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

 

Nov. 2 HAA Meeting Cancelled, See you Dec. 7

The regular Nov. 2 HAA meeting has been cancelled so superintendents can attend the Iowa BEST Summit by the Iowa Dept. of Education and University of Iowa. The summit runs from Nov. 2-3. The next HAA meeting will be held on Dec. 7 and will feature a legislative panel with updates, and college and career transition counselors from Des Moines Area Community College. Look for a detailed agenda later this fall.

*Bookmark the New Heartland Administrators' Association Google Site*
The Heartland Administrators’ Association has a new site and look! With the Google transition from classic to new sites this fall, superintendents will want to bookmark the new Heartland Administrators’ Association Google Site for upcoming meeting information.

Heartland AEA Digital Learning Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Digital Learning newsletter is now available. In this issue:

• New Features in Screencastify
• Computer Science Updates
• Esports
• ITEC Updates
• Primary Google Blog: November Activities
• Want to Earn Some Credits

For more information or support, contact the Heartland AEA Digital Learning Consultant who serves your district.

Interested in Future Ready Topics? ​​Join the Heartland AEA Future Ready Network

Join your local colleagues to learn and share about all things Future Ready!

First Thursday of the month, beginning Nov. 4, 2021
9 - 11 a.m.
Zoom Link

For more information, contact Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant.

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources newsletter is now available. This is one of those newsletters that you may want to keep as a reference. In this issue:

• Jerry Pinkney and Gary Paulsen
• Create Creepy Animals with PebbleGo
• Audiobooks
• Debate Resources and AEA Scout
• Iowa School Library Survey Archives

Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is now available. In this issue:

• FASTBridge Interventions
• Scaffolding
• Social Studies and Reading
• Science of Reading Professional Learning
• Learning Bit by Bit

ACHIEVE System Go-Live Details Announced

On Oct. 26, the AEA System Statewide Special Education webinar shared initial details on the process for districts to “go-live” in ACHIEVE, the new state IEP system. Look for more information and opportunities to discuss with your regional director in the months to come.

November Updates from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Available

November updates from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners:

• Renewal Tips
• Substitute Licensure
• December Graduates
• Hints for School Administrators
• Holidays
• Ethics – Inappropriate Relationships
• Recent Cases

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

 

Nov. 2 HAA Meeting Cancelled, See you Dec. 7

The regular Nov. 2 HAA meeting has been cancelled so superintendents can attend the Iowa BEST Summit by the Iowa Dept. of Education and University of Iowa. The summit runs from Nov. 2-3. The next HAA meeting will be held on Dec. 7 and will feature a legislative panel with updates, and college and career transition counselors from Des Moines Area Community College. Look for a detailed agenda later this fall.

*Bookmark the New Heartland Administrators' Association Google Site*
The Heartland Administrators’ Association has a new site and look! With the Google transition from classic to new sites this fall, superintendents will want to bookmark the new Heartland Administrators’ Association Google Site for upcoming meeting information.

American Flag Poster Now Available for Buildings and Classrooms

In acknowledgment of House File 847, American flag posters are now available from Heartland AEA. Visit Creative Services Online and search #2996. Log in with the same username/password used for AEA Learning Online (e.g., mandatory reporter training). Sizes and pricing are as follows:

13” x 19” laminated: $.91

13” x 19” not laminated: $.40

Note: Estimates will be provided for other sizes

Required Course to Earn the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with Early Childhood Concentration Begins Nov. 15

This is the required course to receive the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with the Area of Concentration: Early Childhood.

Participants will gain knowledge, skills and strategies to assist, support and maintain the positive social, emotional and behavioral development of early childhood students and special needs early childhood students. The focus of this course will be on early childhood birth to grade 3 with an emphasis on ages 3-5.

This class may also be part of a staff development plan for teaching assistants with an Associates degree or two years of college in fields other than early childhood addressing how early childhood expertise is being provided to guide the curriculum.

Paraeducator Area of Concentration: Early Childhood
Prerequisite: Participants must hold a Paraeducator Generalist Certificate

Zoom sessions will be held on Nov. 15 and Dec. 21, 2021; Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 8 and April 12, 2022, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Additional coursework will be completed online by April 19, 2022

Cost: $180
Registration Link
Course #180188

Youth Mental Health First Aid Being Offered Again on Oct. 28 in a Blended Format

Participants will become certified Youth Mental Health First Aiders. Through the Youth Mental Health First Aid curriculum, participants will learn about the prevalence of various mental health disorders impacting youth and how to recognize the warning signs of mental health problems that may impact a youth’s mental health and resiliency.

They will learn how to utilize a five-step (ALGEE) plan to support youth and help youth in crisis connect with appropriate evidence-based treatment. In addition to becoming certified, participants will become more familiar with their YMHFA manuals, practice the ALGEE plan using case studies, identify appropriate school interventions/supports and research community resources. Registration includes a digital YMHFA Manual.

Youth Mental Health First Aid
Blended Format
Oct. 28, 2021
8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Registration

Scholarship Alert for Graduating Iowa Seniors: USJCI Foundation Senate Scholarship Applications are Now Being Accepted

Applications are now being taken for the United States Junior Chamber International Senate Foundation Scholarship Program. Graduating high school seniors in Iowa are eligible to apply. Each year $1,000 national 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.

The Iowa JCI program will be honoring three high school seniors with at least a $100 scholarship and send the top two forward to USJCI national judging, where the top 33 national seniors will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 14, 2022. For more information, see this scholarship program flyer and application checklist or contact John Buttolph at (515) 290-0383.

UNI’s Energy Curriculum Project is Seeking Teachers to Field Test New Energy Curriculum

The Iowa Secondary Energy Curriculum Project (ISEC) at the University of Northern Iowa is developing an energy curriculum for Iowa secondary students. We are currently seeking applications from Iowa middle and high school teachers to field test units developed during our summer 2021 workshop. Participants will be eligible for a stipend of up to $250 per unit. Applications will be accepted until all the units have been assigned to a field tester, but please apply soon to receive priority consideration. The application can be found at: https://isec.uni.edu/. For more information, contact Alan Czarnetzki, Prof. of Meteorology, ISEC Principal Investigator at Alan.Czarnetzki@uni.edu.

Thinking About Getting Esports Started at Your School? Join These Webinars and Learn More from Coaches and Coordinators to Help Get Programming Off the Ground

ITEC, along with Bytespeed and the Iowa High School Esports Association (IAHSEA), are putting on a series of webinars about Esports in schools. These webinars are free to the public and will be taking place over the next three weeks with the first webinar on Oct. 25. These webinars will be conducted over Zoom, last about 45 minutes, and time will be given for each webinar for attendees to ask questions and take part in discussions.

To get registered, just go to the link for each webinar.

• Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. - An Overview of K12 Esports in Iowa
• Nov. 1 at 3:30 p.m. - Introduction to the Iowa High School Esports Association
• Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m. - Equipment Needed for Esports

 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

 

Nov. 2 HAA Meeting Cancelled, See you Dec. 7

The regular Nov. 2 HAA meeting has been cancelled so superintendents can attend the Iowa BEST Summit by the Iowa Dept. of Education and University of Iowa. The summit runs from Nov. 2-3. The next HAA meeting will be held on Dec. 7 and will feature a legislative panel with updates, and college and career transition counselors from Des Moines Area Community College. Look for a detailed agenda later this fall.

Interested in Future Ready Topics? ​​Join the Heartland AEA Future Ready Network

Join your local colleagues to learn and share about all things Future Ready!

First Thursday of the month, beginning Nov. 4, 2021
9 - 11 a.m.
Zoom Link

For more information, contact Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant.

How Can We Better Serve You? Share Your Advice!

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies have partnered with Hanover Research to administer and analyze a survey regarding your perceptions of Heartland AEA’s services. Your advice in this form will help Heartland AEA better understand and shape service offerings. Please respond by the end of the day on Oct. 18. Thank you!

Let us Know How We Can Support Your Tech Needs!

You may be aware that Heartland AEA provides a variety of services to support your district’s technology needs, including:

• Tech Coordinator Meetings
• Tech Coordinator Listserv
• Internet Filtering (iBoss)
• Network Evaluation
• ClassLink OneClick

To learn more about these offerings, contact Darrel Raynor, Senior Director of Information Technology or Jeff S. Weinberg, Director of Technology.

Wait! Before you go: Please share feedback on cyber security, Google administration support, e-rate filing assistance and off-site data backup in this brief survey.

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

 

Nov. 2 HAA Meeting Cancelled, See you Dec. 7

The regular Nov. 2 Heartland Administrators' Association meeting has been cancelled so superintendents can attend the Iowa BEST Summit by the Iowa Dept. of Education and University of Iowa. The summit runs from Nov. 2-3. The next HAA meeting will be held on Dec. 7 and will feature a legislative panel with updates, and college and career transition counselors from Des Moines Area Community College. Look for a detailed agenda later this fall.

How Can We Better Serve You? Give us Your Advice!

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies have partnered with Hanover Research to administer and analyze a survey regarding your perceptions of Heartland AEA’s services. Your advice in this form will help Heartland AEA better understand and shape service offerings. Please respond by the end of the day on Oct. 18. Thank you!

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources newsletter is now available. This is one of those newsletters that you may want to keep as a reference. In this issue:

• 2021 Kids' Book Choice Awards Finalists Announced
• IdentAEA New Single Sign-On
• 2020 Iowa Census Data
• Spreading the Word about Ebooks
• Article about Ebooks, Publishers and Lawyers
• Digital Citizenship Week
• Free DVD Cases
• Iowa School Library Survey Archives

Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is now available. In this issue:

• October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month
• Instructional Response to Universal Screening Data
• Teacher's Guide to Support Families Involvement in Foundational Literacy Skills
• What is Read.Inquire.Write?
• Professional Learning Opportunities

Let us Know How We Can Support Your Tech Needs!

You may be aware that Heartland AEA provides a variety of services to support your district’s technology needs, including:

• Tech Coordinator Meetings
• Tech Coordinator Listserv
• Internet Filtering (iBoss)
• Network Evaluation
• ClassLink OneClick

To learn more about these offerings, contact Darrel Raynor, Senior Director of Information Technology or Jeff S. Weinberg, Director of Technology.

Wait! Before you go: Please share feedback on cyber security, Google administration support, e-rate filing assistance and off-site data backup in this brief survey.

Heartland AEA Instructional Technology Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Instructional Technology newsletter is now available. In this issue:

• Heart of Innovation Webinar Course Starts Oct. 11
• Sign up for our Heart of Innovation Webinar with Kacey Bell
• Pear Deck Course Added
• Heartland AEA Computer Science Webinar Oct. 5

October Updates from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Available

October Updates from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners:

• Conditional Licensure
• Late Fees
• BEDS
• STEM Award
• Ethics