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 Superintendents' Advisory Council (SAC) and Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meetings scheduled on Sept. 1 are cancelled. Superintendents will continue to meet via Zoom as scheduled.
The following dates are reserved for when we return to a regular, in-person meeting schedule. During the pandemic outbreak, more frequent virtual check-ins are being scheduled as needed.
The Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) meets from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, September through May, in Conference Rooms 107A/B of Heartland AEA’s Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive). Agenda items are both informational and professional learning-driven for superintendents. The meetings are jointly planned by the Superintendent Advisory Committee and Heartland AEA staff, including the chief administrator.
2020-21 dates:
Sept. 1, 2020 (canceled)
Oct. 6, 2020
Nov. 3, 2020
Dec. 8, 2020 (second Tuesday of month)
Jan. 5, 2021
No meeting in February
March 2, 2021
April 6, 2021
May 4, 2021
For meeting agendas, handouts and other important documents, visit the HAA Google Site.
Superintendent Advisory Committee
The Superintendent Advisory Committee is comprised of elected area superintendents and meets quarterly from 8 to 8:45 a.m. in Room 109 of the Johnston Regional Education Center.
2020-21 dates:
Sept. 1, 2020 (canceled)
Nov. 3, 2020
Jan. 5, 2021
April 6, 2021
May 4, 2021
For more information or questions, contact your regional director or Jennifer Ugolini, Board Secretary/Executive Assistant, Heartland AEA.
The Heartland AEA Curriculum Network meets from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the first Friday of every month, September through May. Meetings for 2020-21 will be held virtually until further notice and may be shorter in length. We will not be originating from a central location in Johnston.
Dates for 2020-21:
Sept. 4, 2020
Oct. 2, 2020
Nov. 6, 2020
Dec. 4, 2020
Jan. 8, 2021
Feb. 5, 2021
March 5, 2021
April 2, 2021
May 7, 2021
For meeting agendas, handouts and other important documents, visit the Curriculum Network Google Site. For more information or questions, contact your regional director or Kevin Fangman, Chief Academic Officer, (800) 255-0405 ext. 14374.
At this time, access to Heartland AEA workspaces is restricted for guests. All library and Creative Services materials are being delivered on our vans, and we are not holding agency meetings or professional learning events on site until further notice.
However, our staff may access our facilities to deliver services for those times when services cannot be delivered virtually or in the typical workplace setting. If you are scheduled to receive services on-site, AEA staff will meet you at the main entrance.
We have requirements in place to safeguard staff and visitors:
- Read the posted signs about common symptoms and what to do if you have symptoms.
- Only those who are COVID-19 symptom-free may enter a Heartland AEA office.
- Sign in and out at the office’s reception desk.
- Wear a mask and/or face shield. If you do not have a face covering, a disposable mask will be provided.
- Go directly with AEA staff to the area of the office you need to access.
- Practice social distancing and good hygiene while on-site including using hand sanitizer that’s available in Agency workspaces.
All public and non-public school districts in the Heartland AEA service area are encouraged to send a representative(s) the ESOL network meetings 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. and will be held virtually until further notice. Zoom links will be emailed to participants as the dates approach.
2020-21 schedule:
Sept. 8, 2020
Dec. 7, 2020
Feb. 22, 2021
May 3, 2021
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MIDTESOL 2020 Conference will now be held online on Oct. 3, 2020.
Community at a Crossroads: The Right to Education
Oct. 3, 2020
Virtual Conference
Hear keynotes from renowned lexicographer and senior Cambridge ELL dictionary editor Kory Stamper, as well as Dr. Christel Broady, director of the ESL Teacher Education Program at Georgetown College, current member of the TESOL International Board of Directors, specialist in K-12 biliteracy, and fierce advocate for immigrants and their teachers.
Fees (paid by registrant):
- MIDTESOL Members - $25
- TESOL Affiliate Members - $35
- Students and Paraprofessionals - $10
- Non-members - $45
Honorarium: $135 for full-day attendance (for schools and districts served by Heartland Title III)
- Individuals register on their own
- Following the conference, participants submit proof of registration and documentation of key learnings to their assigned ESL/Diversity Consultant (form posted soon)
- Once received, individuals will be sent an electronic Claim form to submit for an honorarium
More Information: MIDTESOL Conference Site
Registration: At the MIDTESOL 2020 Registration Site
As a follow-up to our communication last month about CPI training adjustments, in an effort to maintain the highest level of safety, and to reduce physical contact, we are asking districts to prioritize those staff with the highest level of risk (staff with the highest likelihood of needing to be involved with physical restraint and/or seclusion) to attend the training.
Due to COVID-19, we are going to grant up to a 1-year extension to staff who do not fall within the “high-risk” category (staff with the highest likelihood of needing to be involved with physical restraint and/or seclusion) and whose current Blue Card Certification expires during the 2020-21 school year.
Our CPI trainers have been working with districts and schools to grant these extensions. If you still have staff members who need to request an extension, please contact your Heartland AEA Regional Director or CPI Trainers.
CPI Trainers by Region:
Region 1 - Becky Tigges, Lauren Vanderhorst, Jenny Henscheid
Region 2 - Sue Klein and Angela Dvorak
Region 3 - Aimee Schuppe and Stacey Warren
Region 5 - Todd York and Amanda Khader
Region 6 - Gina Koehler
Region 7 - Chris Rial and Dawn Grimes
Region 8 - Brenda Gerdes and Shaylinn Crone
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.
The purpose of the Instructional Coaching Network is to provide support for instructional coaches in the areas of partnership principles, components of instructional coaching, content planning, instruction, formative assessment and community building. Support for implementation of MTSS, universal screening, Iowa Core and technology integration will be areas of focus as well Participants will have an opportunity to network and share resources. Differentiation based on knowledge and experience will be provided. We are aware that teacher leaders will have other professional development opportunities and meetings and may not be able to attend all the sessions.
2020-21 Network Dates
Our Instructional Coaching Network will continue to be held virtually for the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. Each network will run approximately 90 minutes and will be offered twice a month. The second monthly session will be a repeat of content from the first monthly session. The goal is to provide support for distance or virtual coaching, time to talk with colleagues and share ideas, and to continue to ensure self-care and support for our coaching community. To help us plan for each opportunity, RSVP for networking sessions by completing the form linked to each date. A Zoom link will be emailed out to each participant prior to the network session. Stay informed with network meeting dates and other important information at the Instructional Coaching Network site.
Sept. Network (RSVP here)
Sept. 15 - 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 - 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Heartland AEA organizes meetings for technology coordinators in the Agency's service area so area technology staff members can come together to discuss current technology topics and to learn from one another. These meetings are held approximately six times a year. The agenda for each meeting, as well as exact times and locations, is distributed via email to the tech coordinator listserv in advance of the meeting.
Tech Coordinators are meeting virtually every Friday through the coronavirus pandemic to collaborate and support one another. The following dates reflect the anticipated regular meeting schedule for the 2020-21 school year.
2020-21 Schedule:
Sept. 25, 2020
Oct. 30, 2020
Jan. 29, 2021
Feb. 26, 2021
April 8, 2021
April 30, 2021
For more information, contact Heartland AEA Director of Technology Jeff S. Weinberg.
Tech Coordinator Listserv
Technology directors/coordinators from the districts/schools in Heartland AEA's service area belong to a listserv that is focused on questions, problems, policies, products and solutions related to educational technology at the PK-12 level. To become a member of the listserv, contact Heartland AEA Director of Technology Jeff S. Weinberg at 800) 255-0405 ext. 14324 or Network Administrator Tuan Dao at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14413.
