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

 

Collaborative Pilot Announced for Districts Interested in Developing a Comprehensive School Mental Health System

Heartland AEA is excited to announce the opportunity for districts/schools to engage in a collaborative pilot to develop and implement Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems (CSMHS). The goal of this pilot is to focus on long-term, systems change for integrating school and community-based mental health supports within a multi-tiered service delivery framework based on a shared children, youth, family, school and community vision (Florida AWARE Guidance). Read more about the collaboration pilot opportunity. Complete the survey if interested by Feb 28.

Reminder: March 1 Heartland Administrators’ Association Meeting

The next Heartland Administrators' Association meeting will be held on March 1 from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. The agenda features guest speakers Ricky Robertson and Victoria Romero who will present on building student resilience.

Ricky Robertson has had the privilege to work with PK-12 students who have persevered in the face of adverse experiences and trauma. Drawing from experience as a teacher and Behavior Intervention Specialist, Robertson coaches educators in developing a relationship-based approach to teaching and learning that inspires transformation through compassion, humor, deep listening and "real talk.”

Victoria Romero is the lead author of Building Resilience in Students Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Whole Staff Approach and Race Resilience: Achieving Equity Through Self and Systems Transformation. Romero has taught elementary students in suburban and urban school districts; significantly improved the academic standing of schools as a principal; and coached administrators, directors, and school leadership teams for sustainable school improvement.

Collective Equity Framework Overview to be Held on March 1

In January, an initial presentation on Collective Equity was given to Heartland AEA superintendents and several showed interest in possibly implementing this framework. Sonja Hollins-Alexander and Nicole Law, who presented at the January Superintendent’s meeting, will be giving a more comprehensive overview of the Collective Equity Framework via zoom during the afternoon of March 1. At the end of that session, Heartland AEA will be sharing a possible vision for working with districts and school leadership teams during the 2022-23 school year. We will also be getting feedback from those interested schools and districts on planning for future learning with Sonja and Nicole.

Date: March 1, 2022
Time: 1-2:30 p.m.
Zoom: https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/91310053858

Intended audience: Central Office Leaders and Building Leaders

You're Invited: Future Ready Network Meeting Focusing on Work-based Learning

The Heartland AEA Future Ready Network meeting will be held via Zoom on March 3, 2022, from 9-11 a.m. Our topic this month is Work-based Learning (WBL), and we are excited to share that we have several guest speakers with lots of experience in this area.

The first hour will be focused on starting some WBL opportunities as well as sharing the WBL Guide that was recently released from the Iowa Department of Education. The second hour is focused on expanding those experiences as well as hearing voices from the field.

As always, these sessions will be recorded and housed on our Heartland AEA Future Ready Google Site along with resources and additional information.

The Zoom Link for all of our network meetings is the same.

Save the Dates!

• The April meeting will be focused on Special Populations: Special Education
• The May meeting we be a yearly wrap up, wrap around and look ahead.

If you have any questions, contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@heartlandaea.org.

FYI on Updated Guidance on Paraeducators as Substitute Teachers

The Board of Educational Examiners has established an emergency rule to allow paraeducators employed in an Iowa public school district or non-public school who hold a paraeducator certificate with a substitute authorization as an area of concentration to be allowed to substitute outside their assigned special education classroom IF permission is granted. This permission is not intended for long-term subbing.

Administrators may submit a request here: Paraeducator Substitute Request Form

Additional Substitute Information

• License types approved for full substitute teaching (up to 90 days in one assignment):
• Initial, standard, master educator, permanent professional, or exchange licenses
• Professional administrator license
• Professional service license
• Full career and technical authorization
• Full native language teaching authorization
• Substitute license

Substitute authorizations have a day limitation for serving in one assignment (10 days in a row in a 30-day period); however, a district may request a waiver of the day limitation. See page 3 of this document: Helpful Hints for Schools Administrators/HR Directors

The degree requirement to obtain a substitute authorization is an associate’s degree or 60 semester hours through a college or university accredited through an institutional accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education. The substitute authorization course is still required, unless an applicant is enrolled in a teacher preparation program and can provide transcripts showing how the course requirements have been met.

Substitute authorization holders must be at least 21 years of age.

A student teacher who holds a substitute authorization may serve as a substitute for their cooperating teacher only, on a very limited basis (no long-term subbing), and can be paid as a substitute teacher for that day.

Iowa State University Presents the Go Further Girls STEM Conference on March 24

Registration is now open for the Go Further Girls STEM Conference hosted by The Program for Women in Science and Engineering at Iowa State University. At this conference, girls in grades 8-10 learn about STEM college and career opportunities, engage in hands-on activities, and meet female-identifying role models. Register today to bring your students to the spring conferences, held at ISU, on March 24 (8th grade) and March 31 (9th/10th grade). After registration, the educator/group coordinator will receive information on how to select sessions, add student names, indicate dietary needs, etc. Contact Sarah DuBois at sedubois@iastate.edu with questions.

ITAG Spring 2022 Virtual Workshop to be Held on April 20

Interested in equitable and inclusive gifted identification and programming? Collaborate with your colleagues and Dina Brulles, ElizaBeth Warner, and Iowa Department of Education Gifted and Talented Consultant Rosanne Malek. Learn strategies and techniques to address student needs. Plan to join us for the ITAG Spring 2022 Virtual Workshop on April 23 from 8:45 a.m. - 3 p.m. Find more information and registration at https://www.iowatag.org/spring-2022-virtual-workshop/.

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

 

Reminder: March 1 Heartland Administrators’ Association Meeting

The next Heartland Administrators' Association meeting will be held on March 1 from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. The agenda features guest speakers Ricky Robertson and Victoria Romero who will present on building student resilience. Following the HAA meeting, join your colleagues for continued conversation into Collective Equity with content leaders from Corwin.

Join us on March 1 for Collective Equity Framework Overview

In January, an initial presentation on Collective Equity was given to Heartland AEA superintendents and several showed interest in possibly implementing this framework. Sonja Hollins-Alexander and Nicole Law, who presented at the January Superintendent’s meeting, will be giving a more comprehensive overview of the Collective Equity Framework via zoom during the afternoon of March 1. At the end of that session, Heartland AEA will be sharing a possible vision for working with districts and school leadership teams during the 2022-23 school year. We will also be getting feedback from those interested schools and districts on planning for future learning with Sonja and Nicole.

Date: March 1, 2022

Time: 1-2:30 p.m.

Zoom: https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/91310053858

Intended audience: Central Office Leaders and Building Leaders

Changes to the Computer Science Curriculum and Professional Development Grant for Districts from the DE

Summary: The Computer Science Professional Development Grant can cover equipment that is needed to implement the curriculum you are seeking and teacher stipends. There is no "set" list of equipment but you can contact the approved vendors for suggestions. Below the Iowa Department of Education also added instructions if you have already submitted a CS PD grant and you want to update it.

In addition to the new maximum potential award of $50,000 (up from $30,000) and the removal of equal grade band distributions, as of Feb. 14, 2022, awarded funds may now be used for additional related expenses. Those expenses include any necessary equipment tied to the approved curriculum in the grant as well as stipends for teachers participating in professional development during non-contract hours and substitute pay when teachers participate in professional development during contract hours.

Please Note:

1. There is not a "set" list of equipment purchases that will be approved, however, all approved vendors were provided an opportunity to supply items that would be associated with their offerings. Feel free to contact the vendor for questions.
2. Stipends and substitute pay will follow that of the SCRIPT grants. Maximum sub pay amount is $150/day based on the school's regular rate. Maximum stipend amount is $20/hour or $160/day, based on the school's regular rate. Stipends are only allowed for off-contract work.
3. If your district has already submitted a grant for the CS Professional Development funds, you may reach out to Justin Lewis, ask for it to be returned and then amend your grant for any additional funding for equipment, stipends and/or sub pay.

All information on the changes can be found on the Department's website and on the AEA’s Computer Science Information (see page 2, middle, yellow column). Please direct questions to Justin Lewis, Iowa Department of Education Computer Science Consultant.

Paraeducator Area of Concentration: English as a Second Language Begins June 1

This is the required course to receive the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with the Area of Concentration: English as a Second Language (ESL).

Successful completion of the Paraeducator Generalist Certification course(s) is a prerequisite to receive a Level II certification (Area of Concentration). You must have been issued your Paraeducator Generalist Certificate by the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) prior to completing this course in order to use the credit from this course to renew your Paraeducator Generalist Certificate. Participants will gain knowledge, skills and strategies to assist and support ESL students.

This course is a hybrid, with three zoom sessions and online work to total 90 hours.

Title III funds will provide a stipend of $300 for all paraeducators who work with ELLs and who fulfill the course requirements and are currently employed by a public or non-public PreK-12 school in Heartland AEA 11. This option is not available for employees of Des Moines Public Schools. A reimbursement claim form will be available the last day of class.

Register at this link Course#179854 HL

June 1: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
June 11: 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
June 25: 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

The rest of the work will need to be completed between June 1 and June 30, 2022.

MISIC Conference to Focus on Key Challenges for Schools: Social-Emotional Learning, Equity, Quality Instruction and Technology

Register today to attend the 2022 MISIC Conference on March 7 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. “Reset & Reinvent: Rising to the Challenges,” will focus on key challenges for schools, including social-emotional learning, equity, engagement, quality instruction and technology. Lunch keynote is Stacey Cole, Superintendent of Storm Lake Schools. Check out the speaker lineup and breakout session topics, and register at this link.

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

 

March 1 Heartland Administrators’ Association Agenda Now Available

The next Heartland Administrators' Association meeting will be held on March 1 from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. The agenda features guest speakers Ricky Robertson and Victoria Romero who will present on building student resilience.

Ricky Robertson has had the privilege to work with PK-12 students who have persevered in the face of adverse experiences and trauma. Drawing from experience as a teacher and Behavior Intervention Specialist, Robertson coaches educators in developing a relationship-based approach to teaching and learning that inspires transformation through compassion, humor, deep listening and "real talk.”

Victoria Romero is the lead author of Building Resilience in Students Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Whole Staff Approach and Race Resilience: Achieving Equity Through Self and Systems Transformation. Romero has taught elementary students in suburban and urban school districts; significantly improved the academic standing of schools as a principal; and coached administrators, directors, and school leadership teams for sustainable school improvement.

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter is Now Available

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

• New Videos in Learn 360
• 1,000,000 Books--Again!
• Fact-Checking Tools
• TeachingBooks and 2022-23 IASL Award Books
• 76 New PebbleGo Next Articles
• Bikes in the Library
• 9-12 Civics and Government Iowa Standards
• Intellectual Freedom Articles

MISIC Conference to Focus on Key Challenges for Schools: Social-Emotional Learning, Equity, Quality Instruction and Technology

Register today to attend the 2022 MISIC Conference on March 7 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. “Reset & Reinvent: Rising to the Challenges,” will focus on key challenges for schools, including social-emotional learning, equity, engagement, quality instruction and technology. Lunch keynote is Stacey Cole, Superintendent of Storm Lake Schools. Check out the speaker lineup and breakout session topics, and register at this link.

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

 

March 1 Heartland Administrators’ Association Agenda Now Available

The next Heartland Administrators' Association meeting will be held on March 1 from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. The agenda features guest speakers Ricky Robertson and Victoria Romero who will present on building student resilience.

Ricky Robertson has had the privilege to work with PK-12 students who have persevered in the face of adverse experiences and trauma. Drawing from experience as a teacher and Behavior Intervention Specialist, Robertson coaches educators in developing a relationship-based approach to teaching and learning that inspires transformation through compassion, humor, deep listening and "real talk.”

Victoria Romero is the lead author of Building Resilience in Students Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Whole Staff Approach and Race Resilience: Achieving Equity Through Self and Systems Transformation. Romero has taught elementary students in suburban and urban school districts; significantly improved the academic standing of schools as a principal; and coached administrators, directors, and school leadership teams for sustainable school improvement.

Heartland AEA Digital Learning News - Feb. 2022

In this issue of the Feb. 2022 Digital Learning newsletter:

• Color Palette Generators
• Heart of Innovation HyperDocs Webinar
• Black History Month Ideas & Resources
• STEM Grants
• Iowa e-Learning Central
• Professional Learning Opportunities

Heartland AEA EL/Diversity Newsletter is Published

This issue of the EL/Diversity newsletter from Heartland AEA highlights reasons why home language development is important, various student and family perspectives of home languages, the benefits of bilingualism/multilingualism, sample tips for welcoming multiple languages into schools and classrooms, and offers free resources in multiple languages. It also shines a spotlight on an Ames Community School District interpreter/translator who models the benefits of being multilingual in a global society.

Legislative Updates: Check Education Bills on the DE Tracking Site

The 2022 legislative session is in full swing. If you are curious about what education bills have been introduced in the legislature, the Iowa Department of Education has an Education Bill Tracking webpage. It provides regular updates during the Iowa legislative session on bills related to education in Iowa. Information about new bills, including names, numbers and sponsors are provided. Clicking on the bill number in the table below takes you directly to the bill on the official state legislative website. Once there, select "Current Bill History" located on the left side of the page to know the current status of the bill. Bill information on the official state legislative website is updated daily.

Heartland AEA Literacy News is Now Available

Read, subscribe and share! In this issue:

• How to Support Students’ Reading Skills in 2022
• AEA Statewide Literacy Project: Purposeful Practice
• Science of Reading
• Improving Low Literacy Levels in Adolescents
• Close Reading Learning Bit by Bit
• Professional Learning Opportunities

STEM Scale-Up Application Window is Open

Did you know that since 2012, the STEM Council has partnered with schools to provide STEM curricula and activities for up to 100,000 Iowa students? This could be your chance to provide your learners with access to some of the best, cutting-edge STEM programs available today!

These programs range from building robots and coding programs to conducting agricultural field experiences and learning about STEM careers. All went through a rigorous review process at both the national and state level, demonstrating an appeal to diverse youth, success in improving academic performance, evidence of integrating STEM concepts, development of school-business-community partnerships and sustainability beyond STEM Council financial support.

Check out the menu of programs available this year and then click here to learn more about the application process. Applications are open until Feb. 28, 2022.

For more information about the STEM Scale-Up Program, head to the STEM Advisory Council's website.

MISIC Conference to Focus on Key Challenges for Schools: Social-Emotional Learning, Equity, Quality Instruction and Technology

Register today to attend the 2022 MISIC Conference on March 7 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. “Reset & Reinvent: Rising to the Challenges,” will focus on key challenges for schools, including social-emotional learning, equity, engagement, quality instruction and technology. Lunch keynote is Stacey Cole, Superintendent of Storm Lake Schools. Check out the speaker lineup and breakout session topics, and register at this link.

Cost
MISIC Members: $100

***Special Member Benefit: Register 4people and the 5th person is free!***

UNI Leadership Camp Approved for Evaluator Renewal

The University of Northern Iowa Institute for Educational Leadership received a grant called Leading and Learning with Character through the Kern Family Foundation. As part of the grant, UNI continues to host Leadership Camps which are approved for evaluator renewal. The course focuses on the three pillars of an effective evaluation process (standards, aligned evidence and coaching conversations).

Participants consider the evaluation process through the lens of the New Iowa Leadership Standards as they collaborate with colleagues to consider how to implement the evaluation process in an authentic, meaningful manner to most fully support those they serve. The class is very engaging and interactive. Heartland AEA has hosted Leadership Camps in the past, and the feedback from participants has been exceptional.

Opportunity 1
June 8-9, 2022
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
40 participants
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, Room 152B


Opportunity 2
June 23-24, 2022
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
40 participants
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, Room 107A

Cost and Credit

• One graduate credit needed to renew Evaluator Approval license
• $75 includes one graduate credit, all materials and lunches

Registration
Contact Denise Schares to sign up. Indicate your choice of dates in your email.

News from the BoEE and Substitute Teachers

BoEE Quarterly Newsletter – February 2022

In this issue: 

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Processing Times
• Renewal Credit Providers and Renewal Credit Options
• Substitute Teachers
• Ethics Spotlight
• Recent Cases

Substitute Teachers
The COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation issued by Governor Reynolds will end on Feb. 15, 2022. Starting Feb. 16, paraeducators who hold a paraeducator certificate with a substitute authorization as an area of concentration will be limited to serving as a substitute in their assigned paraeducator classroom. Read more here.

Winter 2021 School Leader Update Available

The Winter 2021 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available. In this issue:

• Moving forward
• Register for Emerging Educators Academy at Drake University Jan. 22
• Does your student want to serve on the Iowa State Board of Education?
• Nominate a mathematics, science or computer science teacher for top honor
• Future Ready Iowa: Accelerating Learning webinar series
• Iowa Exchange Visiting Teachers from Spain Program
• Serving nonpublic school English Learners
• Student Reporting in Iowa
• Does your district have the next Iowa Teacher of the Year?
• Career and Technical Education Year 3, Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment