Reminder: Please Complete Two-Question Website Survey

We are redesigning the website to make it easier to navigate for those we serve. If you have not already done so, please take a short, two-question survey on how you use Heartland AEA’s website. Your feedback is appreciated. The survey will be open until November 1, 2012. Go to the link below for the survey. 

https://docs.google.com/a/aea11.k12.ia.us/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEhLeGtOWHNRMVctTk42Tk5ORUUyREE6MQ

Save the Date for School Budget Workshops, Feb. 1, 15 & March 6

Every winter, Heartland AEA invites the Iowa School Finance Information Services (ISFIS) to facilitate budget workshops for superintendents and business managers. The 2013 workshops will be held on February 1, 15 and March 6, 2013. Below are the workshop formats.

The first session from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. will be for newer superintendents and business managers that haven't been through the budget process, have different financial situations or just need a little extra assistance.

The second session from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. will be geared towards superintendents and business managers that have been through the budget process before who want to get in and out and do not anticipate needing much one-on-one help. To attend this session, you must complete the following worksheets BEFORE the session: FY12 Worksheet 1 and Worksheet 2 AND FY13 Re-estimated Worksheet 1 and Worksheet 2.

Watch for registration information in the Administrator Connection in the next month or so.

Reminder: HEART Training for Administrators, Oct. 31

There will be a HEART for Administrators class on October 31, 2012. This workshop is intended for those who will have responsibility for managing HEART or leading it's use in the school. Topic covered will include managing security, cleaning data, importing data, as well as a full presentation of the various data displays available within the system. Participants for this workshop may include district administrators and other leaders. It may also be appropriate for technology or clerical staff with primary responsibility for managing the system.

Date: October 31, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Johnston REC, Computer Lab

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number AS003792111303 in the correct field.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Connor Hood at chood@aea11.k12.ia.us or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14506.

Reminder: EdInsight Cube Training Available, Oct. 31

EdInsight Cube training is limited to participants who have already been trained on EdInsight "canned reports." In this session we will learn how to use the analysis studio or "cube" reporting tools in EdInsight. This part of EdInsight is more complicated to use than the basic reports but has more powerful capabilities. It is helpful but not required to have some background in data analysis, including experience with Excel Pivot Tables or SPSS.

Date: October 31, 2012
Time: 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Johnston REC, Computer lab
Instructors: Jennifer Adkins and Connor Hood
Maximum: 15
Note: This class has a prerequisite that the participants have already attended EdInsight training previously (for "canned" reports). You may attend if your EdInsight training has been very recent and you do not have local login yet.

Space is limited so please register early. Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number AS005592111301 in the correct field.

UNI to Offer Advanced Studies Certificate in Superintendency Program

The University of Northern Iowa's Department of Educational Leadership & Postsecondary Education is accepting applications through November 15 for the Advanced Studies Certificate in Superintendency Program. Twenty percent of students in the past two superintendency cohort groups secured jobs requiring a superintendent's license before the program was over. Scheduled to begin in spring 2013, the program can be completed from a distance in two years by participating in eight courses and extensive internship experiences.

Offered in conjunction with UNI's Continuing & Distance Education, the program is designed for individuals seeking endorsement in the state of Iowa as a superintendent. More than 30 percent of new superintendents hired in Iowa over the past two years are UNI graduates. This performance-based program is unique in that it minimizes student class time and maximizes skill development while working with a mentor.

Many courses include an online component, and summer sessions may include some classes on the UNI campus. The program is organized as a cohort, where students will study with the same group of adult learners. Through this program, students may also be able to apply for the doctoral program and apply the units of credit toward the doctoral degree. Graduates from the program have access to a network of professionals who can help in the critical first years as a superintendent.

For more information about the Advanced Studies Certificate in Superintendency Program and additional offerings available through UNI Continuing & Distance Education at UNI, visit www.uni.edu/continuinged or call (319) 273-7740 or (800) 648-3864.

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.

Check Your Inbox for the New Educator Connection with World of Media

Earlier today, we emailed to all educators in our area the new version of the Educator Connection which has been combined with the World of Media newsletter. Click here to find the issue that includes information on our Creative Services (formerly Print & Production), online databases such as AEA Digital Library and NBC Learn, resources to help teach about the upcoming Presidential Elections and leading an anti-cyberbullying movement and a host of other links and tools to use in the classroom.

We're testing this new version which is an interactive, online e-magazine that replaces the past print, PDF and blog editions. Take a look and contact the Heartland AEA Communications Dept. at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us to let us know what you think!

Please Complete Two-Question Website Survey

We are redesigning the website to make it easier to navigate for those we serve. Please think about the ways you currently use Heartland AEA's website and take a short, two-question survey. Your feedback is appreciated. The survey will be open until November 1, 2012. Click here for the survey.

October Issue of Impacting Lives

Read the latest Impacting Lives update at http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/. In this issue, you'll find how AEAs combat bullying in schools, information on the educational focus of Eastern Iowa and a story about Ava, a small girl from Hardy who is making great developmental strides with the help of her AEA team.

HEART Training for Administrators, October 31

There will be a HEART for Administrators class on October 31, 2012. This workshop is intended for those who will have responsibility for managing HEART or leading it's use in the school. Topic covered will include managing security, cleaning data, importing data, as well as a full presentation of the various data displays available within the system. Participants for this workshop may include district administrators and other leaders. It may also be appropriate for technology or clerical staff with primary responsibility for managing the system.

Date: October 31, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Johnston REC, Computer Lab

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number AS003792111303 in the correct field.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Connor Hood at chood@aea11.k12.ia.us or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14506.

Latest offerings showcased in Professional Development Blog

Check out what's new on our Professional Development blog: Practical Applications for Celebrating Diversity in the Classroom, Identifying Your Cultural Identity, Historical Perspectives of Diversity, Human Relations, Right Brain Drawing and more! Find more detailed descriptions and registration information by clicking on the link below.

http://pdblog.aea11.k12.ia.us/

Kirkwood College to Offer Online Transition Course Spring 2013

In the Spring of 2013, Kirkwood Community College will offer an online, statewide Transition Services course that meets the Career and Transitional Programs Area of Concentration certification. Click here for a flyer about the course. Please feel free to share the flyer with paraeducators and teachers who may benefit from the course.

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.

Iowa Reading Association ESEA Title I Conference, June 25-26

The Iowa Reading Association, an interactive group of individuals promoting literacy through leadership and educational programming, will be hosting The Iowa Reading Association ESEA Title I Conference on June 25-26, 2013 at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa.

Featured speakers will include Gail Boushey and Joan Moser-the 2 Sisters (The Daily Five and CAFÉ), Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Lunch Lady), Peter Johnston (Opening Minds and Choice Words) and Barry Lane (But How Do You Teach Writing?).
 
Program proposals and registration forms are currently available on the Iowa Reading Association website.
 
For more information contact Wendy Hammrich, conference chair whammrich@gmail.com, or visit the Iowa Reading Association website at www.iowareading.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.

Let Heartland AEA Creative Services Work for You

Heartland AEA can create almost anything you need to help your students achieve and your school run smoothly. Since we’ve taken on a more creative and custom approach to our services, we’ve decided to re-brand our Print & Production Services as Creative Services. This reflects our renewed focus on working with educators to create and produce items that truly fit you, your students’ and your school’s needs. As always, we offer: 

• Graphic design
• Custom instructional materials (posters, maps, flip charts, flash cards, window clings, bookmarks, etc.) 
• Printing and copying
• Lamination
• DVD & CD duplication
• Ellison letters and shapes
• Kurzweil scanning
• Braille transcription

One of the new products we are very excited about is our new poster printer. It can print 24 x 36 posters and banners of almost any length. We use a special, durable paper, almost like plastic. Since it is so durable, it doesn’t need to be laminated and it can be folded up and used from year to year. Can’t you just see one of our graphic designers creating a custom bulletin board design for you that your students will love? As we said, the sky’s the limit!

Click here to find our new Creative Services catalog. It’s filled to the brim with examples of our products. Click here for the order form. All orders should be sent to our Production Facilitator, Jill Crees, at creativeservices@aea11.k12.ia.us. Pricing and general questions should also be directed to Jill by e-mail or at (515) 270-9030 ext. 14368.

www.aea11.k12.ia.us/print

Reminder: Transition Times Workshop on Oct. 16

Join the Heartland AEA & Des Moines Public Schools' Parent & Educator Connection for a Transition Times workshop next Tuesday, October 16. Information will be shared on planning for successful post-high school experiences. This workshop will feature a panel of successfully employed young adults with disabilities who will share their success stories. Please pass on the attached flyer to students age 14 and older, families and teachers who may be interested in attending.

Tom Lane Named SAI Iowa Superintendent of the Year

Kudos to Tom Lane, superintendent of the Carlisle Community School District, who was recently named the 2012-13 Iowa Superintendent of the Year by the School Administrators of Iowa. Lane was nominated by his peers and selected for the award by a committee of Iowa superintendents. Lane will be honored at a governor’s awards ceremony in late spring and at SAI’s awards banquet next August. He will also represent Iowa in the National Superintendent of the Year Program, sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators.

October 2012 School Leader Update

By request, we will now include the Iowa Department of Education’s School Leader Updates each month in the Administrator Connection. Click here to download the October 2012 issue.

EdInsight Cube Training Available Oct. 31

EdInsight Cube training is limited to participants who have already been trained on EdInsight "canned reports." In this session we will learn how to use the analysis studio or "cube" reporting tools in EdInsight. This part of EdInsight is more complicated to use than the basic reports but has more powerful capabilities. It is helpful but not required to have some background in data analysis, including experience with Excel Pivot Tables or SPSS.

Date: October 31, 2012
Time: 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Johnston REC, Computer lab
Instructors: Jennifer Adkins and Connor Hood
Maximum: 15
Note: This class has a prerequisite that the participants have already attended EdInsight training previously (for "canned" reports). You may attend if your EdInsight training has been very recent and you do not have local login yet.

Space is limited so please register early. Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number AS005592111301 in the correct field.

StandardsInsight Tool Now Available

All school districts now have access to the StandardsInsight Tool, which was developed to provide an in-depth look into the Common Core State Standards. The tool “unpacks” the standards into several categories and has also been adjusted to reflect the Iowa Core Standards. StandardInsights is available thanks to a partnership between the Iowa Department of Education and the Mid-Iowa School Improvement Consortium (MISIC). 

A webinar has been developed to provide information on how to access the Standards Insight Tool. Districts/schools were to identify administrators who will view this initial webinar, as it gives information about how to set up an account for your district/school. http://misiciowa.org/StandardsInsight.html

A second webinar for teachers is also available; this webinar includes information about how teachers can access the district’s account to enter grade level/course specific information about each of the standards. In order for your teachers to have access, you will need to make sure that you have registered your district and set up accounts for your staff. 

Note: The Department of Education has had recent feedback about difficulty and confusion regarding district account set-up and access. We expect further information from the Department soon to help address those technical difficulties. 

For now, if you have technical questions about accessing or using StandardsInsight, please contact Jamie Morgan at jamie@misiciowa.org. You can also contact Deb Hindman at the Iowa Department of Education at deb.hindman@iowa.gov. If you need support in your district or school with your individual efforts to implement Iowa Core, please work with your regional director from Heartland AEA.

Addendum Window for the Microsoft CyPres Program

October is the window for making this years addendum to the Microsoft CyPres Settlement application. The window closes October 31, 2012. Changes can be made to the hardware, software, and teaching strategies sections to reflect what the school will be doing this school year. The last window will open up on August 1, 2013 and close March 31, 2014. The program will come to an end on June 30, 2014. No invoice dated after June 30, 2014 will be eligible for reimbursement. Questions may go to John O'Connell, john.oconnell@mchsi.com.

Students Can Participate in the Stop Bullying Challenge

October is Bullying Prevention Month and www.stopbullying.gov is challenging your students to create a “Stop Bullying Video.” This challenge invites youth ages 13-18 to create a 30 to 60 second video that will inform and motivate youth to prevent bullying, and that promotes an environment where kindness and respect for others matters.

If your students participate in this challenge send us a copy of your video to comms@aea11.k12.ia.us to be featured on our Facebook page!

Save the Date
October 10 is Unity Day sponsored by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Encourage your students to wear orange and send us pictures of your unity day to comms@aea11.k12.ia.us . Learn more at http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp.
   
Register for the Governor’s Bullying Prevention Summit which will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Des Moines. https://preventbullying.iowa.gov/

2012-13 Staff & Schools and Superintendent Directories Now Available

Click here to download the 2012-13 Heartland AEA Staff & School Directory. Heartland AEA no longer prints bound copies of the directory to be more environmentally friendly and budget conscious.

Also please keep in mind that Heartland AEA has an online staff directory. This electronic directory contains the most up-to-date information about Heartland staff members. To access this directory, visit our homepage and click on the “AEA Staff Directory” link on the top right hand side of the page above the Leaders tab. You can search for Heartland staff members by last name, position or by the school districts they serve.

Click here to download the 2012-13 Heartland AEA Superintendent Directory. A limited supply of these much smaller directories were printed and distributed at the September HAA meeting.

Homework Help Handout for Parents/Students

Click here to find a handout of online resources available through Heartland AEA. Online databases are an excellent resource for reports, references and for fun! Feel free to pass on this handout in school newsletters and at parent-teacher conferences.

Reminder: Multi-tiered Systems of Cultural and Linguistic Support for ELLs

Come for an exciting two days of learning with ESL bilingual expert Cristina Sanchez-Lopez on October 12 and 13, 2012 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Des Moines. The workshop will provide guidance to those interested in designing more culturally and linguistically responsive multi-tiered systems of support (including RtI) for all their students with a special focus on ELLs. K-12 classroom and special education/ESL teachers and administrators, internal consultants and practitioners working with ELLs or special education students are encouraged to attend.

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number ES006999991301 in the correct field.

Employee and Student Discounts Available Through the Iowa Educators Consortium

Have you checked out the employee and student discounts available through the Iowa Educators Consortium? Check out the discounts on cell phone plans, digital cameras and camcorders, office supplies, software and technology at http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Employee_Student_Discounts.

The Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) is an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization supporting the mission of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. The IEC’s goal is to combine the purchasing power of Iowa schools to offer aggressive pricing on materials, goods and services. In 2010, participating Iowa schools and AEAs saved over $7.5 million.

Reminder: Risky Business Conference to Be Held Oct. 15

Registration is open for the Risky Business Conference to be held October 15 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. This conference is essential for those working with At-Risk populations. Click here for registration 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.

DMACC Surplus: Sled Based Desks

Des Moines Area Community College has surplus furniture available for no cost to you. There are a total of 106 soft chair sled based desks available. You can take all or a portion of the desks. Contact Julie Klocke in the DMACC Purchasing department if you would like to see pictures and are interested by e-mail at jaklocke1@dmacc.edu or by phone at (515) 964-6386.

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.