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

ACTION ITEM: Pear Deck is Ready! Let’s Get Your Teachers and Students Signed Up!

All Iowa districts now have premium access to Pear Deck! The technology contact from each district is asked to connect with Pear Deck and provide teacher email addresses to start the sign-up process. Please reference this information to complete the process and learn more about Pear Deck professional learning opportunities for teachers, trainers and/or coaches.

Attention Secondary and Elementary Teachers: Blend Flip Course 1 Coming in November

AEA Learning Online is offering Blend Flip Course 1 for both secondary and elementary teachers in November. This course is three face-to-face days with blended opportunities each day. Because of the pandemic and difficulty getting subs, these three days will be offered on the following Saturdays: Nov. 7, 14 and 21.

Sign up here:
Secondary BF Course 1
Elementary BF Course 1

The Blend Flip cohort is a series of four courses, each one building on the previous. Learn more about the cohort here.

Alternate Assessment Updates for 2020-21

For Teachers: If you are teaching students who are on the alternate assessment, you must complete student profiles and certification training. This document contains the deadlines, new information and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.

For Administrators: All teachers who have students on the alternate assessment must be certified as strategist II ID and complete certification training. Administrators are responsible for creating teacher accounts for the ELAA system, as well as creating rosters for DLM. This document contains deadlines, new information, and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.

John Spencer Webinar Sign up! + Resources for Teaching Reading Online & New Course!

Are you looking for remote learning resources? Literacy or Pear Deck resources? Professional Learning courses for technology integration? Or maybe you’d like to connect with other computer science teachers? All of this is available in our Smore newsletter. If you need additional support, contact your Heartland AEA Instructional Technology Consultant.

myIGDIs Access for 2020-21

The Iowa Department of Education is pleased to bring myIGDIs to preschools in Iowa at no cost. As an optional screening tool, myIGDIs for preschool literacy complements the required GOLD assessment. It is also part of a healthy MTSS system supporting a robust universal tier of instruction.

In Iowa myIGDIs is:

• Recommended for learners attending a preschool program in the year before kindergarten.
• Available for use with learners participating in programs with a state assigned district ID, building ID, and student ID.
• Administered on two bluetooth-enabled iPads (one in teacher mode, one in student mode) using the free myIGDIs App.
• Available to previous users of myIGDIs right away during the fall window (through Nov. 14).
• Potentially available to new users through the state contract. Stay tuned for more information.

Training on the myIGDIs Early Literacy assessments, data displays and data use will be available online. There are several resources available through Renaissance online, and planning is occurring to support Iowa specifically with live webinars. For 2020-21, data will be housed in the myIGDIs early literacy data system. Future plans include integrating the data into the state supported MTSS system.

Early literacy in preschool provides the foundation for academic and social-emotional success. Assessment data from myIGDIs can translate into creating learning experiences to build oral language, vocabulary, phonological awareness, comprehension and alphabet knowledge. It (myIGDIs) is aligned to the Iowa Early Learning Standards (IELS).

Stay tuned for more information about sign-up and how to receive regular communications about myIGDIs.

Release from Renaissance on Sept. 3, 2020.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Adkins.

 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

COVID-19 Tracker Template Now Available for Districts

Heartland Covid Tracker Template - This template is now available for districts to use if they would like an instrument to help them track their Covid numbers. Click on the link, and you’ll be asked to make a copy. This is the version you’ll name and save to your desktop so you can personalize for your district. The template also comes with a quick tutorial.

ACTION REQUESTED: Pear Deck is Ready! Let’s Get Your Teachers and Students Signed Up!

All Iowa districts now have premium access to Pear Deck! The technology contact from each district is asked to connect with Pear Deck and provide teacher email addresses to start the sign-up process. Please reference this information to complete the process and learn more about Pear Deck professional learning opportunities for teachers, trainers and/or coaches.

Transportation Approval Process Delayed for 2020-21

Chapter 285.9(3) of the Iowa Code requires the Area Education Agency Board of Directors to approve all bus routes outside the boundaries of the school district operating the buses. This process has typically been done every spring. Since districts closed early this year due to the pandemic and the Governor’s emergency proclamation, the transportation approval process has been postponed until Spring 2021. Agreements currently on file will remain in effect until the next approval cycle. 

If a district knows of a change they’d like to go ahead and implement for this year, or is unsure of the agreements they currently have in place, please contact Jenny Ugolini, Heartland AEA Board Secretary at jugolini@heartlandaea.org.

New EL SMORE Newsletter is Published!

Welcome to a new school year and the EL SMORE newsletter. The newsletter will address topics related to teaching and learning with students learning English. Our purpose is to share an EL newsletter every two months. The topic of our current newsletter is Equity and Language. Please follow the newsletter and share with your colleagues!

Alternate Assessment Updates for 2020-21

For Teachers: If you are teaching students who are on the alternate assessment, you must complete student profiles and certification training. This document contains the deadlines, new information and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.

For Administrators: All teachers who have students on the alternate assessment must be certified as strategist II ID and complete certification training. Administrators are responsible for creating teacher accounts for the ELAA system, as well as creating rosters for DLM. This document contains deadlines, new information, and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.

COVID-19 Tracker Template Now Available for Districts

Heartland Covid Tracker Template - This template is now available for districts to use if they would like an instrument to help them track their Covid numbers. Click on the link, and you’ll be asked to make a copy. This is the version you’ll name and save to your desktop so you can personalize for your district. The template also comes with a quick tutorial.

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

Did You Miss This Week’s HAA Zoom? Check Out the Fall 2020 Slides From IHSAA/IGHSAU

During this week’s Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) Zoom, guests Tom Keating with the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Jean Berger with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union provided fall 2020 updates. For those superintendents who weren't able to attend, here is a link to their slides: IHSAA/IGHSAU Google Slides.

2020-21 Staff & Schools Directory is Available

Our 2020-21 Staff & Schools Directory is available for download from our website. The annual directory provides contact information for each of our Heartland AEA staff members as well as for the superintendents and principals of each of the districts/schools we serve.

2020-21 Staff & Schools Directory

Also please keep in mind that Heartland AEA has an online staff directory that contains the most up-to-date information about Heartland AEA staff members. To access this directory, visit our homepage and click on the "Staff Directory" link on the top right hand side of the page. You may search for Heartland AEA staff members by name, position or by the school districts they serve.

REALM Releases Research on Detection of COVID-19 on Stacked Books and DVDs

In a recent report, the CDC has stated that the SARS-CoV-2 virus does not transfer readily from surfaces.[i ] That said, each organization will need to exercise caution in accordance with its risk tolerance, its understanding of the available research, and municipal guidance.

REALM released the Test 4 results last week with stacked books and DVDs. The test included placing the exposed materials in a sealed, environmentally controlled chamber where the materials were not exposed to airflow or light.

Results show that after six days of quarantine the SARS-CoV-2 virus was still detected on all five materials tested. When compared to Test 1, which resulted in nondetectable virus after three days on an unstacked hardcover book, softcover book, plastic protective cover, and DVD case, the results of Test 4 highlight the effect of stacking and its ability to prolong the survivability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Based on the materials’ porous cellulose composition, liquid disinfection methods may not be suitable and may result in material degradation. Longer quarantine time can be considered; or, other methods such as application of heat may promote more rapid decontamination and may warrant further investigation. A literature review that will be available in October 2020 is exploring published research on the effect of heat, UV light, and other methods of disinfection.

Alternate Assessment Updates for 2020-21

For Teachers: If you are teaching students who are on the alternate assessment, you must complete student profiles and certification training. This document contains the deadlines, new information and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.

For Administrators: All teachers who have students on the alternate assessment must be certified as strategist II ID and complete certification training. Administrators are responsible for creating teacher accounts for the ELAA system, as well as creating rosters for DLM. This document contains deadlines, new information, and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other 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

Heartland AEA Literacy Team Releases its First Newsletter

The Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue…

• Foundational Reading Skills
• Enhancing Universal Instruction
• Book Lists
• Resources for Your K-5 Classroom

Get These Individualized Math Kits for K-2 and 3-5 Into Your Students' Hands

Individualized math kits for grades K-2 and 3-5 are now available for order. Each kit comes in a slider-lock plastic bag with a label for the student’s name. Educators can log in to csonline.heartlandaea.org with the username/password used for AEA Learning Online (mandatory reporter). Search math kit or enter the order number. Heartland AEA accepts school purchase orders, credit cards, and p-cards.

Math Kit K-2 -- $2.04 (order number: 2940)

• 4 - Number cards (1-10)
• 15 - Double ten frame
• Number paths
• 120s chart poster
• 1000 place value mat (laminated)
• Place value disks

Math Kit 3-5 -- $2.42 (order number: 2941)

• 120s chart poster
• 20 number line
• 4 - Number cards (1-10)
• Arrow cards
• Number lines fraction wall
• 1000 place value mat (laminated)
• Place value disks

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter

The Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue…

• School Librarian Role in Pandemic Learning
• Representation Matters: Annotated and Sortable List of New Ebooks and Audiobooks
• PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next
• Annotated and Sortable List of New Ebooks and Audiobooks
• ASCD's K-12 Digital Content Report
• Individualized Math Kits K-2 and 3-5
• Glasses Fogging Up When Wearing a Mask?

Introducing the Heartland AEA Nurse Consultation Newsletter

The Heartland AEA Nurse Consultation Newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue…

• Special Education Q&A
• Iowa Seizure Smart Zoom Conference
• NEW School Nurse Moodle

NEW RESOURCE: Effective Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorder Google Site

Welcome to this new standalone resource from Heartland AEA: Effective Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorders Google Site. The purpose of this Google Site is to provide educators, families and others with information on evidence-based practices for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as resources to use in schools, homes and community settings. Some of the content was derived from a professional learning course titled, "Online Effective Programming for Integrated Students on the Autism Spectrum," which was previously offered to educators through AEA Professional Development Online. In an effort to make the materials accessible to a wider audience and eliminate barriers to access, the course content was supplemented with additional information and resources and organized on this site.

Some of the information included on the site:

• Characteristics
• Classroom Supports
• Communication
• Behavior
• Social
• Collaboration
• For Families
• COVID-19 Resources

Pear Deck & Book List + Heart of Innovation Course #2

Check out our latest Smore with Pear Deck and Book Lists created by our Heartland AEA math and literacy consultants, plus registration information for our upcoming instructional technology Heart Of Innovation Course #2.

Math + Pear Deck
Looking for ways to teach math virtually? Use these strategies with Pear Deck.
Link to Math + Pear Deck Resource
Creator: Molly Sweeney, Curriculum Consultant - Math

Book Lists
Are you looking for a diversity book list, books for the start of the school year, or books about math? Check out these book lists for elementary and Young Adult Fiction.
Book List Link
Creator: Janelle Thompson, Curriculum Consultant - Reading

Designing Innovative Learning Experiences to Empower Students
Featuring a webinar from Dr. John Spencer, professor, author, maker.
Sept. 14 - Oct. 26, 2020
100% online
1 LR credit
Register at this link: https://bit.ly/2YV5WzQ

Deaf Awareness Month VIRTUAL Informational Fair, Coming Sept. 10

Deaf Awareness Month Virtual Informational Fair

Sept. 10 @ 6 p.m.

Heartland AEA's Hearing Services Team is participating in this virtual event that will feature a variety of organizations that work with the deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or those who have difficulty speaking to connect to their communities. There will be representatives on hand to answer questions and explain their services.

In addition, Hamilton Relay will announce the 2020 Iowa Deaf Community Leader Award at the event. Attendees will be eligible for door prizes.

Organizations present:

• Telecommunications Access Iowa
• Relay Iowa
• Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf
• Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation
• Iowa State Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf
• Heartland Area Education Agency
• Deaf Iowans Against Abuse

American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) services will be provided.

Share with your colleagues, friends and families!

Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8096092651397510414

Nominations Sought for STEM Teacher Awards

Know an outstanding STEM teacher? Someone who demonstrates the incredible impact science, technology, engineering and math have on the world every day? Nominate them for the 2021 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries!


Now in its seventh year, this award celebrates teachers who inspire a passion for STEM in their students. It recognizes leadership and dedication that increases student interest in and awareness of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The award is given to one teacher from each of the six Iowa STEM regions. Recipients receive $1,500 for their classroom, along with an additional $1,500 for personal use.

The deadline to complete nominations is Oct. 9. Recipients will be announced in January 2021.

The nomination process is simple and open to everyone, including fellow teachers, school administrators, students and parents. 

Visit iowastem.gov/teacheraward-application to submit a nomination and learn more.

USJCI Foundation Senate Scholarship Application Process is Open for 2020-21 Year

Applications are now being taken for the United States JCI Senate Foundation Scholarship Program. Graduating high school seniors in the United States, where that state has an active JCI Senate program, are eligible to apply. Each year (April) $1,000 grants will be awarded to graduating high school seniors in the United States, who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities or vocational schools. Applications are due by Jan. 22, 2021. For more information, see this scholarship program flyer or contact John Buttolph at (515)-290-0383.

Sept. 2020 School Leader Update Available

The Sept. 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available.