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

IPI Workshops Are Coming to a Location Near You

Instructional Practices Inventory Level 1 Workshop

The IPI workshop will begin with an overview of the IPI categories and the protocols for data collection. Detailed practice in the recognition of the IPI categories and consistent application of the data collection protocols enable each participant to develop both validity and reliability in the process. The skill development begins with written scenarios to develop basic understanding of the protocols for data collection and the instructional activities that fit each category. The workshop then transitions to a local school to make observations in classroom settings. All observations are discussed with peers and with the trainer.

Date: March 21, 2018
Location: Gilbert Intermediate School, 103 Mathews Dr, Gilbert
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Register at this link
Keynote Speaker: Jerry Valentine, Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri

Instructional Practices Inventory Technology Workshop
The Instructional Practices Inventory Technology (IPI-T) Process was developed to provide critical data for faculty about student engagement throughout the school day focusing on technology infusion as a component of engagement. Using the data, faculty and school leaders can design strategies for increasing levels of active, engaged learning and higher-order instruction while reducing the degree of student disengagement during learning time. In addition to fostering positive instructional change, the process can also serve as an indicator of the relative impact of a school’s technology investment and instructional interventions. During the workshop, participants will develop the skills to document student engagement through the use of technology and learn how to use the profiles to engage faculty in collaborative learning conversations about engagement, instructional change, technology integration and school-wide instructional goals.

Date: March 22, 2018
Location: Johnston Community School District Administration Building, Board Room, 5608 Merle Hay Road, Johnston
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Register at this link
Keynote Speaker: Jerry Valentine, Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri

Heartland AEA Special Education Leaders Network Will Convene on Feb. 28

Heartland AEA’s newly created Special Education Leaders Network will meet on Feb. 28 from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. The network provides up-to-date Special Education practices, procedures and requirements information, as well as time for district special education leaders to collaborate with one another, and with Heartland AEA leaders on timely topics. 
The February agenda includes:

• Discussion of the Supreme Court ruling on Endrew F.
• Responding to parental requests for evaluation for special education
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
• Strive and Strive Academy Programs

Heartland AEA Special Education Network
Date: Feb. 28, 2018
Time: 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Participate in person with our Regional Directors at one of the Heartland AEA locations below.

• Adel Public Library Conference Room
• Heartland AEA Ames Office
• Heartland AEA Carroll Office
• Heartland AEA Johnston Office (Rooms 152 A/B/C)
• Heartland AEA Knoxville Office
• Heartland AEA Newton Office (DMACC, Rm 248)
• Lake Panorama National Conference Center

Due to district specific conversations, we recommend you attend in your region. However, participants are welcome to attend at the location most convenient for them.
Registration Link 
Register by Feb. 21, 2018

Participating in person is recommended as activities and discussion regarding contextual application will occur. However, if you are unable to attend in person, participation via Zoom is available.

**Join the meeting by Zoom at this link

Questions: Contact Sara Mercer, School Psychologist, Heartland AEA at smercer@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 Ext. 14312

Transition Resource Fairs Connect Students and Families with Community Agencies

Ames Transition Fair
March 6
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Heartland AEA
511 S. 17th Street, Ames, IA

Invited: Boone and Story County educators and professionals who support students with special needs

The Resource Fair is a FREE event that focuses on linking transition-age students (14 and older) with special needs to community resources.

A wide variety of community providers will be on hand to provide information about the programs and services they offer to students with special needs.

Waukee Transition Fair
April 16, 2018
5:30-7:30 p.m.

Waukee Innovation and Learning Center
295 S.E. Ashworth Road, Waukee

Invited: Parents, students ages 14+, school administrators, AEA staff, counselors and educators who are preparing individuals to transition from high school to post-secondary pursuits

Registration is not required, but it would be helpful to let your child’s guidance counselor/special education teacher know that you plan to attend by March 30, 2018.

Tables will include representatives of agencies serving students with disabilities in the areas of living, working and learning. Topics will include the following:

• Vocational resources
• Assisted living
• College opportunities
• State and county resources
• Assistive technology
• Camps and leisure pursuits
• Finances
• Disability support resources

Constantino Returns to Iowa to Present “Engaging Every Family to Support Student Achievement”

Are your students’ families really involved in their education? At this FREE event on June 18, participants will will learn the importance of family engagement in the academic lives and success of learners and discover how to create a culture that is conducive to engaging every family in the school and classroom.

Engaging Every Family to Support Student Achievement
June 18, 2018
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Johnston Middle School Auditorium
6501 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston, IA
Register at this link

For more information, contact Terry Mendell, Heartland AEA Family & Educator Lead Coordinator, at (515) 270-0405 ext. 17135 or tmendell@heartlandaea.org.

Invited Audience: school administrators, teacher leaders, general and special education teachers

Presenter: Steve Constantino, Ed.D.
As a high school principal in 1995, Steve Constantino, Ed.D. became aware of research about the effects of family engagement on student learning and was convinced that this was the missing ingredient in helping all children learn. Using his high school as a laboratory, Dr. Constantino began to read more and more research and more importantly, figure out ways to apply it to his school.

Steve’s work has gained national prominence as he’s traveled the United States speaking and working with all types of educators, school board members and businesses to promote sound practices in family engagement that result in increased academic achievement for all students.

Today, he is the Acting State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commonwealth of Virginia and is an adjunct professor at the School of Education, College of William and Mary where he teaches courses in the Executive Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership.

Registration for the the Governor’s 2018 Future Ready Iowa Summit is Now Open

The Summit will be held on April 3 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The purpose of this all-day event is to amplify the public conversation about transforming education and the workforce, including expanding work-based learning and computer science instruction..

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, which is hosting the summit, is inviting leaders from business and industry preK-12 and postsecondary education, nonprofits, parents, students, elected officials and others, who will take information from the summit back to their communities to build upon existing initiatives.

Speakers include:

• Mary Andringa, Chair of the Board of Vermeer
• Brandon Busteed, Gallup's Executive Director of Education and Workforce Development
• Hadi Partovi, CEO of Code.org
• Jeff Weld, Senior Policy Advisor for STEM education at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Jemar Lee, a College Community School District senior and co-founder of EdRevision
• Nicole Smith, Chief Economist at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
• Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a computer science education pioneer

Registration is $50 for adults and free for students. Register at this link.

Nominate a Colleague for School Counselor of the Year!

What better way to celebrate National School Counseling Week than to nominate a fellow counselor for School Counselor of the Year! 
Think of a counseling colleague…

• Someone with whom you work
• From whom you find support
• Whose counseling program supports the ASCA standards
• Who goes that extra mile to support students
• Who makes a true difference and is a credit to the school counseling profession

Doesn’t this individual deserve statewide recognition? Take a few minutes and nominate a fellow counselor for the 2018 Iowa School Counselor of the Year Award!

Nominating is easy! Visit the Iowa School Counselor Association of Iowa website 

Your nominee will receive an immediate email notification asking them to complete the online application. The application procedure is also detailed at www.iowaschoolcounselors.org/awards.

Click here to nominate. Nominations will be accepted until Aug. 15, 2018.