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 the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success
This information will also be shared at the March 3 HAA Meeting.
The Iowa Department of Education is launching a year-long program to support building principals state-wide who lead the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System.
Overall Program Purpose: To equip and support principals to form a cohesive building leadership team that is aligned to a singular mission as embraced by the district, and is able to develop and lead a collaborative process to strengthen instructional practice that leverages teacher leaders for school-wide improvement of student learning.
Audience: The program will be open to TLC schools who implemented in school year 2014-15 (YR 1) and who will implement in 2015-16 (YR 2).
Information Session Details: Any districts interested in learning more about this opportunity should plan to participate in one of the following meetings next week. All details, including program outcomes, participation requirements, dates, selection process and other key components will be shared via ZOOM.
ZOOM dates and times are:
Session 1: March 9, 2015 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Session 2: March 9, 2015 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Session 3: March 11, 2015 from 8 – 9 a.m.
Session 4: March 12, 2015 from 9 – 10 a.m.
Superintendents, or superintendent designees are asked to go to the Iowa Department of Education website on the TLC webpage to register for the informational ZOOM session they plan to attend. Participants will then receive the link to the desired ZOOM informational session.
Registration Link to TLC page on the DE website:
https://www.educateiowa.gov/teacher-leadership-and-compensation-system
If you are unable to attend any of these sessions, recorded session will be available, linked to the TLC webpage on the DE website on Friday, March 13, 2015.
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Program Overview
TLC Administrator Support Program Description: The TLC Administrator Support Program will be a comprehensive, year-long professional development program focusing on building the capacity of the principal to develop and facilitate distributed leadership in their school, namely by supporting and leveraging teacher leaders as part of the leadership team.
The program will include:
• three day summer intensive for principals and members of the district leadership
• on-going workshops during the school year for the principal and the building TLC team
• individualized school-based coaching provided on a monthly basis
Participation: The 2015-16 school year is a pilot year for this program. The program is designed to build capacity across the state for continued support and participation. There are limited numbers of openings in the program for 2015-16. In order to support the most number of school buildings, two systems of delivery have been planned. One system will be state supported with leadership coaches providing delivery within each AEA region. The other opportunity will be for districts to build their capacity by identifying and having their own leadership coaches trained to support their building administrators. A selection process for school and district participation has been identified. Further details will be shared at the ZOOM informational sessions and on the TLC webpage.
The March 2015 issue of Each and Every Child, the Iowa Department of Education’s e-newsletter that goes to over 15,000 Iowans who are a part of the special education community is now available. In this issue, go to Elkader in northeast Iowa where Keystone Area Education Agency has developed a literacy program that is showing a great deal of promise. The cost? Only your commitment.
It is with great pleasure that we announce the 4th cohort of the ESL endorsement partnership between Drake University and Heartland AEA which is starting this summer.
Please forward this flyer to all interested persons (teachers, curriculum directors, counselors, etc.). Note that the $2500 scholarship is available to all teachers served by Heartland AEA's Title III funding stream. This includes educators in all public and private schools within the Heartland AEA service area other than DMPS and the private schools served by DMPS in matters related to ELLs.
Note that informational meetings will not be offered this year; to better accommodate individual schedules, interested persons should contact Dr. Shelley Fairbairn at shelley.fairbairn@drake.edu for individualized guidance.
Please find below a high priority message from Dr. Jobi Lawrence, Title III Director, Iowa Department of Education, which outlines current federal and state regulations related to exit criteria for English Language Learners (ELLs) during the spring 2015.
Dear Colleague;
Last spring the Iowa Department of Education (IDE) received a monitoring visit from the United States Department of Education (USDE) Title III office. In visiting with school districts, the USDE found that some limited English proficient identified students were exited from language instruction education programs (LIEPs) prior to meeting the state exit criteria [IAC rule 281—60.3(3)(b)(4)]. As noted in the exit criteria, a student must receive a composite score of 6 based on the subtests of the English language proficiency assessment (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in order to be exited from an English language learners program. Additionally, the student must meet three of the following four exit criteria [Rule 60.3(3)(b)(4)]:
1. Success in regular classroom
2. Language Instruction Education Program support not required
3. Sustainability of success
4. Score proficient on district-wide and state-wide assessments, such as Iowa Assessments in reading, mathematics, and science
It is required that the student meet the exiting criteria concurrently, meaning that when the team sits down to make exit determinations the student must have a composite score of 6 and meet the 3/4 additional district-determined criteria at the time the decision is made.
Grand View University’s Jacobson Institute for Innovation in Education and the Grand View Education Department are pleased to present host the third Jacobson Visiting Scholar Symposium 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, April 11, at Grand View University.
This year Dr. Doug Fisher, an international expert on literacy strategies and instructional design, is the featured speaker. He has published many books and articles focused on reading and literacy, differentiated instruction, and curriculum design, including Better Learning Through Structured Teaching, Rigorous Reading, and Text Complexity: Raising Rigor in Reading. On April 11, Dr. Fisher will present on access points for reading complex texts and the purposeful classroom.
This event is FREE and open to all educators. Learn more about this event including the schedule and driving directions.
For questions, contact eddept@grandview.edu or Melissa Ostrem at 641-263-2844.
Six Iowa teachers received the 2015 STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching sponsored by Kemin Industries. The highly-competitive award brought in more than 150 applications from across the state. These six K-12 teachers, one from each Iowa STEM region, have demonstrated an unparalleled dedication to inspiring students to explore the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Iowa:
• Kacia Cain, Des Moines Central Campus (South Central STEM Region)
• Lisa Chizek, North Tama Elementary (Northeast STEM Region)
• Jason Franzenburg, Davenport West High School (Southeast STEM Region)
• Allison Gregg, Sidney Elementary School (Southwest STEM Region)
• Shelly Vanyo, Boone High School (North Central STEM Region)
• Mike Wedge, Sibley-Ocheyedan High School (Northwest STEM Region)
After being nominated for the award by a colleague, school administration, parent, student or community member, each nominee completed an application showcasing their contributions toward STEM education. The awardees were selected by a panel of judges based on that application. Each winner will receive $1,500 for personal use and another $1,500 for their classroom. A formal award ceremony and special panel session featuring the award recipients will take place at the 2015 Statewide STEM Summit on March 30. To learn more about the award, please visit: stemaward.fluidreview.com or register for the Summit at iowastem.gov/2015Summit.
Congratulations to the winners and a special thank you to all the nominees! Thank you for being outstanding STEM educators and bettering the lives of students across the state.
The next HAA meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 3 in Room 107 A & B of the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 9:00 a.m. The agenda, handouts and directions to attend via Zoom are all posted on the HAA Google site.
The next Curriculum Network meeting will be held on Friday, March 6 in Rooms 107 A & B of the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 8:30 a.m. The agenda and handouts will be posted on the Curriculum Network Google Site.
The Significant
Disabilities State Leadership Team is in the process of developing a
long-range professional development plan on specially designed
instruction of the Iowa Core Essential Elements for administrators,
educators and AEA staff who support students with significant
disabilities. We value your input and request your participation in this
survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/69TTH5N
Thank you for your
assistance in developing a long-range professional development plan on
specially designed instruction of the Iowa Core Essential Elements. The
survey is scheduled to close March 6, 2015.
If you have any questions, contact Keri Steele, Regional Director/Assistant Director of Special Education, at ksteele@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14372.
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 the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success
The DE is still in the process of collecting public feedback on a proposal to update Iowa's science standards. Time is running out; if you haven't already done so, please tell your parents and community members that their input is needed on this issue. Public feedback is sought in the following ways:
Take the survey (Deadline: Feb. 27)
Attend a public forum
Find a flyer about the upcoming Iowa Employment Conference: Employment, Training, Benefits & Wellness Conference. Schools that do not have human resources departments, leading to the HR duties falling on the administrative team, may find the conference insightful in staying up to date on the ever changing HR rules and regulations.
Iowa State University is now accepting applications for the Literacy Coaching Certificate program that starts in the Summer and Fall 2015. Our Literacy Coaching Certificate is an online program designed to prepare eligible classroom teachers, instructional leaders, and other school personnel to serve in literacy leadership roles with the goal of improving teacher practices and student achievement in diverse Pre K-12 school settings. Please check the program website here for detailed information about the curriculum, application requirements and tuition & fees.
APPLY NOW!
Summer application deadline is March 15
Fall application deadline is May 31
If you have additional questions please email literacy-coach@iastate.edu.
The Lake Mills Community School District is seeking applications for the position of Superintendent of Schools to begin on July 1, 2015. Lake Mills is an outstanding district whose current superintendent is retiring after eleven years in the district.
Applications materials can be found at Lake Mills CSD website or by contacting Jennifer Fjelstad at jfjelstad@lake-mills.k12.ia.us. Deadline for application is Feb. 28, 2015.
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 the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success
Registration is now open for the statewide Equity Coordinator & Civil Rights Training, to be held March 23 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Register here.
In this video, Heartland AEA’s HR manager Tony Chiaramonte goes into more detail about our upcoming Educator Career Fair. Learn more about the event on its Google Site.
Earlier this week the Heartland AEA Communications Department sent out the inaugural issue of the Educator Connection newsletter in its new format. The Educator Connection is intended to keep our educators better connected to our agency and to the many programs and services we offer to educators, students and families. Educators can subscribe to receive the newsletter here.
If you have any comments or suggestions for articles you’d like to see, please e-mail them to the Heartland AEA Communications Department.
Several sessions have been set up for summer and early fall, please check the catalog for the latest offerings!
Cognitive Coaching: Planning and Reflecting (Level I)
Dates: June 22, 23, 29, & 30, 2015
Location: Johnston REC
Activity Number: CS001992111601
Cognitive Coaching: Planning and Reflecting (Level I)
Dates: July 13, 14, 23 & 29, 2015
Location: Ames AEA Office
Activity Number: CS002292111601
Cognitive Coaching: Planning and Reflecting (Level I)
Dates: August 20, 21, 31 & September 1, 2015
Location: Johnston REC
Activity Number: CS002292111602
Cognitive Coaching: Problem Solving (Level II)
Dates: July 8, 9, 20 & 27, 2015
Location: Johnston REC
Activity Number: CS002392111601
Advanced Facilitation for Groups courses are also available.
Advanced Facilitation Skills for Groups
Dates: June 12 & 24, 2015
Location: Johnston REC
Activity Number: AD016592111601
Advanced Facilitation Skills for Groups
Dates: July 21 & August 4, 2015
Location: Johnston REC
Activity Number: AD016592111602
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 the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success
The Iowa Department of
Education announced a series
of February public forums and an online survey following a state panel’s
recommendation to get public feedback on the Next Generation Science
Standards. This is the name of science standards developed by 26 states,
including Iowa, that all states can consider adopting and adapting to
meet their needs.
Academic standards
represent expectations for what students should know and be able to do
from kindergarten through high school. Iowa’s academic standards are
being reviewed, starting with science, as part of Executive Order 83.
The process began last
fall when Buck convened a team of education and business leaders to
review Iowa’s science standards, as well as rigorous science standards
from other states, and to make a preliminary recommendation for
improvement to take to the public for feedback.
The science standards review team’s preliminary recommendation came in December, following three public meetings.
Feedback from the
February public forums and survey will be used to provide guidance to
the science standards review team, which is expected to submit a final
recommendation regarding science standards to the State Board of
Education later this year.
Buck said fine-tuning
Iowa’s science standards is especially critical as the state works to
bolster its commitment to science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) education so that students can compete for a growing
number of STEM-related jobs.
The survey will be open through Feb. 27.
Iowans also can provide feedback in person at any of the four public forums in February.
To read the Next Generation Science Standards, visit the Next Generation website.
To read Iowa’s academic standards, visit the Iowa Core website.
The February 2015 issue of the School Leader Update is now available from the Iowa Department of Education. Inside, Dr. Buck asks for your help to get a survey out that focuses on the state’s science standards. Legislative Liaison Shan Sievert gives you a rundown of everything education in the Legislature, and Attorney Nicole Proesch gives you a primer aplenty on everything legal.
The Iowa BOEE's February 2015 newsletter includes information about legislation, recent rule changes, renewal credits, hiring new graduates and more!
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the “something” in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions that achieve positive results. Join EQ Certified Trainer, Joel Pedersen, on Feb. 13 to engage in an exploration of the importance of emotional intelligence and learn how EQ can take your school or district to the next level. Register on the School Administrators of Iowa website.
Heartland AEA is pleased to announce that it will hold its first-ever Education Career Fair in March 2015!
March 4, 2015
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Heartland Area Education Agency
Johnston Regional Education Center
6500 Corporate Drive
Johnston, IA 50131
- The job fair will be
an opportunity for teachers and other education professionals to meet
with over 15 central Iowa school districts at one location to apply for
jobs for the next school year. Positions will range from administration
to teaching to support positions.
- Heartland AEA will
also be recruiting for careers such as speech therapists, occupational
therapists, physical therapists, school psychologists, school social
workers and special education consultants.
- The job fair will be
packed with opportunities for job seekers, including mock interviews,
resume critiques and graduate program information from area
universities. A number of districts will also be offering candidates
interviews right on the spot!
Visit Career Opportunities
page to view a list of the districts that will be participating in the fair
as well as the positions they will be hiring for. There is no
registration required, and the fair is free of charge.
Interested in finding out more about the State of Iowa STEM Scale Up? Want to see what each Scale Up is about? Ready to apply for the grant but want more information? You can find this and more in the training module "STEM and Scale Up Introduction” found at AEA PD Online’s Professional Development system.
To access the training:
1. Go to http://training.aeapdonline.org
2. Log in with your username and password (same on that you use to take trainings such as Mandatory Reporting and Blood Borne Pathogens)
3. Click on “Courses" at the top
4. Click on “Catalog”
5. Scroll down to STEM and Scale Up Introduction and click on it
6. Click on the “Register” button that appears below.
If you have any questions about the content, please contact Denise Krefting.
A common theme we hear
among area school administrators is the need for more substitute
teachers. Heartland AEA is an approved provider of the substitute
authorization program, and we would like to assist you in recruiting
more substitute teachers from your communities. Below are some tools to
help assist you in this effort.
Poster
These
posters may be hung in your schools during parent/teacher conferences
and sporting events and around the community. There is space at the
bottom of the poster where you can write in the district’s/school’s
hiring contact information. Posters can be ordered through our Creative
Services department. Posters will be printed on 13x19 hardy poster paper
and cost 40 cents each. Complete a Creative Services order form
and under item description, write “Substitute Teacher Poster” with the
quantity. Completed forms can be sent to Jill Crees, Production
Facilitator, at creativeservices@heartlandaea.org. Allow two weeks for process and delivery.
Link to the Heartland AEA website
Ask
your technology personnel to include a “Become a substitute teacher!”
link on your district’s/school’s website that links to the Heartland AEA
substitute authorization page:
http://bit.ly/AEA_SubAuth
Press Release
Consider
sending a press release on school letterhead to your local newspaper.
Be sure to revise and personalize the press release linked above. The press release can also be used as an article in your district/school newsletter.
Boone and Story county families, educators and community and agency staff who support students with special needs are invited to attend our Transition Resource Fair! The Resource Fair is a FREE event that focuses on linking transition-age students (14 and older) with special needs to valuable community and agency resources. Please pass on the flyer to any teacher, parent or student who may be interested in attending.
Transition Resource Fair
Date: March 3, 2015
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Ames Office (511 S. 17th Street)
The Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) provides a high quality online resource to assist parents and professionals in examining the evidence-base of a variety of psychological, educational and biomedical treatments for individuals with autism.
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