Leading PLCs Learning Opportunity

Heartland AEA will be offering a learning opportunity for administrators and their leadership teams on June 21 and 22, 2012. Paul Farmer from Solution Tree will be facilitating a two-day session. Day one is for principals and other administrators. The content will be focused on how leaders effectively support Professional Learning Communities. On day two, principals and administrators may bring up to four members of their building leadership team for a session that will focus on the role of leadership teams in supporting the work of PLCs.

The cost for principals and other administrators is $175. There is no fee for leadership team members to join on day two, except for $10 to cover the price of lunch. The session will be held at the FFA Center on the DMACC Campus. Click here for registration information and more details.

IHAPI Financial Literacy Workshops

I Have a Plan Iowa (IHAPI) has a financial literacy component that is designed to support the Iowa Core. This award winning online platform, developed by EverFi, Inc., designed to teach, assess and certify students in over 600 core concepts in financial education. Four workshops have been set up for curriculum directors, administrators, teachers and counselors to understand how to use this six-hour program to support the needs of students. Space is limited, so please register soon for one of the sessions through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog.

April 17, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
CN006292111201

April 24, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
CN006292111202

April 27, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
CN006292111203

May 1, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
CN006292111204

Please contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us if you have questions.

Superintendents: April 3 HAA Meeting

Download a PDF or Word Doc of the April Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 3 in Room 13 A/B of the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 9:00 a.m.

April Curriculum Network Meeting

The April Curriculum Network Meeting will be held on Friday, April 6 in Rooms 13A & B of the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston). We will begin at 8:30 a.m. with Our Time–Our Topic discussions. The Our Time–Our topics are:

• How are curriculum maps being used to look at written and enacted curriculum?
• Standards based grading/reporting
• How are you using I-CAT reports in your district?

Click here for the online agenda.

April Edition of "Each and Every Child"

Click here for the April edition of "Each and Every Child" brought to you by the Iowa Department of Education’s Bureau of Student and Family Support Services. The e-newsletter is designed to enhance communication between parents and teachers. Please forward it to your parents, and use the stories as opportunities for discussion.

Pursuing the Promise: 2012 Statewide Special Education Conference

The Iowa Department of Education is pleased to invite you to the 2012 Statewide Special Education Conference which will be held June 11-13, 2012 at Hy-Vee Hall in Downtown Des Moines. The conference is ideal for teachers, parents, students, administrators and community members who participate in the special education community.

Every child in the Iowa public school system deserves to make a year’s growth in a year’s time, and to have a team of caring individuals working together to prepare that child for life after high school. This conference represents a collective step forward, and a commitment to high standards, evidence-based practices and improved life outcomes for students with disabilities. Speakers include the Iowa Department of Education's Director Jason Glass and state Special Education Director Martin Ikeda.

The conference is free to the public. Preregistration is required by Friday, May 25, 2012, and will be limited to the first 1,200 guests. Register for the event at www.educateiowa.gov.

Information About Heartland AEA Technology Support

Heartland AEA offers a wide range of technology services to school districts. Many of these are highlighted in this summary of a recent visit to one of our schools.

• Our network specialist conducted a network audit and made recommendations about what upgrades were needed (and what costs would be involved) in preparation for an 1:1 project. Also discussed was Heartland’s Internet filtering solution (iBoss), which is available free to our schools.

• Our technology director and the building principal discussed in detail some possible funding streams (such as Title II funds and Microsoft settlement funds) that could be used for technology improvements and professional development.

• Further discussions were held related to possible curricular changes and professional development that Heartland could offer in the area of technology integration. Earlier in the year, our tech consultants were at the school to assist in making the transition to Google apps.

• The school has recently installed interactive white boards in all of their classrooms, but was having difficulty getting their wireless tablets to connect to the boards. Heartland staff were able to successfully troubleshoot this problem.

If your district is interested in what technology services Heartland AEA offers, contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology, at lwilhelm@aea11.k12.ia.us to learn more.

Impacting Lives Newsletter Shares How Iowa's AEAs Make a Difference

April is National Autism Awareness Month. All of Iowa's Area Education Agencies employ certified staff members who specialize in supporting children and students with autism spectrum disorders, their families and the classroom teachers who work with them. This edition of Impacting Lives provides examples of AEA expertise for supporting autism as well as other topics that include Iowa AEA Online, curriculum instruction and technology support. Find the Impacting Lives blog at http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/.

This issue includes:

• AEA 'Angel' Gave Hope to Family Living with Autism
• Oscar's Story: Supporting a Child with Autism
• Northwest AEA Employees Present Research at International Autism Conference
• Learning with the Resources of Iowa AEA Online
• AEA Social Workers Serve as Link Between Families and Schools
• My Ears Help Me Read: The Important Role of AEA Audiology Staff
• Training Aims to Increase Teachers’ Skills in Literacy Instruction
• How Putting Laptops in Student Hands is Changing Education Today
• Grant Wood AEA Launches iPad Project
• Capturing Student Interest through the Use of Virtual Reality

Check Out Our New Timeline!

Heartland AEA's Facebook page has changed to a "Timeline" layout. Take a look at here, and let us know what you think! Don't forget to share our page with your friends.

New Web-Based Professional Development Functions

Heartland's Professional Development is excited to share some new web-based functions! For some time, you have been able to print a confirmation letter, make changes to your credit options or order a transcript. You can now print a certificate of completion. This functionality allows you, as a participant, to print a certificate for workshops or other learning activities you have completed. This can only be done if the instructor has created the opportunity, held registration through the Universal Registration system here at Heartland and closed out the activity. For more information, please click here.

For those of you setting up activities, please be aware of this new functionality! The certificate is printed with the name of the activity, description, instructor, date and contact hours of the activity.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact the Professional Development team at profdev@aea11.k12.ia.us or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14701.

Transition Times Workshop to Focus on Technology for Students

Heartland AEA's Parent & Educator Connection will hold a Transition Times workshop on April 10 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Johnston with ICN sites in Ames and Carroll. The workshop will cover various technology and adaptive equipment that is available to students to lead more independent lives. Please pass on the attached flyer to students age 14 and older, families and teachers who may be interested in attending.

Course Focuses on Quality Transitions to Post-Secondary Experiences

Heartland AEA is offering the course, Transition: From Disability to Possibility on June 27 and 28. The course will provide participants an opportunity to understand and apply the six critical elements around quality transition IEPs. Administrators and special education teachers who wish to learn more about ways to better identify strengths and needs in order to successfully transition students from high school to employment and post-secondary education are encouraged to attend. EDEX graduate credit is being offered for this course. Click here for more information.

Reminder: Assessing Academic Rigor (Evaluator III) Training

This course is required for school administrators (superintendents, central office administration, building principals, assistant principals, etc.) and other educational leaders responsible for evaluating educators who are renewing their licenses. The fee for this class is $275. Participants should obtain a copy of the book A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing (2001) (ISBN 9780801319037) on their own.

There are two more course offerings of Assessing Academic Rigor this spring. These will be the last offerings until mid fall 2012. Due to the assignments for the class, there will be no summer course offerings. Register through the Heartland Professional Development Catalog.

March 29, April 5, April 12 and May 1
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Activity Number: AD013992111205

March 31, April 14, April 21 and April 28
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Activity Number: AD013992111206

If you have further questions contact Rob Brookhart at rbrookhart@aea11.k12.ia.us.

Reminder: Summer 2012 Paraeducator Generalist Certificate Program

Heartland AEA is an approved provider of the Paraeducator Generalist Certificate Program. Heartland will continue to offer the Paraeducator Program Online option for paraeducators currently employed in a Heartland area school. Building principals should contact their Heartland Regional Director to get a course set up for their district.

Upon successful completion of the Paraeducator Generalist Certification, paraeducators may receive Level II certification in an area of concentration. Click here for more information of Level II classes being offered this summer through Heartland AEA.

ITEC Spring iPad and Google Apps Workshop Tour

The Iowa Technology Education Connection (ITEC) tour includes six regionally located iPad workshops and one Google Apps workshop in Nevada on March 31. Click here for more information and to register.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Champions of Autism Conference, April 6

The Champions of Autism conference will focus on how strong partnerships between parents and educators can improve the learning outcomes of children and youth with autism. The conference will be held on April 6, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the FFA Building on the DMACC Ankeny Campus. Click here for more details.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Let Us Know What You Think!

This is a gentle reminder that the AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey will remain open until Friday, April 6, 2012. The survey provides us with your insight on how to improve our services to your school(s), staff and students.

We will send an e-mail reminder to all educators at the end of March to insure that all district staff have a chance to participate. Since the survey is anonymous, we have no way of knowing who has contributed and who has not. You and each of your staff members are only asked to fill out the survey once. After you complete the survey, you may disregard the reminder notices.

The survey can be accessed at http://survey.aea267.k12.ia.us/survey/7145/ba57/.

Please encourage all of your staff to participate. If you have already completed the survey, we thank you for your support!

Last Chance to Save on Microsoft Products for Personal Use

Note: This applies ONLY to Microsoft Office for home and personal use. Current school pricing is NOT changing.

The Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC), in partnership with Microsoft and JourneyEd, has provided K-12 students, faculty and staff with personal discounts on Microsoft Office and Windows software. (Example: Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010, retail $499, IEC price $89.95). These discounts have been significantly less than what you’d find in retail stores.

Microsoft will be discontinuing the current program effective March 23, 2012. It will be replaced with more expensive home versions of Office software.

Order today to ensure you get the best price possible. Orders can be placed online by going to http://www.JourneyEd.com/Select.

Assessing Academic Rigor (Evaluator III) Training

This course is required for school administrators (superintendents, central office administration, building principals, assistant principals, etc.) and other educational leaders responsible for evaluating educators who are renewing their licenses. The fee for this class is $275. Participants should obtain a copy of the book "A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing (2001) (ISBN 9780801319037)" on their own.

There are two more course offerings of Assessing Academic Rigor this spring. These will be the last offerings until mid fall 2012. Due to the assignments for the class, there will not be a summer course offering. Register through the Heartland Professional Development Catalog.

March 29, April 5, April 12 and May 1
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Activity Number: AD013992111205

March 31, April 14, April 21 and April 28
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Activity Number: AD013992111206

If you have further questions contact Rob Brookhart at rbrookhart@aea11.k12.ia.us.

Save the Date: Our Kids Summer Institute 2012

The 2012 Our Kids Summer Institute which will be held June 19-20, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Valley High School in West Des Moines. The institute is an opportunity to network with educational professionals and to discover new strategies for working with English Language Learners throughout Iowa. Click here for more details. Registration will be open soon.

Iowa Teacher of the Year Nominations Due April 2

The deadline to nominate the 2013 Iowa Teacher of the Year is April 2.

The award is an opportunity to recognize an Iowa teacher who motivates, challenges and inspires excellence; who is respected by students and peers; who is a dedicated professional who helps nurture hidden talents and abilities; who is a creative, caring individual; who takes teaching beyond textbooks; and who is an exceptional teacher helping to redefine education.

Nominations will be accepted from anyone, including students, parents, school administrators, colleagues, college faculty members and associations. Nomination forms can be found here. The winner will be announced in August.

Winners are chosen by a committee that includes representatives of the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa State Education Association, the School Administrators of Iowa, the Parent Teachers Association and the past Iowa Teacher of the Year.

The Teacher of the Year serves as an ambassador to education and as a liaison to primary and secondary schools, higher education and organizations across the state.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Urbandale Schools to host Langford Four-Day Quality Learning Seminar

The Urbandale Community School District is hosting the Four Day Quality Learning Seminar, facilitated by David Langford, June 11-14, 2012. At this seminar participants will learn to:

• Manage data-driven learning and improvement
• Create performance-based learning
• Create student-led learning
• Create and manage portfolio assessment
• Inspire passionate learners

This seminar has a tight alignment with the Iowa Core, as it focuses on student-centered learning. Cost for the seminar is $450. This includes continental breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day. The learning presented in this seminar lays the foundation for educational transformation and improvement.

Go to the Urbandale Community School District’s website at www.urbandaleschools.com for more information.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Poverty and Education Webcast with David Berliner

On Wednesday, April 4, 2012 the Iowa Educational Research and Evaluation Association (IEREA) will host the web presentation “Why Poverty Matters to Schooling in Iowa and Elsewhere,” from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Dr. David Berliner, a recognized expert in the field of education, will discuss the poverty/school relationship. You are invited to join this presentation and following discussion from the comfort of your own computer. The link to the webcast will be available on the IEREA website at www.ierea.org on April 4. For those unable to attend the live webcast, the recorded presentation will be available on the IEREA website in mid-April.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

“Readers All" Conference Promotes Dyslexia Awareness

The Iowa Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), in collaboration with the Illinois, Wisconsin and Kansas-Missouri Branches of IDA, is holding a special conference "Readers All" on April 20 and 21 at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL.

The conference will feature keynote speakers Marilyn Jager Adams and Maryanne Wolf. In addition the conference will include (among others) noted presenters Margie Gillis of Yale University - Haskins Laboraties; Stephanie Gottwald of Tufts University; Marcia Henry, professor emeritus of San Jose State University; and David Tilly of Heartland AEA. Topics will include morphology, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, Response To Intervention, the Common Core Standards, assistive technology and many more.

Complete information (including registration) is now available at http://readersallconference.com/.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute at Iowa State University

Iowa high schools have a unique opportunity to promote the study of STEM and global issues among their students by participating in the first ever World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute on April 30. On April 30th, each student will interact with other students from around the state in small discussion groups led by experts in research, industry, and policy. Students and teachers will take part in interactive activities on ISU's campus exposing them to research and work currently taking place in Iowa to solve global challenges. The day will include a luncheon and Governor Branstad will provide a keynote, recognizing all participating students as Borlaug Scholars.

Opportunities available to participating students:

• An exclusive scholarship to attend the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at ISU.
• The top 80 students will be selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute October 18–20, 2012, in Des Moines. There, they will have the amazing opportunity to interact with Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates and leading research scientists from around the world to discuss global issues.
• Students who participate in the Global Youth Institute are eligible for the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship, an all-expenses-paid, eight-week hands-on experience, working with world-renowned scientists and policymakers at leading research centers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
• The top students at the World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute will be eligible to apply for a USDA Wallace-Carver Internship, a unique opportunity to conduct original research or policy analysis and development through paid, summer internships with USDA research centers or field offices anywhere in the US, including USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

To participate in our Iowa Youth Institute, students research and write an essay about a key global issue affecting food security. The essay is an interdisciplinary exercise, with structured guidelines and a complete resource list for students to explore areas of interest. Students answer a series of guided questions to aid them in developing the essay. We encourage high schools to have many students write the essay and then select its “Borlaug Scholar” from among the most highly qualified and interested students. The essay can be easily incorporated into science, agricultural education, social science, language arts or gifted and talented curricula, and is aligned with the Iowa Core. Essay guidelines and program information is available at: www.worldfoodprize.org/iowayouth.

To ensure your high school does not miss out on this opportunity, please immediately contact, Catherine Swoboda, Director of Iowa Education Programs at the World Food Prize, at cswoboda@worldfoodprize.org or (515) 245-3727 to register your school to participate.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

UNI to host Green Schools K-12 Symposium in Johnston

The University of Northern Iowa and the Iowa Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council will host the Green Schools K-12 Symposium from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 19, at the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston. The symposium will discuss the benefits of green schools, such as enhanced student performance, increased teacher retention, improved student and staff health and a $100,000 annual average savings from energy and water efficiency.

Representatives from Krell Energy Efficiency, SystemWorks LLC, the Iowa Energy Center and Siemens Industy-Builiding Technologies will present at the symposium. Topics include identifying energy savings and achieving sustainability through behavioral change and education. To register for the Green Schools K-12 Symposium, visit www.usgbciowa.org.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Facebook's Timeline & Your District's Page

On March 30, 2012, all Facebook Pages will get a new design, Timeline. Although this change will take a little getting use to, you can still use your page to build connections, share news and gather feedback. Luckily, Facebook has provided guides for making the switch to Timeline.

• For information about new features, start with the Pages Overview Guide (PDF)
• If you're new to Pages and want to know how to get started, check out the full Pages Product Guide (PDF)
• Walk through key features with our product experts in the Pages Learning video
  
• See more examples of the new design on live Pages by clicking on the links in the examples section above
• To find answers to specific questions, visit the Help Center
  

Checklist

• Upload a cover photo, 851 x 315 pixels
• Use a clearly branded profile picture
• "Pin" a post each week (important story that will stay at the top of your page for 7 days)
• Post daily to your page
• Manage your Page through the admin panel
• Notify your audience of the switch (before and after the change)

Sample Message (Before)
On March 30, (Name of Facebook Page), will move to the "Timeline" layout. You will still receive updates and posts on your news feed, but our page layout will change. Don't forget to share our page with your friends!

Sample Message (After)
(Name of Facebook Page) has changed to a "Timeline" layout. Take a look and let us know what you think! Don't forget to share our page with your friends.

March Educator Connection Now Available

The March EducatorConnection contains a variety of topics including the new Mackin Via onlineebook collection, professional development opportunities, certification andendorsement opportunities and a featured story of Heartland AEA and NorwalkCommunity Schools’ partnership in bringing Peer Partner PE to the high school.Click here to read the latest issue!!

March 2012 Special Issue of Each & Every Child Newsletter

Click here to download a special issue of the Each & Every Child newsletter from the Department of Education. It contains information about the recent state special education survey as well as a letter from Marty Ikeda, the State’s director of special education.

Character Development & Leadership Workshops to be Held in Iowa

Workshops about the Character Development & Leadership curriculum and its accompanying Role Models textbook will be held on April 26 at Iowa State University and on April 27 at the University of Iowa on April 27. These workshops are free, and each participant will receive a copy of the Role Models textbook. 

This curriculum is currently used in over 1,000 high, middle and alternative schools across America, including 45 schools in Iowa. This is a comprehensive 18-week curriculum that allows teachers to use it as a stand-alone course or to integrate it into a variety of classes. The following are common ways schools in Iowa have decided to use this curriculum: 

• Hampton Dumont & Johnston: Freshmen Academy 

• Dowling Catholic & Clarksville: High School Leadership Course 

• Clayton Ridge & Carlisle Middle Middle: School Leadership Course 

• Scott County Juvenile Detention: Alternative Education Programs 

• Aplington-Parkersburg High: Senior-level Capstone Course 

• Ames & Mississippi Bend: Class for At-Risk Students 

 • 3 High Schools in Waterloo: Tier 1 & Tier II PBIS Intervention 

• Marion High & Perry Middle: Homeroom or Advisory Period 

If you are data-driven, please know that our ongoing 8-year study indicates that students have better GPA, improved standardized tests scores and lower incidences of absences, suspensions, bullying and several important social variables. We provide each school with an annual research report on 84 variables. Please consider sending a representative from your school to learn how this curriculum could be a valuable addition to your school. Click here for a registration form. 

If you have any questions, please contact Joseph M. Hoedel, Ph.D. at (336) 462-7834 or jhoedel@characterandleadership.com.

UNI Presents Hot Topics in Education For Content Area Teaching

The University of Northern Iowa College of Education is hosting a Hot Topics in Education webinar, "A Framework for Teaching in Content Areas," at 4 p.m., Thursday, March 29.The webinar will focus on classroom strategies for educators to engage students in learning.This webinar will be presented by Kurt Meredith, associate professor of curriculum and instruction. For more information on Hot Topics in Education or to register visit www.uni.edu/coe/webinars.

Iowa State University to Begin New Superintendent Cohort

Iowa State University to Begin New Superintendent Cohort
We have a leadership adventure that might be just what you’re looking for! Iowa State University’s Educational Administration Program is forming a new Superintendent/AEA Director cohort to begin classes this June. We invite you to apply.

Recognized as an innovative program rooted in administrative dilemmas of practice, the Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) offers classes that fit full-time building leaders’ schedules, a responsive and award-winning faculty and affordable tuition. Here are more highlights of the CAS program:
• 24-month program, 30 credits
• Courses taught face-to-face with technology integration
• Classes meet in central Iowa one weekend a month fall and spring terms
• Spiral curriculum that revisits core topics over the 24 months
• Instructors are Ph. D. prepared practitioners
• Instruction is focused around dilemmas of practice, activities designed to apply theory to real world situations
• Mentoring opportunities with practicing superintendents

Applications are due April 15: http://www.elps.hs.iastate.edu/edadmin.php

Contact:
Dr. Jan Beatty, Educational Administration Clinical Professor and CAS Co-Director: jan1@iastate.edu or 515-720-7167
Dr. Mike Book, Educational Administration Clinical Professor and CAS Co-Director: mbook@iastate.edu or 319-290-1153

AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey to Launch Next Monday

It’s that time of year again when we ask that you fill out the AEA Customer Satisfaction survey. Next Monday, March 5 you and your staff will receive an email asking to complete the 2011-12 AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey. The Subject line of the email will read “Requested Action: AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey.” The survey will be available March 5 through April 6, 2012.

The survey provides us with your insight on how to improve our services to your school(s) and students. The more feedback we receive, the more comfortable we will feel making program decisions that benefit all schools in the Heartland area.

We will send a reminder in late March to insure that all district staff members have a chance to participate. Since the survey is anonymous, we have no way of knowing who has contributed and who has not. You are only asked to fill out the survey once. After you complete the survey, you may disregard the reminder notices.

Please remind all your staff to participate. We look forward to your input!

Superintendents: March 6 HAA Meeting

Download a PDF or Word Doc of the March Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 6 in Room 13 A/B of the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 9:00 a.m.

During the professional learning portion of our meeting on Tuesday we will have a guest speaker. Our topic is "Confronting Individuals who Undermine Learning." Peter Pashler from Ahlers & Cooney will address some of the legal issues encountered when dealing with teachers or administrators who have intensive needs. If you have not been participating in the learning portion of our meeting, you are welcome to attend during his presentation. He will start at around 9:30 a.m.

Reminder: I-ELDA Testing Materials

It’s time to order I-ELDA testing material, please see the information below for information on the new ordering process. Several things are new this year for the I-ELDA, click here for a document that summarizes those changes.

Plans are in the works for several workshop offerings this spring. They include sessions on ELL reading, math and sheltered instruction. More information will become available as these plans finalize.

Please feel free to contact us at any time with ESL concerns or questions.
Pat Latham (Regions 1, 2, 7 & 8)
(515) 993-4596, ext 11228
platham@aea11.k12.ia.us

Stephaney Jones-Vo (Regions 3, 5 & 6)
(515) 279-0405, ext 14680
sjonesvo@aea11.k12.ia.us

All information can be found on the I-ELDA website.

The ordering process has two steps:

• The Order and Agreement (New online form) is for your testing materials.
• The Bar Code Template- This is a spread sheet with information to order Bubble Answer Sheets for your students.

Order & Agreement - ONLY ONE ORDER PER DISTRICT
*Do not place a separate order for each building in your district. Both the Order & Agreement and Bar Code Template must be submitted before your order can be processed!

• Ordering I-ELDA materials has changed this year -- it is going to be done online in a Google Doc.
• Enter all information and double check it as this is going to be imported into all other documentation regarding your order.
• If you want a copy of your order and agreement for your records - print before you click on submit. This is also stated at the top of the form.
• You will need to have the results recipient information available at the time you place your order.
• DO NOT FORGET TO CLICK ON "SUBMIT!"

Bar Code Template
Complete and Submit electronically to Teresa Angerman tangerman@nwaea.org.
*Both the Order & Agreement and Bar Code Template must be submitted before your order can be processed!

• These will be filled in the same way they have been done in past years.
• The students' 10 digit state ID number must be included.
• Note: When specifying Public use a 0-zero and for Private use a 1-one.
• Teresa will respond letting you know when she receives your bar code file. (If you do not hear from her- it is your responsibility to follow up.)

Des Moines Public Schools to Hold Summer AP Institute

Des Moines Public Schools is pleased to announce that it will be holding the Summer Advanced Placement Institute. Advanced Placement and Pre-AP workshops for middle and high school teachers will be held July 30 through August 2, 2012 to provide information and strategies on supporting successful AP programs. College Board consultants will teach workshop sessions, and interested participants will have the opportunity to earn continuing education credit. For more information about the program and how to register, visit SummerAP.dmschools.org.

Celebrate April as the "Month of the Military Child"

The Iowa National Guard Youth and Teen Program (INGYTP) exists to provide military youth and teens with valuable opportunities for networking and skill development. April is the “Month of the Military Child" which recognizes the sacrifices and courage of military children. Help the INGYTP recognize the nearly 11,000 military youth throughout Iowa during April! Click here for information on recognition ideas and special training opportunities for educators. Click here for the INGYTP's book list of patriotic-themed books for children.

For more information, contact Jeremy Van Wyk, State Youth Coordinator, at jeremy.vanwyk@us.army.mil or (515) 252-4040.

Using Instructional Rounds to Strengthen the Instructional Core

Are you interested in learning more about the power of Instructional Rounds? Plan now to attend a workshop featuring Dr. Richard Elmore, Harvard University, on April 19, 2012 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Johnston. The workshop will be most beneficial for educators who are interested in beginning Instructional Rounds in their district or educators who are using Instructional Rounds in their district without a trained facilitator.

Participants will be asked to read Round and Round (Hough; City, Teitel, Elmore, Fiarman), found on the SAI website. Workshop content will be based on the book, Instructional Rounds in Education, by City, Elmore, Teitel and Fiarman. Reading this book in advance will help make the day more meaningful, but is not a prerequisite for participation.

Register at http://www.sai-iowa.org/reghtml/

g²-Global Generation Project-Based Learning Workshop

Muscatine Community Schools in conjunction with College Community and High Tech High will host a project-based learning (PBL) on June 21-22, 2012. Participants will learn to identify characteristics of effective projects, formulate action plans for development of projects and implement structures for PBL success. Click here for more information.