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.