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 vans will deliver twice a week to each district administration building during the summer months. If you have summer school, professional development programs or intercessions and would like regularly scheduled deliveries to additional buildings, email Colleen Miller.
Schedule-to-date:
- Twice-a-week delivery to each district administration building runs June 19 to Aug. 8, 2019.
- Twice-a-week delivery will automatically continue to each building that has an extended year calendar.
- Regular fall van delivery resumes Aug. 12, 2019.
A note about printing:
- Heartland AEA will contact the district to arrange for special delivery of large printing orders during the summer.
Our Kids Summer Institute
15th annual event for ALL educators who support English Learner students
June 18-19, 2019
FFA Enrichment Center
1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy., Ankeny, IA
Registration: Our Kids Summer Institute 2019 (Course #180032)
Participants will receive a book from keynote speaker Diane Staehr Fenner titled, “Advocating for English Learners: A Guide for Educators”.
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
For more information on learning topics and keynote presenters, visit 15th Annual Our Kids Conference Presenters and Topics.
All public and nonpublic school districts in the Heartland AEA service area are encouraged to send a representative(s) to share their voices, receive updates and network with colleagues around topics related to English Learners and their families. All meetings are from 4 - 5 p.m. at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston). The 2019-20 schedule is as follows:
- Sept. 23, 2019 - Room 129
- Dec. 9, 2019 - Room 123
- Feb. 24, 2020 - Room 129
- May 4, 2020- Rooms 107A & 107B
International author and educational leadership expert Myron Dueck will help participants explore the implementation considerations in a standards-based learning, including grading and reporting system. Items that will be discussed include, but are not limited to: zeroes, homework, multiple and varied forms of assessment opportunities (retakes), and professional learning.
Standards-based Learning, Including Grading and Reporting - Implementation Considerations
June 11, 2019
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA
Registration
Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2IQBD5Q with Course #180024
Registration fee $40
No credit activity
Target Audience
Teachers, Administrators, Instructional Coaches, District Office Staff
About the Instructor
Myron Dueck is SD67 District Vice-Principal for Communicating Student Learning in British Columbia. Over the past 22 years, he has worked as an educator in both Canada and New Zealand in subjects ranging from grades 4 to 12. Myron has developed a number of grading, assessment and reporting systems that give students a greater opportunity to show what they understand, as well as play a significant role in the reporting of their learning. He has also been a part of district groups, school committees and governmental bodies that have further broadened his access to innovative ideas. Through sharing his stories, tools and first-hand experiences with public, charter and international school educators around the world, Myron’s presentations have diverged to include global education trends and broader socio-economic realities that impact learning. Find Myron’s best-selling book, Grading Smarter, Not Harder: Assessment Strategies that Motivate Kids and Help Them Learn, and his other projects at www.ascd.org.
The Heart of Innovation Summer Summit on June 13 is a kick off to year-long blended learning opportunities as you pursue innovation in your classroom with support from Heartland AEA. Enjoy a day full of networking and learning alongside your education peers, featuring Jennifer Williams, Ed.D., and presentations from leaders in education!
Conference tracks include:
- Promoting Creativity in Every Classroom
- Communicating Student Learning and Guided 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.
In response to Iowa’s new requirement that school districts provide at least one hour of annual training on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, the Iowa AEA Directors of Special Education and AEA Learning Online have developed training that meets the state’s requirements. Information about AEA Learning Online’s Postvention Training and a link to additional training options are also noted below.
AEA Learning Online Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Training
The AEA Learning Online Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Training was developed by an Iowa AEA Suicide Prevention work group to support school districts in meeting the suicide prevention and postvention required training. This training is provided at no cost to districts.
Training Objectives
- Increase awareness of the problem of youth suicide
- Know the suicide warning signs and risk and protective factors
- Understand the role of a “Gatekeeper”
- Locate school and/or community resources for at-risk students and their families
- Understand the role of postvention
- Know school district suicide prevention and postvention policy and/or contact person
School staff may use their AEA Login to access the training. Individuals may register in the AEA Learning Online system if they do not have an existing account.
AEA Learning Online Postvention-only Training
The AEA Learning Online Postvention Training module was developed to support school districts in meeting the suicide postvention training content requirement. This is a postvention-only training module that is intended to be used with other training opportunities that do not include postvention, such as Kognito or Lifeguard training. Including this postvention-only module with such training opportunities would help ensure a district meets Iowa’s full suicide prevention and postvention training requirements. The online postvention training is offered at no cost to Iowa school districts and AEA staff.
Additional Training Options
This is an overview of additional training options that provide the required suicide prevention and postvention content.
AEA PREP is excited to host a 2-day workshop for district teams in partnership with the National Postsecondary Strategy Institute (NPSI) from Chicago, to be held at Des Moines Area Community College on Sept. 23-24, 2019. The goal of this workshop is to help school districts develop their internal capacity to support every student toward attaining a successful postsecondary pathway. This will be done through a hands-on, action-oriented workshop focused on the integration of three critical components: a district postsecondary framework and strategy; a data strategy; and engagement of school counselors as leaders. Up to 27 district teams (approximately three per AEA) will be selected from across the state following the application period that is open May 3-31.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
NPSI - Iowa program overview and application instructions
NPSI - Iowa Online application link
NPSI is led by Greg Darneider, Joyce Brown, Ph.D. and Kelly Sparks. Darneider served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education on the College Access Initiative, serving under President Obama's 2020 Goal and was the U.S. Department of Education representative on First Lady Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative. Dr. Brown is president of Joyce V. Brown Consulting, a group of expert practitioner counselor leaders who specialize in training and coaching counselors and non-profit organizations working on the front lines of schools. Dr. Brown also provided technical support and served as a consultant to Reach Higher. Ms. Sparks is CEO of Maple Grove Objective, which helps organizations strategically use data to improve outcomes for youth and communities. She has over 20 years of experience in education, and is a national expert and innovator in data strategy.
