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.