Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Office Hours and Van Delivery Schedule

All Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public Dec. 24, 2015 through Jan. 3, 2016. Please note the following schedule as you plan to place orders through Creative Services and send and receive items through our van mail.

• Regular Van Delivery: Dec. 21-23
• No Van Delivery: Dec. 24-Jan. 1
• Regular Van Delivery Resumes: Jan. 4

Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.

Happy holidays and best wishes in the new year! See you on Jan. 4!

Reminder: Register by Dec. 21 for “Implementing Standards-based Grading” Workshop

The registration deadline is right around the corner!

Heartland AEA will host "ImplementingStandards-based Grading" on Jan. 5, 2016 with featured presenter, Dr. Cathy Vatterott. This professional learning opportunity is designed for administrators and teacher teams who want to learn more about standards-based grading or are in the beginning stages of implementation. Districts are invited to send a team of 3-5 people. Larger districts may send a few additional participants.

Deadline to register is Monday, Dec. 21. Register here. 

If you have been unable to register for the workshop or would like to check the status of your registration, follow these step-by-step directions or contact Heartland AEA Professional Development at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14701 or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14701.

This professional learning opportunity is held in lieu of the January Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) Meeting.

If you have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of District Services, at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14374.

Interruption in Network Services Over Winter Break Anticipated

During winter break, the IT department will be moving our Internet connection and our key servers to LightEdge, a state-of-the-art data center in Altoona. We hope to minimize down time for key services, but there will be some outages on Dec. 29 as our Internet connection and services are moved.

Assuming the weather cooperates, and the move goes as planned, the interruptions in key services such as the employee dashboard, universal registration, Moodle and agency phones/voicemail will be limited to the 29th. Access to Google and the agency website will be unaffected by this change. If there are changes in this timeline, we will provide further updates via email and the website.

Thanks for your understanding and patience as we complete this major relocation of services.

For more information, contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology, at (800) 362-2720.

Training Dates Set for New State Assessment of English Language Learners

Beginning this school year, the state’s required assessment for English Language Learners will be an online assessment: the English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21). It will replace the Iowa English Language Development Assessment.

The Department will provide training for tech coordinators, test coordinators, and test administrators with a series of webinars. They are also providing a test administration certification module for teachers.

Training registration information can be found here.

For more information, contact Colleen Anderson, Student Assessment, Iowa Department of Education at (515) 281-3249.

Iowa Science Standards Professional Development Begins Jan. 12

In order to support the implementation of the new Iowa Science Standards, the science learning community of Iowa is partnering to offer the first professional development opportunity, beginning Jan. 12.

Iowa Science Standards Professional Development Module 1 will introduce participants to the new Iowa Science Standards, their conceptual shifts and three-dimensional nature, as well as provide participants and districts an opportunity to have conversations as we move toward implementation.

Find registration, locations and dates at this link. You will sign up for one full day and one half day. The half day is based on grade level.

For more information, contact Robert Kleinow, Science Curriculum Consultant, at 800/362-2720 ext. 14376.

Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Office Hours and Van Delivery Schedule

All Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public Dec. 24, 2015 through Jan. 3, 2016. Please note the following schedule as you plan to place orders through Creative Services and send and receive items through our van mail.

• Regular Van Delivery: Dec. 21-23
• No Van Delivery: Dec. 24-Jan. 1
• Regular Van Delivery Resumes: Jan. 4

Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.

Happy holidays and best wishes in the new year! See you on Jan. 4!

Training Dates Set for New State Assessment of English Language Learners

Beginning this school year, the state’s required assessment for English Language Learners will be an online assessment: the English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21). It will replace the Iowa English Language Development Assessment.

The ELPA21 is required for all English Language Learners in K-12. The tests are to be administered annually from Feb. 15 - April 15. The cost for the assessment is wholly paid by the Iowa Department of Education.

The Department will provide training for tech coordinators, test coordinators, and test administrators with a series of four, one-hour webinars. They are also providing a test administration certification module for teachers.

All webinars are scheduled from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. and the first training is Dec. 14. The recording and materials will be posted on the Iowa Department of Education’s ELPA21 website and the Area Education Agencies’ Agora site for English Language Learners.

Registration information can be found here.

For more information, contact Colleen Anderson, Student Assessment, Iowa Department of Education at (515) 281-3249.

Learning Opportunity: Standards-based Grading Workshop

Administrators and teacher teams who want to learn more about standards-based grading or are in the beginning stages of implementation are invited to attend "Implementing Standards-based Grading" on Jan. 5, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. with featured presenter, Dr. Cathy Vatterott.

This professional learning opportunity is held in lieu of the January Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) Meeting.

The framework for the day includes:

• General overview/common principles and definitions as an anchoring conversation
• Insights for working with teachers, parents, students, etc.
• Lessons learned from national perspectives
• Implementation logistics and challenges

Who should attend: Districts may send a team of 3-5 people and larger districts may send a few additional participants.

Registration (required): $18 per person, includes coffee in the morning and a boxed lunch. Register by Dec. 18 at this link. A detailed agenda will be sent prior to the workshop. 

If you have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of District Services, at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14374.

Leaders To Learn From Virtual Events Collection

Education Week's Leaders To Learn From Virtual Events take you deeper into the expertise and experiences of some of the nation's most innovative school district leaders. This group of forward-thinking district administrators covers a range of topics, including: whole-child accountability, parent engagement, fostering an environment for innovation, and more. You'll receive instant access to six fascinating Education Week Webinars led by Leaders To Learn From honorees and other experts. The presentations provide both practical, ready-to-use advice and essential contextual information. Learn more here.

AEA Purchasing Newsletter: Diverse Learning - December 2015

The Dec. 2015 issue of the AEA Purchasing Newsletter provides resources for:

• New vendor partners
• Products and technology webinars
• Furniture ideas for ADHD friendly classrooms
• Rosetta Stone’s language learning suite for K-12
• Multisensory environmental solutions

DMACC Surplus Available

The DMACC Ankeny campus has the following surplus supplies available:

18 Nikon Microscopes

If interested, please contact Julie Klocke, DMACC Purchasing, at (515) 964-6386.

FREE Professional Development Opportunity for Civics and U.S. History Teachers

Want to know more about America’s founding? Curious about how current events connect to Constitutional issues? If you are a middle or high school teacher who teaches civics or U.S. history, you are invited to apply to be part of the first year of the James Madison Legacy Project.

Only 10 teachers will be selected for the project. Teachers will have access to Constitutional scholars and teacher mentors who will help participants implement best practices in the teaching of the Constitution. Each participant will receive a $500 stipend with reimbursement for mileage and lodging, if needed, We the People textbooks and two license renewal credits.

The weekend seminars in 2016 are planned:

• Jan. 29-30
• Feb. 26-27
• April 1-2

The application deadline is Dec. 18. Learn more about the James Madison Legacy Project or contact John Wheeler or Stefanie Wager.

97 School Districts Added to Iowa’s Teacher Leadership System

Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise announced the next group of school districts chosen to launch local teacher leadership plans through Iowa’s Teacher Leadership and Compensation System. Ninety-seven school districts have been added to the state system, bringing the total number of districts in the teacher leadership system to 295 (88 percent of Iowa districts). To see the list of school districts and learn more about Iowa’s teacher leadership system, visit the Department’s website.

High School Principal Search - Waukee, IA

The Waukee Community School District is conducting a search for a High School Principal due to professional advancement. If interested, apply at www.waukeeschools.org/careers/career-opportunities/. Questions can be directed to Roxy Livermore at (515) 987-5161.

Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

Holiday Office Hours and Van Delivery

All Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public Dec. 24-Jan. 1. Please take note of the following schedule as you plan to place orders through Creative Services and send and receive items through our van mail.

Regular Van Delivery: Dec. 21-23
No Van Delivery: Dec. 24-Jan. 1
Regular Van Delivery Resumes: Jan. 4

Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.

Do You Know About Heartland AEA’s Parent & Educator Connection?

The Heartland AEA Parent & Educator Connection (PEC) encourages and promotes positive partnerships between parents and educators so that children with special needs are successful. Our PEC coordinators are parents of children or young adults with special needs, so they share a unique perspective with the families we serve.

The PEC offers:

• Conferences, workshops or networking groups
• Links to community resources, camps and leisure activities
• Transition support to help prepare a student in special education to move from high school to the workplace or higher education
• Parent Online Trainings for topics such as orientation to special education, eligibility for special education, managing behavior, bullying prevention

For more information, contact Terry Mendell, Lead Parent Coordinator, Heartland AEA, at (800) 255-0405 ext. 17135 or sign up to receive notifications of PEC events and newsletters.

Reminder: Applicants Sought for 2015 STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching

Administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, students and other STEM advocates are invited to nominate an inspirational science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the 2016 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries and the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

Nominations close Dec. 11, 2015.

For more information or to make a nomination, visit the 2016 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award website or contact Taylor Rookaird or Carrie Rankin.

Dec. 2015 School Leader Update

The Dec. 2015 issue of the School Leader Update is available from the Iowa Department of Education. Inside, Director Wise talks about two big pushes in the state – the Iowa School Report Card and Differentiated Accountability. Attorney Nicole Proesch reminds you to keep the holiday in (legal) perspective. And read about the 2016 Teacher of the Year.

Dec. 2015 Each and Every Child Newsletter

The Dec. 2015 issue of the Each and Every Child newsletter is available from the Iowa Department of Education. In this issue, drop in on the team at Pocahontas Elementary School in the town of the same name in north central Iowa. There, you will find they are embracing Universal Design for Learning, or UDL, something they find helps individualize classroom work for each and every child – and enables a deeper understanding of content.

Teacher Input Needed on Eval Practices and PD

Iowans who make up the Council on Educator Development have developed recommendations for teacher and administrator evaluation practices and professional development. Feedback is needed on the recommendations from superintendents, principals, teachers and school board members by Dec. 18. 

Give your feedback now!

All survey responses will remain anonymous.

High School Principal Search - Winterset, IA

The Winterset Community School District is conducting a search for a High School Principal due to retirement. Questions can be directed to Susie Meade at (515) 462-2718.

Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

Message from the Chief Administrator: Update on the Status of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization

Many of you are aware that that Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA-sometimes referred to as No Child Left Behind) is finally moving through Congress and appears to be on a path for reauthorization by the end of the year.

I encourage you to read this update from Noelle Ellerson (AASA/AESA) and to contact members of the Iowa delegation to urge passage of the bill yet this year. While the final bill language is still unknown and there will likely be elements that are less favorable than we would like, it is a significant improvement over the current federal law.

Paula Vincent
Heartland AEA Chief Administrator

Heartland Administrators’ Association Meeting Reminder

The Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) will meet Dec. 1 at 9:00 a.m. at the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center in Johnston. An agenda will be forthcoming.

HAA Meeting
Dec. 1, 2015
9:00 a.m.
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center
6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Thanksgiving Holiday Office Hours & Van Delivery

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, all Heartland AEA offices will be closed Nov. 26 and 27. Our van delivery schedule will be as follows:

• Regular delivery Nov. 23-24
• No delivery Nov. 25-27

Regular delivery resumes Nov. 30. Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection on Nov. 27.

Assessment & Intervention for Students with Visual & Multiple Impairments Course Coming in December

Dec. 9, 2015 and Feb. 23, 2016

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center
Register Now

Target Audience: Teachers, parents, associates, administrators and AEA staff who work with students whose intellectual, conceptual and functional skills are in the 0 to 2-year range of development. The assessments and interventions require a great deal of collaboration in order to determine how the materials should be applied for a given student, so it is recommended a student’s learning partners – parents, school and AEA staff – attend the training as a team.

Iowans Sought for Social Studies Standards Writing Team

Iowans are invited to apply to serve on a state team that will rewrite Iowa’s social studies standards for public review and possible adoption statewide. Any Iowan may apply to serve on the social studies standards writing team, but priority will be given to applicants who have a background in K-12 or higher education. Applications are due Dec. 11. To apply, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VXWX6L7.

For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Education website.

State Board of Education Acts on SBAC Rules

The State Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt administrative rules (IAC 281.12) that implement the Smarter Balanced Assessments as Iowa’s state accountability assessments beginning in May 2017. It’s important to note that the rules are subject to review by the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee before they can take effect.

The Board filed notice of intended action to amend the administrative rule in September. The proposed rules were then published in the Administrative Rules Bulletin in October and a process of public input concluded in early November. The next step is a second review by the Administrative Rules Review Committee on a date that has not yet been determined.

To help navigate the process and the rules, please read the FAQ and Talking Points provided by the Department.

For more information, contact David Tilly, Deputy Director, Iowa Department of Education, at (515) 281-3333.

Last Call! Take the DE/AEA Customer Survey!

The deadline is quickly approaching for educators to complete the annual DE/AEA Customer Survey. This is your opportunity to provide valuable feedback about AEA services. The survey is open until Nov. 25, 2015. Please share with your staff. If you have any issues accessing the survey, contact Dr. Gary Dannenbring.

High School Principal Search - Fort Dodge, IA

The Fort Dodge Community School District is conducting a search for a High School Principal. Questions can be directed to Dr. Doug Van Zyl at 515-574-5638.

Superintendent of Schools Search - Wahoo, NE

The Wahoo Public School District is conducting a search for a Superintendent of Schools. Questions can be directed to Dr. Roy Baker at (402) 470-1321, Dr. Craig Pease at (402) 610-0702 or Ed Rastovski at (402) 430-5837.

Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

Call for Presentations Now Open for One-Day Literacy Event

Does your school or district have literacy successes or interventions you’d like to share with other educators? If so, you’re invited to apply to be a presenter at “Celebrating Iowa’s Success,” a one-day literacy event sponsored by Collaborating for Iowa’s Kids (C4K), a collaborative comprised of the Iowa Department of Education, Area Education Agencies, and Iowa districts.

Applications to present are due Nov. 20.

Registration for the event is due Dec. 18. District and building administrators, reading specialists, classroom teachers and instructional coaches are invited to attend.

For more information, contact Mary Jane Stites or Mark Crady, coordinators of C4K Training Cadre, at (515) 270-0405.

American Education Week, Nov. 16-20, 2015: “Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility”

Nov. 16-20 marks the National Education Association’s 94th annual celebration of American Education Week. The AEW festivities will honor the team of people who work in the nation’s public schools, everyone from the bus driver and classroom teacher to the cafeteria worker and administrative staff, plus countless others. The celebration is also an opportunity for school and community leaders to renew their commitment and support for quality public education for all students.

For more information about American Education Week, visit www.nea.org/aew.

Students Encouraged to Enter Library of Congress Reading & Writing Contest

Letters About Literature (LAL) is a reading/writing contest sponsored by the Library of Congress that challenges students in grades 4 through 12 to become independent readers. Young readers respond to the work they have read (fiction or nonfiction, a short story, poem, essay or speech) by exploring the personal relationship between themselves, the author, and the work’s characters or themes, and then write a personal letter to an author explaining how that author’s work changed their way of thinking about the world or themselves.

Letters are judged on state and national levels and students are eligible to win cash awards and submission for judging at the national level. Grades 9-12 letters must be postmarked by Dec. 4, 2015 and grades 4-8 must be postmarked by Jan. 11, 2016.

Complete information about the 2016 Letters About Literature program (classroom teaching guide, how LAL helps meet the Iowa Core, entry coupons, judges’ criteria) is available on the Iowa Center for the Book website.

**Please forward this email to language arts, gifted/talented and other teachers in your schools who emphasize reading and writing in their disciplines.

Differentiated Accountability Focuses on Need

Differentiated Accountability is a system designed to replace the former mandate of on-site visits every five years by the Department. The short concept of Differentiated Accountability, or DA, is that site visits are now focused on need. If a district is performing well, it may receive no visit, enabling districts with more needs to receive more coaching. Instead of a prescriptive, top-down list of corrective actions, the school will be an active participant in determining what’s working well, what needs improvement, and how to remedy it.

For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Education website.

Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

How Are We Doing? Take Our Survey!

As you reflect back on the 2014-15 school year, and specifically on the Heartland AEA services you used last year, you’re invited to participate in the annual statewide AEA/DE Customer Survey. It only takes a few minutes!

Take the Survey!

Thank you in advance for your participation! Your feedback helps us to evaluate and improve upon our services to you.
The survey is open until Nov. 25, 2015. If you have any issues accessing the survey, contact Dr. Gary Dennenbring.  

AEA Purchasing Foodservice Newsletter

The Nov. 2015 AEA Purchasing Foodservice Newsletter includes topics such as professional standards requirements for school nutrition staff, cafeteria functionality and ServSafe® certification.

Nominations Sought for I.O.W.A STEM Teacher Award

Administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, students and other STEM advocates are invited to nominate an inspirational science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the 2016 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries and the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

Formally known as The STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching, this award is dedicated to honoring one teacher from each of the six STEM regions for their contributions and dedication to STEM education in Iowa. Each winner will receive $1,500, as well as another $1,500 to be used in their classroom.

For more information or to make a nomination, visit the 2016 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award website or contact Taylor Rookaird or Carrie Rankin.