Our Mission
To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.
Our Goals
- Increase learning growth for students
- Decrease the gap in achievement
- Increase annual graduation rates
- Increase gateways to post-secondary success
Heartland AEA will host its 3rd annual Education Career Fair next Wednesday! School districts will be on-site to meet with job candidates for any and all types of education careers. Candidates will also have the chance to attend classes to learn how to navigate a career fair, have a successful interview and write a top-notch resume. We look forward to this opportunity to serve the education community and hope teachers and college students alike will be able to attend this event! If you have any questions, contact the Heartland AEA Human Resources Dept. at (800) 362-2720. This is a FREE event for both school districts and job candidates!
Heartland AEA is beginning year three of the online Request for Transportation Approval process.
Chapter 285.9(3) of the Iowa Code requires the Area Education Agency Board of Directors to approve all bus routes outside the boundaries of the school district operating the buses. This has been interpreted to mean regular routes and regular special education routes, not bussing for field trips or activity trips. The Code requires you to request permission from neighboring district(s) before any bus routes cross district boundaries.
Please review the instructions and timelines to complete the process for 2017-18, including the video tutorials. Districts are asked to begin the multi-step process this month. For more information, contact Jenny Ugolini at jugolini@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14441.
Iowa’s AEAs have received reports that some school administrators have been emailed a flyer advertising a four-day “all-expenses paid training” sponsored by the Iowa AEAs, Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa State Education Association. The registration link appears to send the user to a known phishing site. If you receive an email of this nature – do not click on the link and please notify Heartland AEA’s Communications Team at comms@heartlandaea.org. We are working as a state system with the DE and other authorities to address and remedy the situation.
The 13th Annual Our Kids Summer Institute for teachers and administrators of English Learners is set to take place at Waukee High School in Waukee on June 13-14. This local conference, which features national and local experts presenting on K-12 strategies specific to English Learners, includes strands for both teachers and administrators. Drawing around 500 educators statewide, the conference encourages attendance by school teams with an emphasis on non-ESOL educators in order to build much-needed capacity.
This year’s impressive line-up includes:
- Trudy Arriaga, EdD - The first female superintendent of Ventura Unified School District for 14 years and co-author with well-known Corwin equity and cultural proficiency expert, Randall Lindsey, Ph.D.
- Amy Hewett-Olatunde, EdD. - Minnesota’s 2015 Teacher of the Year and an English Learners teacher at LEAP High School
- Fern Westernoff, Ed.D. - A speech-language pathologist with almost 30 years of experience working with children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in the Toronto District School Board
We invite you to join us at Waukee High School in June for this excellent learning opportunity and a few surprises designed to support English Learners and their families in a variety of ways.
One licensure renewal credit will be available. Registration coming soon!
Des Moines Public Schools and Drake University are teaming up to bring you Transforming Systems Through Standards-Based Learning on June 22 at the Iowa Events Center. Topics covered include implementing standards-referenced learning, including grading and reporting, over a large district, specific learning sessions for administrators, small school strategy on system transformation and aligning student information systems with standards-based learning.
The conference is designed for secondary and elementary educators who are starting authentic standards-based learning (including grading & reporting), teachers who are trying things on their own, and those who are looking for new ideas to try.
Transforming Systems through Standards-Based Learning
Date: June 22, 2017
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: Iowa Events Center, 730 3rd St, Des Moines
Registration Link
Heartland AEA will be offering a second learning opportunity for teachers of students with significant cognitive disabilities. Improving Literacy Instruction for Students on Alternate Assessment focuses on early literacy skills for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The concepts and strategies apply to any student with significant disabilities (level 3) who has emerging literacy skills (non-readers) K-12.
This course was previously taught in Dec. 2016 and Feb. 2017 but under a different name. If interested in attending, register early as seating is limited to 35 participants. For more information, contact Pam Childers at pchilders@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 ext. 14457.
Improving Literacy Instruction for Students on Alternate Assessment
Date: July 24-25, 2017
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Registration Link
Parents, students ages 14+, school administrators, AEA staff, counselors and educators who are preparing individuals to transition from high school to postsecondary pursuits are invited to Heartland AEA’s Transition Resource Fairs in March and April.
Visit with representatives from agencies that serve students with disabilities in the areas of living, working and learning including:
- Vocational resources
- Assisted living
- College opportunities
- State and county resources
- Assistive technology
- Camps and leisure pursuits
- Finances
- Disability support resources
Upcoming Transition Resource Fairs:
March 7, 2017 in Ames
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Heartland AEA, 511 S. 17th Street, Ames
April 10, 2017 in Van Meter
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Van Meter High School, 520 1st Ave, Van Meter
Registration is not required, but families are encouraged to let their child’s school counselor/special education teacher know that they plan to attend.
Fast-Track Iowa's Future, a conference featuring education-workforce innovations emerging across Iowa, will engage stakeholders in dialogue on how to grow and improve school-business partnerships, especially in STEM. The conference goal is to equip attendees with the knowledge, connections and resources to build school-business partnerships in home communities.
Fast Track Iowa's Future Conference: A Future Ready Iowa Conference to Make Work-Based Learning and STEM Work for You
Date: June 21, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Iowa Events Center, 730 3rd Street, Des Moines
Registration: Adults: $30, Students: $10
Registration Link
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
The Iowa Department of Education’s March 2017 Each and Every Child Newsletter is now available. Read how this school incorporates technology designed to give hands-on experience at a wealth of different career options. The goal? To ensure hard-to-fill, good-paying jobs have a ready supply of job candidates who in the past were often overlooked.
The Iowa Department of Education March 2017 School Leader Update is now available.
