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.