading Association. The association provides its members with publications that keep educators current in the field of reading and literacy, professional growth opportunities, direct links to current legislative issues, professional networking with other educators, grant and scholarship opportunities, a website and a newsletter. Members also receive a discount on both one and two day registration fees to the 2012 conference that will nearly pay for the cost of membership. More information about the Iowa Reading Association and it’s 2012 Conference can be found at on the association’s website at www.iowareading.org or by contacting Tony Pieper at tpieper@bcluw.org.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not infer sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Administrators and educators can also become members of the Iowa Reading Association. The association provides its members with publications that keep educators current in the field of reading and literacy, professional growth opportunities, direct links to current legislative issues, professional networking with other educators, grant and scholarship opportunities, a website and a newsletter. Members also receive a discount on both one and two day registration fees to the 2012 conference that will nearly pay for the cost of membership. More information about the Iowa Reading Association and it’s 2012 Conference can be found at on the association’s website at www.iowareading.org or by contacting Tony Pieper at tpieper@bcluw.org.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not infer sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
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