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
The next Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting will be held on Jan. 7 at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston, from 9 - 11:30 a.m. View the agenda here.
Registration is open for the 2020 Legislative Education Advocacy Event sponsored by Iowa's Area Education Agencies. This event will bring together school administrators from across Iowa to learn the most up-to-date legislative insight, and meet with legislators face-to-face at the Capitol. Check out the event plans and register at this link: https://www.smore.com/qe4y5.
Tammy Heflebower, Ed.D., will focus primarily on the creation of proficiency scales and their place in the broader, upfront work of deconstructing standards and the understanding and development of aligned assessments. Dr. Heflebower will speak of how proficiency scales fit into the instructional cycle and into the learning partnership between teacher and students. The work of creating proficiency scales is a seismic shift from our past practices of using a 100-point grading scale which converts points given to percentages.
Strand of SBL Framework: Learning Targets, Scales & Rubrics
Feb. 27, 2020
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center, DMACC Ankeny Campus, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy., Ankeny, IA
Registration link: http://bit.ly/2pd2GAT
Bring teams!
Sometimes you have to hear the things you don’t want to hear in order to move forward, to be better and to get results. Hamish Brewer will take you on a hard-hitting journey that will challenge to rethink your practices, to disrupt the norm and change the game. Find out if you have or are willing to go one more round, if you’re willing to advocate for every single person and child. Find out if you’re willing to take your school or organization to the next level.
Brewer has over 20 years of experience serving as a classroom teacher, administrator, international education director and an educational consultant in the United States and abroad. He is high octane in his approach to children, teachers and his community. He is currently a principal in Prince William County, one of the largest divisions in the country, helping in best practices and advances in the implementation and use of technology.
Be Relentless
March 3, 2020
Des Moines Area Community College, Student Center, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd. Ankeny, IA
9:00-10:00 a.m. Keynote Message
10:00-10:30 a.m. Q&A
10:30-11:00 a.m. Book Signing with Hamish Brewer**
Registration
Register for this event at bit.ly/2VLliHt using Course #180607
This is a no cost event! Bring your administrative team! If you missed him at IASB, see him here!
**SPECIAL NOTE: Mr. Brewer will be personally autographing his book, Relentless: Changing Lives by Disrupting the Educational Norm. Be sure to purchase the book in advance, bring it with you, meet the author and get your copy signed! Books will not be available for purchase at the event.
Explore the dynamics of school culture from a sociological, psychological, anthropological, political, historical and economic lens, using the Transforming School Culture framework. The framework helps educators and simplifies the work of transforming school culture by understanding patterns of behavior that either support or undermine the development of school culture.
Transforming School Culture experts will help you examine the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and habits that comprise your school’s culture, to ensure a productive and functional environment. Work with our experts to develop the ability to properly respond to challenges and adversity.
Transforming School Culture: Understanding and Overcoming Resistance to Necessary Change Featuring Anthony Muhammad, Ph.D.
April 23, 2020
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
8600 Northpark Drive Johnston, IA
Registration
Register by April 20, 2020 at this link: http://bit.ly/2MEyMyA using course #181933
$50 per person. Lunch included.
Registration is limited to 125. There is no waiting list for this event.
All educators are invited!
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 2020 meeting dates!
- 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.
Thinking about making some changes to your TLC system? Wondering how to get started? Find out how the Norwalk CSD tackled those questions and more as they worked through a full program review of their TLC system: an overview of the process they used, things they learned along the way, and tips your school might consider will be discussed. There will also be plenty of time for participants to ask questions. Shelly Vroegh, TLC and Mentoring Programs Coordinator from Norwalk, will be facilitating.
It has been 3-5 years that all districts wrote their teacher leadership compensation plan. Much may have changed during that time: original goals may have been met, teacher leadership roles may have evolved or needs in the buildings may have changed; the district may have adopted an instructional framework; buildings may have begun to work toward full implementation of MTSS; teachers may have shared what they need from a teacher leadership system has changed.
Join us on Jan. 16 from 1 - 3:15 p.m. at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA, Room 107A. Here is a link to register.
Contact Wendy Robinson, Nicole Patton or Michelle Vaughan if you have questions.
Building a Collaborative Learning Environment For All with Eric Curts
Jan. 9, 2020
9 - 10:30 a.m.
Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2QGfuty
And Coming Soon!
Fostering Curiosity to Empower Critical Thinking with Matt Miller
Feb. 6, 2020
This online book study course is designed to help educators find ways to integrate curiosity and critical thinking into their classrooms. Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom by Matt Miller will be the focus.
Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2QFOnyJ Course #181915
Save the date for Matt’s webinar on Feb. 20 from 1 - 3 p.m.
The Jan. 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.
