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
Nikki Roorda, current Heartland AEA Region 6 regional director serving the Ankeny Community School District, has accepted a position as the Executive Director of Teaching & Learning for the Johnston Community School District. We have been working closely with our leadership team to ensure a smooth transition for everyone. I am confident in our transition plans as Nikki departs Heartland AEA.
As the new school year begins, the following assignments will be in place in Region 6:
- Karla Jones, who is currently the regional director for the Urbandale Community School District, will move to the Ankeny Community School District and will provide leadership for K-12 Special Education services and supports.
- Charlie Johnson, a retired Heartland AEA regional director, will provide leadership for Early ACCESS/Early Childhood supports and general education/curriculum for Ankeny. He will also serve as the contact for non-public schools in Ankeny.
- Keri Steele, current regional director for the Saydel Community School District, will add the Urbandale district to her assignment and will continue to serve Saydel as well.
We ask that you share this information as you see fit with your administrators and staff. If you have any questions, please contact me at jsheldahl@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14314. Have a great 2019-20 school year!
Jon Sheldahl
Chief Administrator
Heartland AEA
The Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) will have its first meeting of the 2019-20 school year on Sept. 3 at DMACC in Ankeny. This will also be the kickoff to the 2019-20 Heartland AEA Social, Emotional, Behavioral, Mental Health Speaker Series and will be led by Frances Stetson, Ph.D. Dr. Stetson will provide learning on quality standards for inclusive practices for superintendents and administrators in the morning. Her afternoon session on effective staff utilization is designed for all educators. Register for the sessions at this link.
All of the HAA meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of the month and will follow the same basic format:
- 8 - 9 a.m. Superintendent Advisory Council (currently scheduled for Sept., Nov., Jan., April and May)
- 9 - 10 a.m. Regular HAA Business Meeting and Partner Updates from Heartland AEA, DE, SAI, IASB, BOEE and DMACC
- 10 - 11:30 a.m. Superintendent Session with Guest Presenter
Bookmark the HAA Google Site to stay informed of all HAA events, agendas and materials.
Several school districts in the Heartland AEA service area employ social workers. We would like to gather information about social workers and the services that are provided. This information will help us offer districts professional learning or technical assistance throughout the year.
STOP: Before You Take the Survey:
Select ONLY ONE representative from your district to complete the survey. Your district representative will click here to participate in the survey. Thank you!
This is a reminder that any teacher supporting students with intellectual disabilities needs to be certified to administer an alternate assessment. The Early Literacy Alternate Assessment (ELAA) is for teachers of students with significant intellectual disabilities in K-6 who use the alternate assessment rather than the FAST. The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) is the statewide assessment for students with significant intellectual disabilities in Grades 3-11 for whom alternate assessment has been designated by an IEP team.
Certification information should have been sent to district facilitators. The certification process for both tests is completed through self-directed online trainings in AEA PD Online Learning System. Districts decide how best to certify teachers. Most districts have teachers complete training early in the school year on district time in individual or small group sessions.
Heartland AEA will host two learning sessions for teachers of students with significant intellectual disabilities who participate in either the ELAA or DLM. AEA staff will support technical troubleshooting and answer questions. There is no formal training beyond the self-study.
Training Opportunities
Alternate Assessment Certification Training for K-6 ELAA
Sept. 5 or Sept. 26, 2019
8:30 a.m.
Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center
(Repeat session, teachers choose one or the other)
Register at this link using course #180545
Teachers must pass certification prior to administering the ELAA. State procedures require evidence to be collected starting the first week of school. Teachers who wait until Sept. 26 to be certified must familiarize themselves with and follow the evidence gathering requirements.
Alternate Assessment Certification Training for DLM grades 3-12
Sept. 5 or Sept. 26, 2019
12:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center
(Repeat session, teachers choose one or the other)
Register at this link using course #180544
Teachers must pass certification prior to administering the DLM. The first testing window closes Nov. 1, 2019.
Additional information on Alternate Assessment can be found on the Heartland AEA website or at the Iowa Department of Education website. The Iowa Department of Education will be sending district alternate assessment contacts more information via email.
The new Heartland AEA SEBMH Fall 2019 Leadership Series for superintendents and education leaders begins on Sept. 3 with guest speaker Frances Stetson, Ph.D.. Dr. Stetson works with schools with a focus on inclusive practices, closing the achievement gap, differentiated instruction and quality standards for instruction and leadership. Superintendents and administrators are invited to the morning session on quality standards, and all educators are invited to attend the afternoon session on effective staff utilization.
Morning Session for Superintendents and Administrators:
Quality Standards for Inclusive Practices: A Working Session for Assessing Your Current Status and Identifying Your Next Improvement Targets
Dr. Stetson will lead participants through an inclusive school assessment guide. For each standard, participants will learn cutting-edge strategies for achieving it and receive practical tools and resources to make the journey easier. Standards such as a commonly-held belief system and vocabulary, an objective, individualized process for deciding the most appropriate services for each student, effective staffing options, scheduling techniques and many more topics will be presented.
Register at no cost at this link with course #180603.
Afternoon Session for All Educators:
Reviewing Effective Staff Utilization: New Lessons for Doing More with Less!
Dr. Stetson brings her extensive experience from staffing studies, program evaluations, and on-site technical assistance to a practical working session to demonstrate that doing more with less can actually mean just that! Such challenges as making certain that in-class support in inclusive classrooms truly results in benefits that reflect two adults versus a ‘visitor on the side of the room’; making decisions regarding the need for paraeducator services on the basis of student needs versus adult preference; using an objective process for staffing and scheduling that results in improved student outcomes and other related issues will be discussed.
Register at no cost at this link with course #180603.
AGENDA
9 - 10 a.m. Regular Heartland Administrators' Association Business Meeting and Partner Updates
10 - 11:30 a.m. Superintendent Session with Frances Stetson, Ph.D.
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch on your own
12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Afternoon Session for all Educators
LOCATION
Des Moines Area Community College Student Center, Bldg 5 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny
*Allow extra time for parking on the DMACC campus
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:
- 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.
Additional trainings are listed in the technical assistance guidance created by the Iowa Department of Education. The list is not exhaustive and school districts are not required to select from the list. School districts have the authority to select the evidence-supported training that best meets the needs of their district.
Learn more about the trainings here or contact AEA Learning Online.
