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 has announced a series of February public forums and a statewide survey following a state panel’s recommendation to get public feedback on the Next Generation Science Standards. These are a set of learning expectations in science for students in kindergarten through high school. The Next Generation Science Standards were developed by 26 states, including Iowa. All states can consider adopting and adapting them to meet their needs.
Public feedback 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.
The survey, which is open through February 27, can be found at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VW6SHDY?c=Iowa_Science_Survey
The public forums are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, Feb. 11, Waukee
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Waukee Community Schools District Office – Board Room
560 Southeast University Ave.
Waukee, IA
Tuesday, Feb. 24, Ottumwa
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Great Prairie Area Education Agency, Ottumwa Office – Auditorium
2814 North Court Street
Ottumwa, IA
Wednesday, Feb. 25, Dubuque
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Keystone Area Education Agency, Dubuque Office – Room 1 ABC
2310 Chaney Road
Dubuque, IA
Thursday, Feb. 26, Sioux City
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Northwest Area Education Agency, Administrative Office – Room A/Auditorium
1520 Morningside Ave.
Sioux City, IA
The Next Generation Science Standards can be found at http://www.nextgenscience.org/.
For more information, please visit the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
The February 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, read about a literacy push showing very promising results within Green Hills Area Education Agency. It also addresses, albeit indirectly, the importance of having strong leadership in place, even if the leadership is not by title.
Course registration is now available for two ELL professional development opportunities:
Advocating for ELLs: Overview for School and District Administrators
Date: April 22, 2015
Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (Check-in from 8-8:30 a.m.)
Location: Stoney Creek Inn, Johnston, Iowa, Pioneer Room
Activity Number: ES008799991501
This is a non-credit workshop, but registration is required.
Advocating for ELLs: Overview for Teachers and Teacher Leaders
Dates: April 23-24, 2015
Time: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Check-in from 8-8:30 a.m.)
Location: Stoney Creek Inn, Johnston, Iowa, Northwoods Conference Room
Activity Number: ES008899991501
License renewal credit will be awarded for full participation.
Other Information:
- Administrators are encouraged to attend all three days
- Title III funds available to cover the cost of substitute teachers (reimbursement claim forms available at event)
- Diane Staehr Fenner’s book Advocating for English Learners: A Guide for Educators will be purchased for each participant.
- To accommodate travel time, please note the revised starting time from a previous communication
- Please register by March 13 to provide time to order books
For a closer look at course details and presenter bios, see the revised agendas and presenter bios!
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.
The next HAA meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 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 content is relevant to curriculum coordinators and we’d like to extend the invitation to that group. The agenda, handouts and directions to attend via Zoom are all posted on the HAA Google site.
Starting Feb. 1 and lasting throughout the month, AEA PD Online kicks off its “28 Days of OLLIE.” Educators will be privy to resources, live events, discussions, sharing and networking with other educators. It is the perfect learning place for teachers looking to add blended or flipped learning to their classroom.
Featured during 28 Days of OLLIE will be daily events, activities and even contests with prizes to help acclimate educators to the community. Find ways you can join in the learning with the 28 Days of OLLIE Starter Kit.
Educators at all levels and those who support them are invited to participate. The first step is join the community, which can be done in seconds!
Once you’re signed up, you’ll receive regular updates about
- Webinars and other real-time events
- Forums on topics related to teaching and learning online
- Activities that you can be part of
- Resources that are available
- Badges you can earn
- And much, much more!
Learn more on the AEA PD Online site.
As was announced by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, substitute authorization holders can now teach at the elementary level as well as the secondary level. It is encouraged that authorization holders take a renewal course geared to help better prepare them to substitute in the elementary setting. A renewal course is being offered in February. Please pass this information on to interested candidates.
Substitute Authorization Renewal: Teaching in the Elementary Classroom
Dates: Feb. 20 & 21, 2015
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston REC
Activity Number: SU000592111501
High school math teachers are encouraged to participate in an exciting professional development program, Statistics and Probability, Content and Pedagogy for Secondary Teachers.
There are no prerequisite skills needed for participation. The professional development is designed for teachers who have not taught statistics and probability on regular basis. AP statistics teachers are welcomed to attend, but the focus is on the general high school teacher who has algebra, geometry and general mathematics courses.
Statistics and Probability, Content and Pedagogy for Secondary Teachers
Dates: June 15-18 and 22-25 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Other meeting days are
August 3 – 6 on Drake University’s campus during the mornings only from 8:30 a.m. to noon.)
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston REC
Activity Number: MA006092111601
Note: The website says that 100% participation is required, but we will be able to accommodate teachers who need to miss a day or leave early on one or two days.
Teachers who participate receive the following benefits:
- $120 stipend per day of the program. In all, teachers are paid 15 days.
- 8 contact days in June
- 2 days in July working in PLCs and equivalent of 2 contact days August
- 4 additional fall and winter stipend days occur throughout the academic year for teaching two lesson plans, participating in three virtual PLC meetings, and meeting one day in the spring
- Reimbursement for travel expenses, meals and lodging for the summer workshop days held in the Des Moines area.
- Drake graduate mathematics credit for participating at a discounted rate of approximately $300 for 3 credit hours, which counts toward dual accreditation (Note: Other enrollment options are relicensure credit and audit. Regardless of the enrollment choice, all teachers experience the same opportunities to learn and fulfill the same course requirements.)
- A number of books, software materials and other resources to bring back to the classroom and share with colleagues in their schools including access to the lesson plans needed to implement statistics and probability in alignment with the Iowa Core.
If you have questions about the course, please feel free to contact Julie Hukee, jhukee@heartlandaea.org, Maryann Huey, maryann.huey@drake.edu, or Wendy Weber, weberw@central.edu.
Secondary social studies teachers may be interested in our new course, Building Literacy in Social Studies (Year 1). Participants will learn about the ELA Literacy Standards for History/Social Studies within the Iowa Core. In addition, time will be spent on an overview of the six instructional shifts needed to fully implement the Iowa Core. A more in-depth analysis of two of the instructional shifts- disciplinary literacy and the use of informational text will also be a central part of the professional development. Social studies best practices and examples will be used throughout the two days.
Building Literacy in Social Studies (Year 1)
Dates: June 8 & 9, 2015
Location: Zion Lutheran Church (4300 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines)
Activity Number: SS004599991601
Please join us for conversations about Chapter 62 Early Literacy Implementation legislation and the connections and considerations specific to Special Education.
Target Audience: Elementary Special Education Directors, Student Services Coordinators, Special Education teachers, etc. AEA staff members are invited to attend to enhance understanding and support teacher/district partners.
Topic: Special Education and Chapter 62: Connections and Considerations for individual students and system decisions. The session will provide an overview of Chapter 62 legislation, discussion of the intersection of Chapter 62 and special education, considerations for goal setting and progress monitoring, and data based decisions for intensifying instruction.
Learn more and register.
Central Iowa families, educators, community and agency staff and others who support children with special needs are cordially invited to attend our annual Diverse Learners Resource Fair! The Resource Fair is a FREE event that focuses on linking families of children and youth with special needs to valuable community and agency resources. The fair is hosted by Heartland Area Education Agency’s Parent & Educator Connection. Please pass on the flyer to any teacher, parent or student who may be interested in attending.
Diverse Learners Resource Fair
Date: Feb. 21, 2015
Time: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston REC
