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
Attention superintendents, we would like you or a designee to complete this brief survey by Nov. 1. We are attempting to gather data from all of the districts in our service area to see what data points are collected and measured during your school improvement process. The survey should only take you about five minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!
Nov. 5, 2019
Regular meeting
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA
Rooms 107A/B
9 - 11:30 a.m.
Agenda includes:
Director Ryan Wise from the Iowa Department of Education and a Legislative Education Panel:
- Margaret Buckton, Iowa School Finance Information Services
- Matt Eide, Iowa’s AEAs
- Phil Jeneray, Iowa Association of School Boards
- Tom Lane, Iowa’s AEAs
- Kate Walton, Iowa’s AEAs
- Dave Wilkerson, School Administrators of Iowa
Smart speakers such Echo Dot, Google Home, Alexa, Cortans and Siri were developed for personal home use. Some teachers are interested in bringing them into the classroom, which creates a new set of privacy issues that should be planned for and discussed. This AIME News article written by a copyright attorney provides one perspective and a host of questions. Thanks to Susan Schrader, Heartland AEA Director of Resources and Library Services, for providing this information to district and AEA staff. You can find articles like this one in Susan’s Library and Digital Resources e-newsletter. Subscribe and share it with colleagues. There's lots of good info here!
The Department of Education is now requiring all emailed requests to transfer a student in the MyTeachingStrategies GOLD system be password protected. This change in procedure is intended to protect the student's personal information when requesting a transfer. Please use the Iowa Transfer Form for any future transfer requests. The DE will NOT accept any requests for transfer that are not password protected.
The Heartland AEA Instructional Technology consultants have a ton of great stuff planned for you this school year! Webinars, networking, coaching, collaboration and learning opportunities galore!
Next Up: Communicating Student Learning and Guiding Informed Actionwith Jennifer Williams, Ed.D., and Monica Burns, Ed.D.
The primary role of the tech team is to provide consultative services to the schools served by Heartland AEA related to planning, professional development and integration of appropriate instructional technologies to improve instruction and outcomes for students. The Instructional Technology newsletter is a place to see what’s available, view past training and plan for the school year!
Iowa’s AEAs are again offering Iowa school teacher-librarians the opportunity to network, share ideas and “talk shop.” The “Better Together: Collaborative Conversations” is a series in which an AEA teacher-librarian and a guest expert will facilitate a monthly online discussion about a predetermined topic with time built in for networking and Q & A. This year’s sessions will focus on the Iowa School Library Program Standards.
And the best part? No cost, no long agenda and no drive time!
Check out this online flyer for all the details.
Matt Townsley, Ed.D., will be the guest speaker at the Nov. 1 Standards-Based Learning Framework Friday on Nov. 1, 2019. Dr. Townsley will share his best advice and answer questions about implementation of Standards-Based Grading.
As a former teacher and administrator in Solon, IA, Dr. Townsley has experienced first-hand the benefits (and challenges!) of moving toward more effective grading practices. He is lead author of the forthcoming book, Making Grades Matter: Standards-Based Grading in a Secondary PLC (Solution Tree, March 2020) and an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Northern Iowa.
Join us for an up-close conversation!
Standards-Based Learning Framework Friday
With Guest Speaker Matt Townsley, Ed.D.
Nov. 1, 2019
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register at this link http://bit.ly/2VV6umr with course number 180887, Section 272162
The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Program, developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), is a one-day training that provides the opportunity for educators to obtain initial certification in CPI's "Nonviolent Crisis Intervention" program or renewal certification for individuals who are not eligible for the recertification training (e.g., expired certification). Participants will receive an introduction to crisis prevention focusing on non-physical strategies, including non-verbal, para-verbal and verbal techniques that can be used to assist in de-escalating behavior.
Participants will receive instruction, role-playing, practice and feedback in using personal safety techniques, such as blocking, moving and releasing to avoid or minimize injury when interacting with an individual who is escalated. This training also includes instruction, role-playing, practice and feedback in the use of physical restraint strategies, transport techniques and team strategies to maintain safety when an individual engages in escalated behavior that is dangerous to self or others.
Please note:
- The strategies taught in this training are not intended to replace behavior intervention plans (BIP) for individual students, but rather to provide strategies for school staff to use to maintain safety during unusual situations or circumstances not addressed in a BIP.
- To maintain certification, individuals are required to participate in the CPI's "Nonviolent Crisis Intervention" re-certification training at least annually.
- Trainees must be employed by a school district in Heartland AEA’s service area.
Registration:
Initial Training
Registration Link
Use course #180648 and select a section
Intended Audience: District staff who work with individuals 3-21 years who engage in problem behaviors that have the potential to result in injury to self or others.
Refresher Training
Registration Link
Use course #180315 and select a section
Intended Audience: District staff who have been through the CPI: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention 1-day-training within the past year and who need to receive recertification.
For more information or questions, contact the Heartland AEA Regional Director who serves your district or one of the CPI trainers at Heartland AEA:
Region 1: Lauren Vanderhorst, Jenny Henscheid
Region 2: Becky Tigges, Sue Klein
Region 3: Aimee Schuppe, Stacey Warren
Region 5: Todd York
Region 6: Gina Koehler
Region 7: Chris Rial, Amanda Jefferson
Region 8: Brenda Gerdes, Amanda Khader
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
Nov. 5, 2019
Regular meeting
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA
Rooms 107A/B
9 - 11:30 a.m.
Agenda includes:
Director Ryan Wise from the Iowa Department of Education and a Legislative Education Panel:
- Margaret Buckton, Iowa School Finance Information Services
- Matt Eide, Iowa’s AEAs
- Phil Jeneray, Iowa Association of School Boards
- Tom Lane, Iowa’s AEAs
- Kate Walton, Iowa’s AEAs
- Dave Wilkerson, School Administrators of Iowa
Attention superintendents, we would like you or a designee to complete this brief survey by Nov. 1. We are attempting to gather data from all of the districts in our service area to see what data points are collected and measured during your school improvement process. The survey should only take you about five minutes to complete.
Pearson released the timeline for rolling out ISASP supports and results. This will be listed in the Bulletin Section of the ISASP Portal in the next few days. The Bulletin contains the following information:
- When performance level descriptors, cut scores and sample reports will be available
- Guidelines for accessing ISASP data (webinar)
- Interpretive manual and webinar for educators
- Interpretive information for families
- Overview of local support materials
- When ISASP results will be released to districts
- When the embargo is lifted and districts can publicly share results
Please note they will do a staggered release of information and tools and once schools get the results there will be an embargo on releasing the results for one week.
Iowa's AEA system has partnered with BrightBytes to bring you a tool that will help you proactively address growing concerns of safety in 21st century classrooms. This research-based framework collects, stores and updates formative data from diverse experts within each district. The Digital Privacy, Safety and Security module helps organizations create relevant policies to ensure a safe learning environment.
BrightBytes has also created a resource to help support you and your teachers in creating and nurturing a healthy digital culture. The Top 10 Student Privacy Tips for Educators highlights best practices for gathering, communicating and protecting student data, and much more.
If you would like to learn more about using the DPSS module in your district, contact Sheila King, Chief Information Officer or Jeff S. Weinberg, Director of Technology. For your reference, here are the BrightBytes Module Options & Pricing 2019-20.
Matt Townsley, Ed.D., will be the guest speaker at the "Standards-Based Learning Framework Friday" workshop on Nov. 1, 2019.
Dr. Townsley will share his best advice and answer questions about implementation of Standards-Based Grading. Through conferences, professional development and workshops, Dr. Townsley has consulted with thousands of teachers and administrators across the country on the topics of assessment and standards-based grading. His writing has been published in journals such as Educational Leadership (ASCD), School Administrator (AASA), The Journal of Research in Education, and American Secondary Education.
As a former teacher and administrator in Solon, IA, Dr. Townsley has experienced first-hand the benefits (and challenges!) of moving toward more effective grading practices. He is lead author of the forthcoming book, Making Grades Matter: Standards-Based Grading in a Secondary PLC (Solution Tree, March 2020) and an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Northern Iowa.
Join us for an up-close conversation!
Standards-Based Learning Framework Friday
With Guest Speaker Matt Townsley, Ed.D.
Nov. 1, 2019
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register at this link http://bit.ly/2VV6umr with course number 180887, Section 272162
Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) are providing support to Iowa schools to meet the requirements of new legislation that requires school districts to provide annual employee training and protocols in two areas related to mental health:
- Suicide Prevention and Postvention
- Identification of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Strategies to Mitigate Toxic Stress Response
Iowa’s AEAs also offer Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training that focuses on how to help students who are experiencing a mental health, addiction challenge or crisis. YMHFA is a nationally recognized curriculum.
In addition, Heartland AEA is offering Iowa Building Strong Brains, to provide all Iowa educators with awareness of brain-aligned, trauma sensitive strategies for working with all students in Iowa’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports. This professional learning opportunity meets Iowa’s legislative requirements for training school employees on “Identification of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Strategies to Mitigate Toxic Stress Response.”
For more assistance, contact the Heartland AEA Regional Director who serves your district or AEA Learning Online.
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
ISASP Timeline for District Supports and Release of Student Results:
Pearson released the timeline for rolling out ISASP supports and results. This will be listed in the Bulletin Section of the ISASP Portal in the next few days. The Bulletin contains the following information:
- When performance level descriptors, cut scores and sample reports will be available
- Guidelines for accessing ISASP data (webinar)
- Interpretive manual and webinar for educators
- Interpretive information for families
- Overview of local support materials
- When ISASP results will be released to districts
- When the embargo is lifted and districts can publicly share results
Please note they will do a staggered release of information and tools and once schools get the results there will be an embargo on releasing the results for one week.
ISASP Update at Curriculum Network:
Iowa Testing Programs gave an update on Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) at the Heartland AEA Curriculum Network meeting on Oct. 4. The following information was covered in the presentation:
- Standard setting methodology
- Performance level descriptors
- Cut scores for ELA, Math and Science
- Statewide results for ELA, Math and Science
For reference, this is the video recording of the presentation, Q&A document and ISASP Slides. The presentation is about 60 min. long. Iowa Testing will share a timeline for the release of the results in the next few days.
Administrators, we want to make sure you have the latest information about what is available to districts from BrightBytes by Iowa’s AEAs. We have one new thing… BrightBytes Module Options & Pricing 2019-20.
To support your district’s use of the tech and learning module, BrightBytes has created 5 Quick Wins to Improve Technology and Learning.
When
Nov. 5-6, 2019
Pre-Conference on Nov. 4
Where
Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 300 East 9th Street, Coralville, IA
Registration
- Early Bird Registration: $150 (Ends Oct. 15)
- Pre-Registration: $180 (Oct. 16-31)
- Onsite Registration: $220 (Nov. 5-6, 2019)
- Student Registration: $105
For more Information and to register, visit the Iowa Culture and Language Conference website.
The Mission of the Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) is to advocate for culturally and/or linguistically diverse students and their families, educators and service providers.
Next Framework Friday: Oct. 4 from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
EdCamp-style workshops will be held throughout the 2019-20 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. These workshops will be participatory, hands-on, collaborative sessions. Participants will walk away with ideas, information, articles, activities and videos that can be used immediately with an SBL guiding team or building team. You can attend whatever sessions are of interest to you; you do not need to attend all sessions. Curriculum directors, principals, TLC leaders, Professional Learning leaders and members of SBL guiding teams can benefit from attending these sessions. Learn more about the learning opportunities and register at Heartland AEA Framework Fridays.
Shannon Suldo, Ph.D. - Dec. 10, 2019
Best Practices in Promoting Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health
Dr. Suldo will guide participants in gaining an understanding of the importance of promoting student’s complete mental health within a Multi-Tiered framework. This learning session will focus on interconnecting school mental health, social emotional learning and positive behavioral supports and interventions in an effort to promote student’s well-being through school wide and class wide prevention efforts.
AGENDA
9 - 10 a.m. Regular Heartland Administrators' Association Business Meeting and Partner Updates
10 - 11:30 a.m. Superintendent Session with Shannon Suldo, Ph.D.
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch on your own
12:30 - 4 p.m. Afternoon Session for all Educators
REGISTRATION
Register at no cost at this link with course #180605. Select a section to attend.
LOCATION
Des Moines Area Community College Student Center, Bldg 5 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny
*Allow extra time for parking on the DMACC campus
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
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 2019-20 meeting dates!
- Oct. 17, 2019
- Nov. 21, 2019
- Dec. 19, 2019
- Jan. 16, 2020
- Feb. 20, 2020
- March 12, 2020 (due to Spring Break)
- April 16, 2020
- May 21, 2020
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.
Shannon Suldo, Ph.D. - Dec. 10, 2019
Best Practices in Promoting Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health
Dr. Suldo will guide participants in gaining an understanding of the importance of promoting student’s complete mental health within a Multi-Tiered framework. This learning session will focus on interconnecting school mental health, social emotional learning and positive behavioral supports and interventions in an effort to promote student’s well-being through school wide and class wide prevention efforts.
AGENDA
9 - 10 a.m. Regular Heartland Administrators' Association Business Meeting and Partner Updates
10 - 11:30 a.m. Superintendent Session with Shannon Suldo, Ph.D.
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch on your own
12:30 - 4 p.m. Afternoon Session for all Educators
REGISTRATION
Register at no cost at this link with course #180605. Select a section to attend.
LOCATION
Des Moines Area Community College Student Center, Bldg 5 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny
*Allow extra time for parking on the DMACC campus
The Oct. 2019 BoEE Superintendent’s Report is now available. In this issue:
- Common BEDS Errors
- Conditional Licensure
- STEM Award
- Helpful Hints for School Administrators
- New Preservice Substitute Authorization
- Online System and Processing Times
The Oct. 2019 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.
