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

 

Save the Date: HAA Meeting Reminder - Jan. 4, 2022

The next Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting will be held on Jan. 4 from 9 - 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, in Johnston and via Zoom. The agenda features guest speakers from Corwin: Nicole Law, Ed.D., and Sonja Hollins-Alexander, Ed.D., along with monthly partnership updates.

Dr. Law is a passionate educator who provides professional learning to schools and districts across the country. She has served as a curriculum coordinator for English language learners, cultural responsivity, AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination), district equity, and mathematics and science instruction in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township in Indianapolis, IN.

Dr. Hollins-Alexander is the Director of Professional Learning for Corwin Publishing. She has been in the field of education for 24 years with 18 of those being in educational leadership at the school, district and higher education levels. During this time, Hollins-Alexander has served as a school social worker, teacher, assistant principal, principal, coordinator, assistant director and director of professional learning, and chief of staff in two Metro Atlanta, GA school districts.

Law and Hollins-Alexander will be presenting on Collective Equity. Below are some reading materials they've provided to pre-read.

Read: Why Understanding Equity vs Equality in Schools can help you create and inclusive classroom

Read: How to Prepare School Staff for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives | Edutopia

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

Heartland AEA Holiday Office Closing & Van Delivery Schedule

In celebration of Winter Break, Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public Dec. 23, 2021 - Jan. 2, 2021. Van delivery schedule will be as follows:

• Regular van delivery: through Dec. 23, 2021
• No van delivery: Dec. 24 -Jan. 2
• Regular van delivery resumes: Jan. 3, 2022

Interested in Future Ready Topics? ​​Join the Heartland AEA Future Ready Network on Jan. 6

Join your local colleagues at the next Heartland AEA Future Ready Network meeting on Jan. 6 from 8:30 -11:30 a.m. on Zoom or in person at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston. Some participants asked to have it in person so there would be work time with coaching. If you would like to attend in person, please complete this google form so that we are sure we have enough space.

The focus of the meeting will be on the District Plan for Career Guidance (District Plan) and the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP). This is important because this spring it is required for the first time from the Iowa Department of Education that each district submit their ICAP to the CTE RPP and receive feedback.

For more information, contact Sue Schirmer.

New 3D Core Vocabulary Symbols Available through Creative Services

For students with significant cognitive disabilities and communication needs, core vocabulary is an important part of learning. For students with visual impairments, Project-Core has created a set of 3D symbols. You can read more about those at the Project-Core website. Heartland AEA's Creative Services Department now has six symbols available for purchase: GO, LIKE, NOT, LOOK, FINISHED, HELP and MORE. To order, go to csonline.heartlandaea.org and log in with the username/password used in the teacher training system. Enter 3d in the search box. Teachers can pay with school PO or p-card or their credit card.

AEA System Synthesis on DE Ruling on State Complaints Concerning House File 847 and Children with Disabilities

On Dec. 1, 2021 the Iowa Department of Education shared a decision related to a state complaint related to masking and children with disabilities. Iowa’s AEAs have provided both the full and abbreviated versions of the decision, which will be shared by each AEA with its managers and partnering superintendents in accordance with the ruling.

Information had been shared at both the Heartland AEA superintendent’s meeting and the Heartland AEA Special Education Network last week regarding a recent Ruling from the Iowa Department of Education on State Complaints Concerning House File 847 and Children with Disabilities. Iowa’s AEAs have created an abbreviated version of the ruling as a resource for administrators to use when working with teams to understand the ruling.

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

 

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

Heartland AEA Holiday Office Closing & Van Delivery Schedule

In celebration of Winter Break, Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public Dec. 24, 2021 - Jan. 2, 2021. Van delivery schedule will be as follows:

• Regular van delivery: through Dec. 23, 2021
• No van delivery: Dec. 24 -Jan. 2
• Regular van delivery resumes: Jan. 3, 2022

ELL Winter Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA ELL Winter Newsletter is now available. In this issue, we highlight some of the winter holidays, festivals or celebrations that take place this time of year so that you may gain a deeper understanding of students and families who arrive from other parts of the world and make Iowa their home. We wish you a wonderful winter break at the end of this month, and look forward to celebrating a new year with you in January!

Interested in Future Ready Topics? ​​Join the Heartland AEA Future Ready Network on Jan. 6

Join your local colleagues at the next Heartland AEA Future Ready Network meeting on Jan. 6 from 8:30 -11:30 a.m. on at this Zoom link or in person at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston. Some participants asked to have it in person so there would be work time with coaching. If you would like to attend in person, please complete this google form so that we are sure we have enough space.

The focus of the meeting will be on the District Plan for Career Guidance (District Plan) and the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP). This is important because this spring it is required for the first time from the Iowa Department of Education that each district submit their ICAP to the CTE RPP and receive feedback.

For more information, contact Sue Schirmer.

Are Your Teachers Using Pear Deck? Now’s the Time!

Pear Deck Delights: an AEA Webinar Series Beginning Dec. 16

Through Iowa’s AEAs, all Iowa educators and students have access to the premium version of Pear Deck, a communication platform that lets teachers create interactive assessments and presentations that students can follow from their personal devices.

Educators like Nicole DeGidio and Stefanie Throndson are impressed with the engagement of students when they use Pear Deck.

“My students love that they get to practice as we proceed through a lesson. They love the brain breaks I’ve created using Pear Deck. Flashcard Factory gets them up and moving and working with a peer. Pear Deck is my students’ (and my) favorite tool!” – Nicole DeGidio, teacher/instructional and technology coach, Clayton Ridge Schools

“My students and I love the interactivity provided by Pear Deck. I especially appreciate being able to view student responses in real-time.” – Stefanie Throndson, teacher librarian, New Hampton Schools

Sign Up Today for Pear Deck Webinar Series
To help educators learn more about the great features available to them with Pear Deck, Iowa's AEAs are partnering with classroom teachers to facilitate a series of webinars in Dec. 2021 and Jan. 2022.

The Pear Deck Delights Webinar Series will be kicking off on Dec. 16, 2021, with Pear Deck 101 offered by a member of the Pear Deck team.

• Pear Deck 101 -- Dec. 16, 2021
• My Favorite Pear Deck Things -- Jan. 5, 2022
• Pear Deck Tips for Teachers -- Jan. 12, 2022
• Pear Deck Hidden Gems -- Jan. 19, 2022

Read more about Pear Deck and register for the webinar series by visiting the Pear Deck page on the Iowa's AEAs website.

Mark Your Calendars for New Alternate Assessment Courses

Heartland AEA has new course offerings for teachers of students on alternate assessment. These courses focus on literacy.

Emergent Literacy Strategies for Students on Alternate Assessment, course #182335
April 4, 12 and 22, 2022
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Heartland AEA, Johnston REC, 6500 Corporate Drive


Conventional Literacy Strategies for Students on Alternate Assessment, course #182326
April 4 and 26 and May 19, 2022
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Heartland AEA, Johnston REC, 6500 Corporate Drive
**Includes the book Comprehensive Literacy for All, 2020, by Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver

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

 

Save the Date: HAA Meeting Reminder - Dec. 7

The next Heartland Administrators' Association meeting will be held on Dec. 7 from 9 - 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, in Johnston and via Zoom. The agenda features:

Legislative panel with guest speakers, Margaret Buckton, Phil Jeneary, Kate Walton and Dave Wilkerson

Information about College and Career Transition Counselor grants and partnership with guest speaker Gail Zehr from Des Moines Area Community College

Computer Science Education Week Begins Dec. 6

Computer Science Week, Dec. 6 - 10, is celebrated the first week of December to help promote computer science amongst students, parents, communities, and organizations. How are you getting ready for Computer Science Education Week coming up? Check out some resources that have been curated to help educators and students learn more about Computer Science!

The Hour of Code is always a popular event and something rather easy to get started. Learn more here --> https://www.smore.com/nu7ft

Mark Your Calendar! Computer Science Webinar - Dec. 7

The next Heartland AEA Computer Science Webinar is Dec. 7, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. Administrators, teacher leaders and educators will network with others, receive computer science resources, and learn more about what the AEA can and will do to support the work our districts are doing. Click here for the agenda and the Zoom link

Webinar guests include representatives from Dallas Center-Grimes CSD who will share about how they used a Standards Comfortability Survey to gather data on how familiar teachers were with the standards and if they taught them, what did they use.

Dec. 2021 Newsletter from Heartland AEA's Digital Learning Consultant Team

We hope you find some helpful info and/or ideas in this month's edition of Heartland AEA Digital Learning News. Please reach out if our team can assist you with teaching and/or learning in any way!

In this issue:

• Computer Science Updates
• Want to Earn Some Credits?
• VR Kits are Back
• Google Updates
• Join Our Facebook Group

2021 Iowa AEA System Update for Superintendents

The Dec. 2021 Iowa AEA System Update for Superintendents is now available. In this update:

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter is Published

In this issue of the Nov. 30 Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter:

• New Elementary Ebooks
• Computer Science and Coding Resources
• Use AEA Scout to Find Documentaries
• Culture Grams and Standards
• Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit
• Professional Readings, New Reports and School Libraries
• Just Wanted to Share the Excitement

Heartland AEA Literacy Team Has News You Can Use

In this issue of the Dec. 2021 Heartland AEA Literacy newsletter:

• Reading as a Social Justice Issue
• "Scaffolding Up" Adolescent Literacy Grades 4-12
• Science of Reading Professional Learning Opportunity
• Comprehension Strategies for Grades 4-8
• Fluency, Phonics, Sound Walls

NEW! Heartland AEA Gifted & Talented Newsletter, Share with Colleagues!

In this debut issue of the Heartland AEA Gifted & Talented newsletter:

• Welcome to the first edition of the SMORETAG newsletter!
• Smart, But Scattered Workshop Recording
• Upcoming Heartland AEA Professional Development Opportunities
• What's new in the Heartland AEA Professional Library?

Scholarship Opportunities Now Being Accepted for HS Seniors Headed to College AND Skilled Trades

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 (two going to college and one going to skilled trade education) 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.

Iowa Department of Education Publishes the Winter 2021 School Leader Update

The Winter 2021 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available.