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