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 

Educators Brennan & Kinley Elected to Heartland AEA Board

We welcome Elizabeth (Liz) Brennan of West Des Moines and John Kinley of Ames, who have been elected to the Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA) Board of Directors!

Liz Brennan

• Fills Director District 9 position previously held by Jane Bell, who retired from the Board after 19 years of service
• Represents Des Moines, Martensdale-St. Marys, Norwalk and West Des Moines school districts
• Member of the West Des Moines Schools’ Board of Education and has served in many volunteer positions throughout the West Des Moines district

John Kinley

• Fills the Director District 5 position previously held by Cal Halliburton, who retired from the Board after six years of service
• Represents Ames, Ballard, Colo-Nesco, Gilbert, Nevada, Roland-Story and United school districts
• Educator for 40 years, beginning as a high school social studies teacher and then spending 15 years as a middle school principal.

“We’re delighted to have Liz and John join our board,” Paula Vincent, Heartland AEA Chief Administrator, said. “We are excited to have Liz and John collaborate with us and are confident their experience in the classroom, at the leadership table and with other community organizations will be a great benefit to our work.”

Visit the Heartland AEA website to read more about the new board members.

Our eBook Collection is Expanding; Tell Us What You Need

We have the opportunity to add to our MackinVIA ebook collection and we’re looking for content that best meets your curriculum. Let us know:

• What curriculum areas (and grade levels) are missing in VIA?
• What are your teachers requesting?

Send your recommendations or the curriculum that you need to have matched with digital ebooks to Susan Schrader, Director of Resources and Library Services, at 800-362-2720 ext. 14332.

Reminders and Updates for Administrators with ELLs

Districts in Years 2+
Districts in Years 2+ of not meeting one or more Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO) are required to send a team to the Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC). Review this information for ICLC registration and reimbursement directions.

Districts in Years 4+
Districts in Years 4+ of not meeting one or more AMAOs are required to send a team to ICLC and to select their administrators who will participate in the ELL Leadership Academy.

Participants in the ELL Leadership Academy are required to attend an ICLC Pre-conference session on Nov. 9 in order to launch the Academy with framework and expectations. Find the ELL Leadership Application form here.

If you have any questions, contact your Title III consultants, Stephaney Jones-Vo at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14680 or Janet Hiatt at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14022.

Watch Science Standards Conference Live

Oct. 20, 2015
9:00 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Watch the livestream here


Educators and administrators across the state can watch the Oct. 20 Science Standards conference through livestream. The conference is designed to bring together administrators, curriculum directors, Area Education Agency personnel, teacher leaders and higher education faculty to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with the adoption of the new Iowa Science Standards. For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Education website.