Welcome Back

On behalf of Heartland Area Education Agency, I’d like to extend a warm 'welcome back' to all of you. I hope you join me in my excitement for the start of another school year, and look forward to the opportunity to partner together to make a positive impact on students—all 140,000 of them in Heartland’s service area.

I invite you to take interest in this Heartland AEA Administrator Connection blog. The Administrator Connection is updated every Friday (excluding holidays and summer vacation) to inform area superintendents, principals, curriculum directors and other school leaders of important announcements, agency news, professional development opportunities and other key information items. Please consider using the Administrator Connection as a means of exchanging ideas, offering feedback and sharing information with each other.

To our superintendent colleagues, we invite you to join us for our monthly Heartland Administrator Association (HAA) meetings. The meetings are a time to learn together, collaborate and exchange information around contemporary educational issues. The meetings are held at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center from 9:00 to 11:50 a.m. on the first Tuesday of every month. This year’s first HAA meeting will be on September 4, 2012.

At Heartland AEA, we will do our best to be a valued partner with you in our joint efforts to assure quality outcomes for those we serve. Please do not hesitate to contact your regional director or me with questions, comments and suggestions at any time.

Best regards,

Paula Vincent

Chief Administrator

Heartland AEA's Annual Progress Report Now Available

The Agency's Annual Progress Report (APR) for the 2010-2011 school year is now available. Click here for the report. You can also access the report via the Agency's website by clicking on the "About Us" link in the upper left-hand side of the homepage and then scrolling down to “Annual Progress Report.”

New Heartland AEA Comic Video Highlights Services

The graphic/comic book novel approach has generated super high "readership" for Web-based documents. We took that approach to make a short video that highlights how Heartland AEA makes an impact for the teachers we serve. Click here to see the video. Please help us share this video with teachers, parents and community members wanting to know a little more about how our Agency works with educators.

Internet Connectivity Through Heartland AEA

Heartland AEA area schools are relying more and more each year on Internet connectivity to provide a 21st Century education to their students, and their need for bandwidth is growing exponentially. An important service provided by Heartland AEA is Internet access, which is offered free to all of our districts. While some districts choose to use other providers, Heartland AEA and the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) work together to provide Internet access to 45 of our school districts and several of our private schools. 

As noted earlier, the demand for bandwidth has been increasing rapidly over the past decade. For the 2012-2013 school year, Heartland will be providing 2.5 gigabytes of Internet bandwidth at no cost to the participating schools, more than triple the 800 megabytes provided in 2011-2012.

If you would like to learn more about this service, contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology, at lwilhelm@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-9030.

U.S. Dept. of Education Memo on Sequestration

Click here for a memo from the U.S. Department of Education regarding fund sequestration. The memo was e-mailed to area superintendents earlier this summer.

Iowa Dept. of Education to Offer TransAct® Notification System for all Iowa School Systems

The Iowa Department of Education is pleased to provide all school systems in Iowa with free access to the TransACT® parent notifications. Click here for more information. Click here for a schedule of basic user training sessions that were designed specifically for Iowa school districts.

Reminder: Users of Online Training Encouraged to Log In During Non-Peak Times

This year we have had a 125% increase in the number of users taking trainings on the statewide online training system. Unfortunately, this unexpected increase in usage has put a strain on our system and led to a frustrating user experience for district employees as the server is slow to respond. On Monday evening, we made some changes on the system to help with the issue, but the user experience has still been very slow. 

We have set a limit on the number of concurrent users to 100. For those who are logged in, the system will then run at a regular pace. However, once the limit has been met, users attempting to log in will see a screen informing them of the limit. We encourage users to complete trainings during non-peak times such as in the evening or weekends. Traditionally, the number of participants tapers off in two weeks (week of August 27), which would then be an easier time to log in and complete the trainings. 

Districts that have planned on having their entire staff complete the trainings together during beginning-of-the-year in-service dates are encouraged to make alternative options available to their staff. 

We thank you for your patience.

HEART Training for Administrators, August 23

We will hold a HEART Overview for Administrators training on August 23, 2012. The training is intended primarily for school administrators and/or clerical/technical staff who will have responsibility for managing the HEART database for their school/district. The training will cover the basics of using the HEART system to summarize data, security management, data importing, data cleanup and other issues related to managing the system. Training is intended for those new to the job, but is open to anyone who would like a refresher. Please pass this information on to those in your district who would benefit from the training. 

HEART Overview for Administrators 

August 23, 2012 1:00-3:30 p.m. 

Johnston REC, Computer Lab 

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number AS003792111302 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.

Continuing Education for New School Nurses

Heartland AEA is offering an exciting online learning experience for new school nurses. Beginning September 3, the Moodle-based class will be open to all school nurses hired August 2011 or later. Registration is mandatory but the class is free. Credit toward nurse license renewal is optional for a flat fee of $15 dollars. Topics to be covered include:

• Nursing delegation of health procedures to paraprofessionals
• Instruction on how to write an individual health plan (IHP)
• Instructions on how to conduct health evaluations and screenings for special education
• Understanding special health services and the IEP
• Medicaid billing and the role of the school nurse
• Section 504 and the nurse as a team member
• Heartland AEA resources available to assist nurses 

Please pass on this opportunity to new school nurses. They may register here or go through our Professional Development catalog and enter activity number DR346899991301 in the correct field.

Inspire Children to Love Learning through the Project Approach

The Project Approach is an engaging and powerful way to teach children how to love learning. This four-part series, sponsored by the Mid-Iowa Chapter of Iowa AEYC, the Science Center of Iowa and Des Moines Business/Education Alliance, is designed to lead teachers step-by-step through the implementation of the Project Approach in the classroom. Graduate credit and teacher license renewal credit are available. Click here for a flier of dates and details.

Click here to register or register through our Professional Development catalog and enter activity number EC007899991301 in the correct field.

Student Invitation to the United State Senate Youth Program

“The 50th anniversary United States Senate Youth Program’s Washington Week was the most incredible week of my life.”
 - Scott Syroka (2011-12 Iowa Delegate from Johnston Community School District) 

 “The light we as delegates saw during the United States Senate Youth Program has motivated us to make change to bridge the divides within our society, and has ultimately inspired us to become tomorrow’s public servants.”
- Blake McGhghy (2011-12 Iowa Delegate from Keokuk Community School District) 

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 2012-13 school year.

Each high school may nominate up to three students. Student application materials are available on the Iowa Department of Education website at http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=939:ussenateyouthprogram&catid=671:advanced-learning-opportunities&Itemid=2738.

Completed applications should be submitted to Chris Jeffryes at Heartland AEA 11, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131 by 4:00 p.m. on October 5, 2012. Nominees will take a qualifying examination on October 15 at 1:30 p.m. in Conference Room 13A at the Johnston AEA Regional Education Center on the U.S. Constitution and government. The award recipients will be announced in December. 

Contact Chris Jeffryes (chris_jeffryes@aea11.k12.ia.us) or Cheryl Mullenbach (Cheryl.Mullenbach@iowa.gov) for information.

Iowa DE Invitation to TELPA Study and TELPA Ordering Guidelines

For the 2012-13 school year, all schools across Iowa are invited to enroll in the Tennessee English Language Placement Assessment (TELPA) study. (See invitation below.) The TELPA is an ESL screening instrument used to determine whether or not a student who speaks or hears a language other than English at home should receive ESL (Title III) services.

Schools in the Heartland AEA area must order and pay for their own TELPA tests from Measurement Inc. (MI). Click here for the reimbursement form which should be printed, completed and sent to Kevin Fangman at Heartland AEA. This form must contain an original signature.

TELPA Ordering Guidance

TELPA materials orders may be placed at any time. When placing an order with MI, you will be required to either enter a purchase order number or indicate that no purchase order number is required. Your district will be billed directly for all TELPA materials ordered.

To access the ordering web site, navigate to the following link and enter the User ID and Password below.

https://state2.measinc.com/TELPAMaterials

UserID: StateIA

Password: 123456

The TELPA is locally administered and scored so you will have immediate results to help you place your students. Once you do this, you will need to transfer your students’ scores to a Bubble Answer Sheets (BAS) Scantron sheet. You will send these to Northwest AEA so the test results can be entered into an assessment database for evaluation. Contact Stephaney Jones-Vo at sjones-vo@aea11.k12.ia.us or Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us for BAS Scantron sheets, not Northwest AEA or the DE. The BAS Scantron sheets will be sent to you by Heartland van mail.

Invitation to Participate in the TELPA

Dr. Jobi Lawrence, Title lll Education Program Consultant for the Iowa Department of Education, would like to invite you to participate in a study of a placement test that assesses the ELL students entering your district. The study is to confirm the alignment of the Tennessee English Language Placement Assessment (TELPA) with the Iowa English Language Development Assessment (I-ELDA).

The results of this study will determine if the TELPA will be used to replace the LAS and the IPT, which are currently in use. If this assessment is adopted, the test will define an entry level English Proficiency when the student enters the district so we can capture the first year growth.If you would like to participate in the study please have your superintendent fill in the consent to participate form (found by clicking here) and send it back to:

Iowa Department of Education

Attn: Mary Smith

Grimes State Office Building

400 E. 14th St.

Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146

orBy e-mail to Mary Smith

Mary.Smith@iowa.gov

If you choose to participate in this study the test materials will be of no cost to your district. Testing materials will only be of no cost to districts while the study is being conducted.To obtain TELPA BAS Scantron sheets please contact your AEA consultant with the number needed in K-2, 3-12 grade spans.

• Click here to read the directions for filling out front page of BAS Scantron
• Click here for the directions for returning TELPA BAS Scantrons to Northwest AEA (not Heartland AEA 11)

Save the Dates for ELL/ESL Opportunities

We wanted to make you aware of some upcoming events and opportunities that focus on the unique needs of ELL/ESL learners. Click here to subscribe to the English Language Learner/Diversity listserv to get timely information on ESL/ELL opportunities. 

ESL Advisory/Networking Meetings 

All Heartland AEA area districts are invited to send a representative(s) to quarterly ESL Advisory/Networking meetings. Participants identify professional development needs and provide input on Title III support for the school year. They also find out firsthand about mini grant opportunities for implementation in their districts. 

Dates: September 5, 2012; December 4, 2012; February 5, 2013; May 7, 2013 

Time: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 

Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive), Room 13B 

Implementing a Quality ESL Program: A Day Seminar for Administrator and Teacher Teams 

Date: September 26, 2012 

Time: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 

Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive), Rooms 13A/B 

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number ES006892111301 in the correct field. 

Special Education Considerations for English Language Learners with Cristina Sanchez-Lopez 

Dates: October 12-13, 2012 

Time: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 

Location: Zion Lutheran Church (4300 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines) 

More information to come. Please join the ESL Listserv. 

Mid-TESOL (Regional Conference for Administrators and Teachers)  

Dates: October 19-20, 2012 Time: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 

Location: Iowa State University 

More information to come. Please join the ESL Listserv. 

Iowa Culture and Language Conference 

Dates: November 11-13, 2012 

Location: Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Coralville, IA 

More information to come. Please join the ESL Listserv. 

The Pearson SIOP for Teachers Virtual Institute 

Title III will reimburse the registration fee and provide the text, Making Content Comprehensible for English Language Learners, for participation in the Pearson Virtual SIOP Training for Teachers. A $200 stipend will also be awarded to participants who complete the requirements of the institute and receive the certificate of completion. Teachers are encouraged to form study groups around this training and submit an electronic course proposal for license renewal or Drake credit. Please contact Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us with any questions. 

Dates: October 15-November 5, 2012 or November 13-December 11, 2012 

Location: Online Learning 

Go to http://siop.pearson.com/ to register for the Virtual Institute. 

Contact Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us for any questions about these ELL/ESL opportunities.

Concept-Based Teaching & Learning for Instructional Teacher Leaders & Coaches

Where: Prairie Lakes AEA, 824 Flindt Dr., Storm Lake, IA 

When: 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., October 30, 31 & November 1, 2012 

Cost: $900 per person which includes three days of training, a light breakfast & lunch each day, workshop materials, permission to use basic PowerPoint slides developed by Dr. Lanning and Dr. Erickson to use in coaching teachers 

Presenters: Lynn Erickson, Ed.D. and Lois Lanning, Ph.D. 

Participants will: 

• Gain a solid understanding of concept-based curriculum
• Complete a quality concept-based unit to use as a model
• Learn how to develop strong concept-based lesson plans that meet the deeper intent of the Iowa Core 
• Receive basic PowerPoint slides for facilitating future unit and lesson design
• Approach teacher coaching from a practical perspective – how to know what to look for in a teaching lesson 
• Learn how to develop concept-based graphic organizers that engage the conceptual thinking of students
• Discuss other topics of concern to instructional coaches 

Click here for more information and click here for a registration form. 

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.

Drake Online Fall Course Offerings

Click here to find a flier that promotes the three online courses developed by Drake University Extension Education (Anti-Bullying, Human Relations, and Teacher Leadership Strategies). All three are offered this fall and still have seats available. Teacher Leadership Strategies is the newest course and will be offered for the first time starting on October 15. All of these courses are offered for three hours of EDMA credit and are affordable ($550, not including the text). For more information about these and other online offerings, please visit Drake's online course web page at http://www.drake.edu/edex/distance/Online_Courses.php.

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.