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

  

HAA Meeting Reminder and Agenda for May 3

The agenda for the Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) meeting on May 3 is now available at this link. It features updates on ACHIEVE training, cyber security strategy and services, Heartland AEA One Click and an update on the state-wide literacy project. The meeting will be held from 9:00 -11:30 a.m. at the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston, Rooms 107A/B and via Zoom. This will be the last spring meeting before the group recesses for summer break.

We Want Your Feedback: Possible Community of Practice to Support Behavior Coach / Specialist / Interventionist Role

Based on requests we have received from our district partners, Heartland AEA is exploring the possibility of offering a Behavior Coach / Behavior Specialist / Behavior Interventionist professional learning sequence and Community of Practice. The goals would be to provide a sequence of learning and increase the use of evidence-based practices, as well as an ongoing connection to a Community of Practice to support those who serve in this role.

As we begin to design this learning sequence and community of practice, we would appreciate feedback from those who guide the work of this type of role in their district. We are seeking feedback regarding the intention/goals of the role so we can align the learning.

Listening Sessions - May 20 or 24
We will offer listening sessions on May 20 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Zoom Link) or May 24 from 11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. (Zoom Link) to learn more about your needs related to these positions (you only need to attend one session). 

Provide Feedback

In preparation for the listening session, we would appreciate your feedback on the questions below. Please submit this Google Form with your feedback by May 11. 

• Which role is most preferred: better farmers (cultivate prevention) or better firefighters (reactive / responsive)? Or both? What percentage of their time do you anticipate will be spent on prevention vs. response/reaction?
• How do you envision this role differing from your school counselor?
• If your Behavior Coach / Behavior Specialist / Behavior Interventionist was successful in their job, what are the top three outcomes that would be achieved?
• What structure(s) would you prefer to be offered: structured course, a community of practice, or a combination of both?
• Would you release your Behavior Coach / Behavior Specialist / Behavior Interventionist to attend and participate in the professional learning sequence and/or Community of Practice? Please share any relevant thoughts.
• Will you plan to participate in one of the listening sessions? If so, please indicate which date/time you will plan to attend (May 20 or May 24).
• Any additional thoughts, comments, feedback, or questions?

If you have any questions, contact Jadie Boens, Director of Special Programs.

Student Planners: Help Keep Your Students Organized and Engaged!

Quality, affordable & beautifully-designed student planners are available for your school through Heartland AEA. Planners can support student engagement and awareness of school events, activities and projects. Visit our website to choose your planner style from the many options we offer. Order by May 1 to ensure delivery by the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.

Coming on May 11: Iowa Meaningful Career Conversations Training Program

Iowa Career and Academic Planning via the CTE Bureau is providing an amazing opportunity to engage educators in a PK-20 professional development experience. Please see the information below about the Iowa Meaningful Career Conversations training program this spring.

As research shows, as we engage students in conversations and opportunities to learn more about their skills, aptitudes and career passions we find that they are more prepared to graduate from high school, move on to post-secondary training of some sort, and are better prepared mentally and emotionally for life. By introducing students to careers earlier in their schooling, we are providing them with more options and understanding of the world of work and how their career passions can be attained. The Iowa Meaningful Career Conversations training is a step in the right direction to support students in our PK-20 system.

We are thrilled to announce that nine training sessions have been scheduled and the registration form is now live. The sessions are listed on the flyers below and the time of the training is either 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Heartland AEA Trainings

All Session Trainings

We are looking to provide training for anyone in education who has a touchpoint with students in PK-20 settings — this could be school counselors, intermediaries, financial aid officers, teachers, coaches, administrators, librarians, nutritional staff members, school nurses, administrative assistants, college advisers, CCTCs, WBL Coordinators, STEM Council members, Career and Technical Student Organization EDs or State Officer Advisers, etc. Please share!

*Please note: Perkins funding or Regional Planning Partnership funds may be available to cover sub or travel costs.

If you have any questions, contact Sue Schirmer.

We’re Giving Away Books and DVDs to Educators!

Mark your calendars for June 21-22 when we offer PK-12 and professional books (and other assorted instructional resources) at no cost to educators in the Heartland AEA service area. Visit Heartland AEA at 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and pick up some awesome books!

Wait, there’s more!
We are also giving away PK-12 DVDs on a first-come basis to educators in the Heartland AEA service area to use in the classroom. Login to the Heartland AEA Library Catalog to make a selection. The Heartland AEA van will deliver the DVDs to your school. If you have questions, contact the Heartland AEA library.

Summer Professional Learning Opportunities Being Offered June - August 2022

Heartland AEA and the AEA system will be offering a variety of courses and workshops this summer. Here are the classes and workshops being offered by Heartland AEA practitioners. The tabs at the bottom of the document allow you to save time by searching by interest area.

These are all the classes and workshops being offered in Heartland AEA this summer.

If you are interested in classes and workshops being offered across the AEA system, you can search this document by AEA or month. This list is updated weekly.

If you have any questions related to Heartland AEA’s professional learning opportunities, email profdev@heartlandaea.org.

UNI Leadership Camp Begins June 8, 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.

Start Receiving the New K12 EdTech Newsletter from the Iowa Communications Network

The ICN’s new EdTech enewsletter is geared toward the K-12 education sector with information about ICN's Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC), E-Rate Updates, and broadband and technology articles from Iowa and around the nation. View the newsletter and sign up to be on the email list.

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 ESL/Diversity Newsletter - April/May 2022

The Heartland AEA ESL/Diversity newsletter is now available. Many educators have commented that this has been the most challenging year in education EVER. As we wrap up this school year and prepare for the summer break, we wanted to provide resources that encourage you to Choose Your Summer Adventure!

In this ELL SMORE you will find resources to support self-care for busy educators. If you are looking for free webinars or other resources that explore ESL Education topics, those resources are there for you as well. We wish you a restful and refreshing summer break that nurtures your educator soul in a way that is best for you!

Heartland AEA Math Minutes Newsletter - 2021/2022 Quarter 4

In this issue:

• Jump Start Your Math Class
• Computational Thinking Meets Mathematics
• Does your District have a Math Vision?
• Have you seen ScreenPal?
• Summer Offerings: Check the Course Catalog for dates

Heartland AEA is Offering Four Paraeducator Area of Concentration Courses

The four courses include:

1. English as a Second Language
2. Library, Media and Technology
3. Special Needs
4. Early Childhood

A prerequisite for these courses is having completed and received the Paraeducator Generalist (Level I) certification.

Click on the name of each course below to link to the registration system. The cost to register for each course through Heartland AEA is $180. The fee to add an area of concentration to your paraeducator certificate through the Board of Educational Examiners is $25 once you complete a course.

Paraeducator Area of Concentration: English as a Second Language (ESL)
Course #179854
Cost: $180
Dates: June 1 (4:00-5:00 p.m.), June 11 (8:30-11:30 a.m.) and June 25 (8:30-11:30 a.m.)
Via Zoom + Online Work due by June 30, 2022

Paraeducator Area of Concentration: Library, Media and Technology
Course #180304
Cost: $180
Dates: June 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 & 29, 2022 (8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Via Zoom + Online Work due by July 8, 2022

Paraeducator Area of Concentration: Special Needs

Course #180270
Cost: $180
Dates: July 11-15, 2022 (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Via Zoom + Online Work due by July 15, 2022

Paraeducator Area of Concentration: Early Childhood
Course #180188
Cost: $180
Dates: Sept. 13, 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 8, 29 & Dec. 13, 2022 (4:30-6:30 p.m.)
Via Zoom + Online Work due by Dec. 13, 2022

UNI Leadership Camp Approved for Evaluator Renewal, First Camp Begins June 8

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.

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

  

Mark Your Calendars for May 3 HAA Meeting

The next Heartland Administrator Associations' (HAA) meeting will be held on May 3 from 9 - 11 a.m. at the Johnston Regional Education Center, Rooms 107A/B and via Zoom. Look for a final agenda soon. The agenda will feature Heartland AEA updates on Achieve training, digital security, partnership updates and recognition of outgoing superintendents.

Coming Soon! Iowa’s AEAs Continue to Add Digital Resources for Students and Educators

Iowa’s AEAs provide students and educators with no-cost access to high-quality, vetted digital resources. They are proud to announce their lineup of digital instructional resources for the 2022-23 school year, including six new offerings! Students, educators and parents have 24/7/365 access to these ebooks, streaming videos, encyclopedia, reference materials and more! Check out the list of returning and new digital resources.

Also Coming in 2022-23: Accessing the Digital Resources Will Be Easier!
Accessing the AEA digital resources will be easier than ever! If your district has signed up to use AEA OneClick powered by ClassLink, you’ll be able to use your district email login to access the resources and other AEA links. That’s all — no more special usernames and passwords to remember!

Questions?
If you have any questions about the digital resources or how to access them, contact Tracie Marshall, Iowa AEA Media/Technology Project & Purchasing Coordinator.

2022 Global Education Institute for Teachers Offering No Cost Tuition, Materials, Housing

The 2022 Global Education Institute for Teachers: Global Perspectives on Social Justice, will be held June 7-28, 2022 in a hybrid format. The institute is organized by the Global Education Program at the Stanley Center and University of Iowa International Programs and presented by the UI Stanley Museum of Art and College of Education.

K-12 teachers of all disciplines are invited to attend the institute and earn one license renewal credit. Join the institute co-directors and special guests to discuss how to apply global perspectives to social justice throughout the curriculum.

Mandatory live Zoom sessions will be Tuesdays from 9-10:30 a.m. (June 7, 21 and 28) and other sessions (small-group discussions; videos; office hours; etc.) will be throughout the month. There will be one day of in-person sessions on June 14 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the UI Campus in the new Stanley Museum of Art building.

FREE tuition and course materials for everyone! FREE housing to attend in person!

Application deadline is May 6, 2022.

* Registration is limited to teachers that have not participated in the last three years.

More information and an application may be found on our website. Please contact Amy Green (319) 335-1433 with any questions.

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.

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

  

Annual Library Survey is Open, Share With Your Teacher Librarian

This is a follow-up to the April 5 presentation at the HAA meeting with Dr. Joan Bessman Taylor (UNI) regarding school libraries, intellectual freedom, digital learning and citizenship. The annual Iowa School Library Survey is now open through April 22. This survey provides important information about the status of school library programs and their impact on teaching and learning. It's also an opportunity for teacher librarians to continue conversations with administrators and stakeholders about the role of a school library and its programs and services. Teacher librarians are encouraged to complete the survey.

The survey should take less than 15 minutes. Here is the link.

For planning purposes, read through a copy of the survey that you can also use as a worksheet.

Results from previous surveys are at http://www.iowaaea.org/how-we-can-help/iowa-school-library-survey/.

Iowa’s Own Kidventor Named as Featured Speaker for Virtual Student Expo

Charles Smith, the Kidventor from Ottumwa, has been featured on Good Morning America for his life saving invention

The 2nd Annual Iowa ALN Statewide Virtual Student Expo will be held on April 26 with live events during the day and flexible on-demand sessions that feature students across the state and their passion and creativity on real authentic projects. Be inspired and leave with ready-to-go ideas and supports for your students! Here is our tentative schedule and program guide for the day! Be sure to register to stay in the know as updates are available!

Register here! This is a free event for students, educators and community/business partners.

Share this invitation with your students! We would love to have student participants in the Zoom rooms networking and asking questions to our student presenters. Join for a class period or whatever is most convenient! We want this to be a professional and authentic networking event for students!

Need License Renewal Credit? Register for the event and then sign-up in the registration system to indicate you will be attending (live or self-paced) for License Renewal Credit!

Be sure to join our AM Session to hear from student speakers! Charles, our kick-off speaker, will share his story starting at 8:45 am on the 26th! Check out his GMA video here!

Heartland AEA Digital Learning News - April 2022

In this issue:

• Heart of Innovation Summer Summit
• ITEC April 13-14
• National Library Month - Heartland AEA Offerings
• Computer Science Updates
• AEA OneClick
• Graduate & License Renewal Options

FastBridge Registration is Open for 2022-23, AEA Subsidy Available for Grades K-8

This year Iowa’s AEAs again will be subsidizing the costs for schools to upgrade their DE-provided FAST subscriptions that includes the expanded assessment suite in math and behavior for K-6, and literacy, math and behavior for grades 7 and 8. Participation is available both to schools that purchased the expanded assessment suite in previous years and those that want to use it for the first time in 2022-23. For more information about registration, pricing, billing and training, refer to the FastBridge Registration Information for 2022-23.

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter - April 1, 2022

In this issue:

• New Ebooks
• Reminder: Annual Iowa School Library Survey
• PreK-12 DVD Collection Is Closing
• Announcement: Tales2Go Audiobooks
• Soundzabound Is Bigger, Better, Louder!
• New Science Digital Resources Coming Fall 2022
• AEA Scout Module Is Online

STEM BEST Fund$ Available: Applications Due May 9

Applications for STEM BEST Programs are now open! These programs give educators the opportunity to work side-by-side with industry professionals to develop curriculum that prepare students for careers in the STEM fields of manufacturing, information technology, bioscience (agriculture and medicine), finance and more!

Applications are due May 9.Learn more here at https://iowastem.org/STEMBEST.

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

  

Mark Your Calendars for April 5 HAA Meeting

The next Heartland Administrator Associations' (HAA) meeting will be held on April 5. The agenda features two guest speakers: Jeff Weld, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the Iowa STEM Council and Joan Bessman Taylor, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for School Library Studies from the University of Northern Iowa. The meeting will be held from 9:00 -11:30 a.m. at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston and via Zoom.

April 7 Future Ready Network Meeting to be Offered in Blended Format

The April Heartland AEA Future Ready Network meeting will be a blended format held in person at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, and via Zoom for those who prefer to join virtually on April 7, 2022, from 8:30-11 a.m. (note the earlier start time). 

Our topic next month is Post-Secondary Transition for Students with Special Needs, and we are excited to share that we have several guest speakers with lots of experience in this area. 

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

Streaming Video Taking Place of DVDs; Teachers May Keep DVDs for Their Classrooms

Technology is changing—again! 

Usage data are showing that educators in the Heartland AEA service area now rely on streaming video rather than DVDs. The Agency’s DVD usage has dropped from 7,927 checkouts in 2011-12 to 156 in 2020-21. The streaming video (from just Learn 360) usage ranges from 53,000 to 64,000 views each school year.

As a result, Heartland AEA is weeding its DVD collection. We are offering the DVDs to educators to use in their classrooms. Educators can go through the usual checkout process in the library catalog and just keep the DVDs once they’re delivered.

Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter - April 2022

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

• Science of Reading Podcast
• Intervention Intensification Strategy Checklist
• Scaffolding the Explainer
• Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk: 10 Key Practices
• Instructional Strategies that Push Students to Own Thinking
• Understanding and Using Spring Screening Data

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.