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

Last Chance to Register for Kevin Honeycutt’s FREE Workshop on Poverty - Seats Are Still Available!

Kevin Honeycutt grew up in poverty and as he witnessed education around the country, he collected powerful experiences that still influence his conversations and his work with educators. He spent 13 years teaching K-12 art in public school and for 17 years spent summers leading creative adventure camps for kids of all ages. Kevin is the author of the book Midnight Run, which is his story of growing up in poverty.


Midnight Run with Kevin Honeycutt
April 2, 2019
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston
Lunch will be on your own

Registration - This is a no cost event!
Morning Session (For Superintendents Only)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/eJAnmT

Lunch break (lunch on your own)

Afternoon Session (For All Educators)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/9C5ekj

Could Fridays Get Any Better? Only If You Join Us for Standards-Based Learning “Framework Fridays!”

EdCamp-style workshops will be held throughout the 2018-19 school year to provide additional learning, collaboration and conversation for those interested in Standards-Based Learning (SBL) Including Grading and Reporting. The workshops coincide with specific strands of the Standards-Based Learning Framework developed by Heartland AEA. You can attend whatever sessions are of interest to you--you don’t need to attend all nine. Come learn with us!

Standards-Based Learning Framework Fridays
Next Session: April 5, 2019 (Final Framework Friday will be on May 3!)
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Visit our website to register

You’re Invited to Attend “Coach it Further with Peter DeWitt”

April 12, 2019
Treynor Community Center, Treynor, IA
Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2JJKk44


Morning Session from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Peter DeWitt will address the participants from the Collaborative Leadership Institute once again. The results from the Institute's "feedback survey" will be shared. Peter will share his new work around an Implementation Cycle as well as facilitate an activity where your stated challenges will be examined. We will also take another look at effective feedback.

Reminder: There is no charge for those who attended the Collaborative Leadership Institute last fall.

Afternoon Session from 1 - 4:00 p.m.
Couldn’t make it to the fall institute? This session is open to all administrators and instructional coaches. Peter will share key ideas from his most recent book "Coach It Further," along with other new content.
Cost: $50
Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2JMIFLj with this course #179955
Need a copy of his book? Order it here.

Call for Presenters is Open for the Heart of Innovation Summer Summit - Join the Faculty!

Educators love to learn from their peers! Have you done something you'd like to share? At our Heart of Innovation Summer Summit, we are looking for presentations that are aligned with our innovation tracks:

• Promoting creativity in every classroom
• Communicating student learning and guiding informed action
• Building a collaborative learning environment for all
• Fostering curiosity to empower critical thinking

Submit a session proposal at this link: http://bit.ly/2JLAyhZ. Proposals will be accepted through May 15.

Do you need support putting together a proposal for your presentation? Are you unsure how to turn your classroom experience into a session? Let us know! We would love to support you. Email us at haeatech@heartlandaea.org or contact your Instructional Technology Consultant directly.

Heart of Innovation Summer Summit

June 13, 2019

8 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

This is a NO COST event for Iowa K-12 educators and administrators! Learn more and register at bit.ly/HeartofInnovation.

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

Coming Soon: Kevin Honeycutt’s FREE Workshop; Explore Poverty, Develop Strategies To Empower Students to Improve Academic Potential

Kevin Honeycutt grew up in poverty and as he witnessed education around the country, he collected powerful experiences that still influence his conversations and his work with educators. He spent 13 years teaching K-12 art in public school and for 17 years spent summers leading creative adventure camps for kids of all ages. Kevin is the author of the book Midnight Run, which is his story of growing up in poverty.

Midnight Run with Kevin Honeycutt
April 2, 2019
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston
Lunch will be on your own

Registration - This is a no cost event!
Morning Session (For Superintendents Only)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/eJAnmT

Lunch break (lunch on your own)

Afternoon Session (For All Educators)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/9C5ekj

AEA Partnership with BrightBytes Continues: Access Resources to Make Better Data Driven Decisions for Students

Iowa’s AEAs is continuing its partnership with BrightBytes through 2020. The renewal of our agreement allows educators in Iowa to access resources to help them use data to make better decisions for students. Please refer to the BrightBytes Module Options & Pricing: 2017-2020 flyer for information about the resources. And make sure you check out the Technology and Learning and the Digital Privacy, Safety and Security modules! For more information or support with using the tools and planning actions with the data it generates, contact your Heartland AEA Instructional Technology Consultant (for Tech and Learning) or Heartland AEA Director of Technology Jeff S. Weinberg (for DPSS).

Iowa’s AEAs Legislative Update March 15, 2019

Iowa’s AEAs March 15, 2019 Legislative Update is now available.

AEA Purchasing Announces New Contracts for 2019

AEA Purchasing is announcing new contracts for 2019 that range from visual arts supplies, recycling and waste containers to robotics, STEM and audiovisual equipment. Learn more about the opportunities in this flyer.

DMACC Soccer Goals Surplus Available

Des Moines Area Community College has two indoor soccer goals for surplus. Dimensions are 6 feet x 8 inches tall and 12 feet x 3 inches long. Pick up at the DMACC Ankeny Campus. Contact DMACC purchasing at jaklocke1@dmacc.edu if your school is interested.

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

Have You Registered for Kevin Honeycutt’s FREE Workshop? Educators Will Explore Poverty, Develop Strategies To Empower Students to Improve Academic Potential

Kevin Honeycutt grew up in poverty and as he witnessed education around the country, he collected powerful experiences that still influence his conversations and his work with educators. He spent 13 years teaching K-12 art in public school and for 17 years spent summers leading creative adventure camps for kids of all ages. Kevin is the author of the book Midnight Run, which is his story of growing up in poverty.

Midnight Run with Kevin Honeycutt
April 2, 2019
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston
Lunch will be on your own

Registration - This is a no cost event!
**Morning Session (For Superintendents Only)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/eJAnmT

Lunch break (lunch on your own)

**Afternoon Session (For All Educators)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/9C5ekj

McREL Iowa Leadership Academy: A great opportunity for your team!

School leaders, it's been 10 years since McREL Balanced Leadership training has been widely available in Iowa. Grab your team and get registered for the Iowa School Leadership Academy! Seats are limited and the first 200 receive a discount!

The Iowa School Leadership Academy will give school leadership teams in-depth strategies and guidance from McREL’s research- and evidence-based knowledge sets of Balanced Leadership, What Matters Most, and Curiosity Works.

School districts are encouraged to consider bringing a team(s) of 3-6 leaders who can learn and work collaboratively around the presented course content and be willing to engage in this work within their respective districts. The cost is $400 per person. The first 200 members of SAI who register will receive a $50 discount on registration. This course meets the requirements for Evaluator Approval II. Please be sure to sign up for this certification during the registration process.

View the Iowa AEA website for session dates and locations, learning content and links to registration.

Iowa’s AEAs Legislative Update March 8, 2019

Iowa’s AEAs March 8, 2019 Legislative Update is now available.

Save the Date: Our Kids Summer Institute is Coming to Ankeny on June 18-19

15th Annual Our Kids Summer Institute
For ALL educators who support English Learner students

June 18-19, 2019
FFA Enrichment Center
1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy., Ankeny, IA

PK-12 educators will have the opportunity to network with other educational professionals, discover new strategies for working with English Language Learners (EL) in Iowa and meet national and local experts to enrich practices for increasing EL achievement.

Conference topics include:

• Unlocking ELs potential to enhance academic success
• Preventing long-term English Learners
• Supporting strategies for English Learners in core content learning
• Approaches to address English Learner students at the Pre-K Level
• Distinguishing typical language development from special education needs
• Enhancing EL success using data through the MTSS/PLC process

Plan to bring a team! We hope to see you there! Registration information will be communicated soon! For more information, contact Pam McDonnell at pam.mcdonnell@iowa.gov.

Could Fridays Get Any Better? Only If You Join Us for Standards-Based Learning “Framework Fridays!”

EdCamp-style workshops will be held throughout the 2018-19 school year to provide additional learning, collaboration and conversation for those interested in Standards-Based Learning (SBL) Including Grading and Reporting. The workshops coincide with specific strands of the Standards-Based Learning Framework developed by Heartland AEA. You can attend whatever sessions are of interest to you--you don’t need to attend all nine. Come learn with us!

Standards-Based Learning Framework Fridays
Next Session: April 5, 2019 (Final Framework Friday will be on May 3!)
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Visit our website to register

Keynote Announced for Heart of Innovation Summer Summit; Call for Presenters - Join the Summit Faculty!

We’re pleased to announce that Jennifer Williams, Ed.D., will serve as the keynote for Heartland AEA’s Heart of Innovation Summer Summit on June 13. A transformational leader in education, Dr. Williams has dedicated herself to the field of education through her roles as a school administrator, literacy specialist and classroom teacher. She speaks, writes and consults on practices that develop global perspectives through creative uses of technology, and her research interests include multimodal literacy and digital technologies, equity and diversity in education, and student-centered pedagogies.

Join us for the Heart of Innovation Summer Summit to learn more from Dr. Williams when she presents, “Teach Boldly: Using EdTech for Social Good.”

Call for presenters!
Do you have an interest in presenting at the Summit? Does your topic align with our learning tracks? Submit a proposal at our event website: http://bit.ly/2XYjl8b

Learning tracks:

• Promoting creativity in every classroom
• Communicating student learning and guiding informed action
• Building a collaborative learning environment for all
• Fostering curiosity to empower critical thinking.

Heart of Innovation Summer Summit

June 13, 2019

8 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

This is a NO COST event for Iowa K-12 educators and administrators! Learn more and register at bit.ly/HeartofInnovation.

Registration is Open for Future Ready Iowa STEM Summit

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced the STEM Education + Workplace Partnerships - Governor's 2019 Future Ready Iowa Summit on April 30. Leaders from business and industry, education, nonprofits, elected officials, students and others from across Iowa will come together at one event. The day is dedicated to Iowa’s future workforce in today’s classrooms, and the ways that employers and educators are working together to assure a strong talent pipeline tomorrow. Featured will be keynotes, panelists and presenters from rural and urban, businesses large and small, big city and small-town schools, and more, who are partnering to guarantee a strong employee pipeline. Gov. Reynolds will also announce the six recipients of Iowa STEM’s Computer Science is Elementary award during the event. Learn more about the event and register at this link: https://www.iowastem.gov/2019STEMsummit.

STEM Education + Workplace Partnerships - Governor's 2019 Future Ready Iowa Summit
Iowa Events Center - Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center
730 Third Street, Des Moines, Iowa
April 30, 2019
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. with check in beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Adults: $50
Students (K-16): $0

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

Have You Registered for Kevin Honeycutt’s FREE Workshop? Great Opportunity for Educators: Recognize Poverty, Develop Strategies To Empower Students to Improve Academic Potential

Kevin Honeycutt grew up in poverty and as he witnessed education around the country, he collected powerful experiences that still influence his conversations and his work with educators. He spent 13 years teaching K-12 art in public school and for 17 years spent summers leading creative adventure camps for kids of all ages. Kevin is the author of the book Midnight Run, which is his story of growing up in poverty.

Midnight Run with Kevin Honeycutt
April 2, 2019
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston
Lunch will be on your own

Registration - This is a no cost event!


*Morning Session (For Superintendents Only)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/eJAnmT

Lunch break (lunch on your own)

*Afternoon Session (For All Educators)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/9C5ekj

McREL Iowa Leadership Academy: A great opportunity for your team!

School leaders, it's been 10 years since McREL Balanced Leadership training has been widely available in Iowa. Grab your team and get registered for the Iowa School Leadership Academy! Seats are limited and the first 200 receive a discount!

The Iowa School Leadership Academy will give school leadership teams in-depth strategies and guidance from McREL’s research- and evidence-based knowledge sets of Balanced Leadership, What Matters Most, and Curiosity Works.

School districts are encouraged to consider bringing a team(s) of 3-6 leaders who can learn and work collaboratively around the presented course content and be willing to engage in this work within their respective districts. The cost is $400 per person. The first 200 members of SAI who register will receive a $50 discount on registration. This course meets the requirements for Evaluator Approval II. Please be sure to sign up for this certification during the registration process.

View the Iowa AEA website for session dates and locations, learning content and links to registration.

Schools Honored for Creating Safe, Positive Environments

Heartland AEA is excited to join the Iowa Department of Education in honoring 23 of the school buildings in our service area for their implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Educators and staff in these buildings are doing great things to create positive, safe and supportive environments where all staff and students can learn and thrive! Visit the DE’s website to see the schools and award levels for which they were honored.

ISASP Resource for Schools

The Johnston Community School District and Heartland AEA have created a Google Slides presentation for school administrators to use with their teachers about the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). The presentation covers the following areas:

• Proctor's responsibilities before, during and after testing
• Test security and ethics
• Accessibility and accommodations procedures

The presentation content was pulled from several PowerPoints that Iowa Testing shared at the Heartland AEA Curriculum Network and from a few other documents on the ISASP Portal. Iowa Testing did review and vet this Google Slides presentation.

Your 3rd-5th Grade Researchers Are Going to Love This New Digital Resource!

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce that PebbleGo Next is now available! This stand-alone digital resource is designed with 3rd-5th grade researchers in mind, but it is available to all students in the Heartland AEA service area. In addition to the curriculum content, PebbleGo Next includes downloadable questions to encourage critical thinking and read-aloud audio.

Your researchers can explore:

• Biographies
• Social studies
• Science
• States
• Native Americans

How to log in
Go to the PebbleGo Next website and use the online resource username/password for your school. PebbleGo Next is also linked on each grade level online resource page on our Heartland AEA website.

EVENT: Transition Resource Fair in Perry on April 15

Transition Resource Fair

Linking Families of Students with Disabilities to Community and Agency Resources

Join us for an evening of inspiration, exploration and networking!

April 15, 2019
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Perry High School
1200 18th Street Perry, IA

WHO: 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: 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, 2019.

INFORMATIONAL TABLESTables 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

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

March 5 HAA Reminder

The Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) will meet on March 5 at DMACC in Ankeny.

The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. with guest speaker Trevor Ragan, who will present Teaching a Growth Mindset to Achieve Success for All Learners. Trevor’s time is spent writing and producing content for trainugly.com and doing workshops with groups from all over the world. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies, MLB teams, Olympic teams, hundreds of schools, and even in a few prisons. Trevor values learning and seeks out the scientists and thought leaders in the world of development, consumes their research and discoveries, connects the dots, and shares it with anyone that will listen.

This is a full day event open to superintendents and other educators. Registration is still open: https://goo.gl/8KjYZ4

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lunch included
Ankeny DMACC Campus
Student Center, Building 5
2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny

McREL Iowa Leadership Academy: A great opportunity for your team!

School leaders, it's been 10 years since McREL Balanced Leadership training has been widely available in Iowa. Grab your team and get registered for the Iowa School Leadership Academy! Seats are limited and the first 200 receive a discount!

The Iowa School Leadership Academy will give school leadership teams in-depth strategies and guidance from McREL’s research- and evidence-based knowledge sets of Balanced Leadership, What Matters Most, and Curiosity Works.

School districts are encouraged to consider bringing a team(s) of 3-6 leaders who can learn and work collaboratively around the presented course content and be willing to engage in this work within their respective districts. The cost is $400 per person. The first 200 members of SAI who register will receive a $50 discount on registration. This course meets the requirements for Evaluator Approval II. Please be sure to sign up for this certification during the registration process.

View the Iowa AEA website for session dates and locations, learning content and links to registration.

Iowa’s AEAs Legislative Update Feb. 22, 2019

Iowa’s AEAs Feb. 22, 2019 Legislative Update is now available.

Iowa’s AEAs System Update March 2019

The March 2019 AEA System Update is now available.

Have You Registered for Kevin Honeycutt’s Workshop? Great Opportunity for Educators: Recognize Poverty, Develop Strategies To Empower Students to Improve Academic Potential

Kevin Honeycutt grew up in poverty and as he witnessed education around the country, he collected powerful experiences that still influence his conversations and his work with educators. He spent 13 years teaching K-12 art in public school and for 17 years spent summers leading creative adventure camps for kids of all ages. Kevin is the author of the book Midnight Run, which is his story of growing up in poverty.

Midnight Run with Kevin Honeycutt
April 2, 2019
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston

No cost event!

Registration
Morning Session (For Superintendents Only)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/eJAnmT

Afternoon Session (For All Educators)
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/9C5ekj

Share This Monthly Networking Opportunity with Your Parents and Caregivers of Students with Special Needs

Parents and caregivers of students with special needs: join us for “Conversation & Coffee,” our monthly morning coffee group! Learn about community resources and upcoming events and network with parents who have similar experiences and challenges.

Mark your calendar for these Spring 2019 meeting dates!

• March 14, 2019 (due to Spring Break)
• April 18, 2019
• May 16, 2019

Conversation & Coffee meets the third Thursday of each month from 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the 100th Street Corner Café in Urbandale. RSVP appreciated but not necessary: Kari Paulsen, Family & Educator Coordinator, Heartland AEA, at kpaulsen@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 ext. 14493.

March/April 2019 BoEE Superintendent’s Report

The BoEE has created a document that contains helpful links to their licensure information and BEDS crosswalk, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. Topics in the March/April 2019 issue include:

• Iowa license types and information
• BoEE online search for a license
• BEDS crosswalk
• Hiring new graduates
• Open positions
• Substitute License vs. Substitute Authorization
• Mandatory code of professional conduct and ethics reporting items
• Coaching
• Pathways to licensure

March 2019 School Leader Update

The March 2019 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.

Ar-We-Va is Exploring the Option to Share Superintendents

The Ar-We-Va Board of Education is exploring the option to share superintendents during the 2019-20 school year. Currently the district shares a superintendent 20% time. The board will be reviewing applicants to interview at the next regular scheduled board of education meeting on March 13, 2019. Interested area school districts may contact Sharon Stickrod, HR director, at (712) 663-4311 or stickrod@ar-we-va.k12.ia.us. Refer to this letter for more information.