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.
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April 24, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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April 27, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
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May 1, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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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.