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

 

IASB Day on the Hill is Feb. 1, HAA Will Not Meet in February

The Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) will NOT meet on Feb. 1 so superintendents can participate in IASB's Day on the Hill. The next regular HAA meeting will be held on March 1. Look for an agenda and more details coming soon.

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 and complete the survey if interested.

*Action Needed* AEA Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund Grant Interest Survey

The Iowa Department of Education announced the Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund (CSPDIF) this month. Applications are now open and will be accepted until Feb. 11. You can learn more about the (CSPDIF) here: CSPDIF Information.

Iowa's AEAs are collaborating to write a CSPDIF grant application to help meet the needs of Iowa school districts. Many current (and future) computer science teachers are singletons in their building or district. Our intent is to provide educators with professional development opportunities they may not otherwise have access to in order to implement K-12 district plans for computer science instruction and provide quality computer science education. Together, we can support one another to deliver K-12 computer science to all students!

This website is the communication hub for the AEA Statewide Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund (CSPDIF). It includes information about each of the options we plan to include in our grant proposal.

The Statewide AEA Collaborative grant applications will include:

Elementary CSPDIF grant proposal
BootUp Professional Development with stipends
Code.org CS Fundamentals & Deep Dive Professional Development with stipends
CS Micro-credentials asynchronous learning with stipends
AEA PD Online CS Standards asynchronous modules with stipends

Secondary CSPDIF grant proposal
Code.org CS Discoveries professional development with stipends (middle school)
Carnegie Mellon CS Academy(Python) with stipends (middle school)
AEA PD Online CS Standards asynchronous modules with stipends (middle and high school)
Code.org CS Principles professional development with stipends (high school)
Code.org CSA (Java) professional development with stipends (high school)
Carnegie Mellon CS Academy (Python) with stipends (high school)

Next 3 steps for district admins and computer science leaders:
1. Complete this survey by Jan. 31. The form only needs to be completed once per district. Your response will:

• provide us with the information needed to complete the grant application and implement the programs
• allow us to plan meaningful, K-12 computer science professional development
• allow you to express interest in participating in our grant applications

2. Save your spot: Share this website and the program menu above with educators in your district so they can save their spot ASAP! Registration will only be open through Jan. 31 so we can have the most accurate numbers in our grant proposal. If you aren’t sure which teachers will be participating, have the building administrator complete this process.

3. Join the webinar: We are going to host a Heartland AEA Computer Science Webinar to go over these grant options, on Jan. 20 from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Computer Science Webinar Zoom Link
Heartland AEA Computer Science Webinar Agenda

* Expressing interest in a statewide application does not prevent districts from submitting district/building applications.

Interested in Future Ready Topics? ​​Join the Heartland AEA Future Ready Network on Feb. 3

The next Heartland AEA Future Ready Network session will be Feb. 3 from 9-11 a.m. The meeting will be on Zoom (link) and the focus of the session will be “Special Populations: Hispanic/Latinx.” We are excited to announce that Sonia Reyes and Karen Ruiz from the Iowa Department of Latino Affairs/LCAN will be our guest speakers. Make plans to participate in this amazing opportunity. As a reminder, all sessions of the Heartland AEA Future Ready Network are recorded and resources as well as recordings can be found on this Google Site. Contact Sue Schirmer for questions or more information.

Investigations, Fierce Conversations and Professional Standards Courses Available for Evaluator Renewal, Beginning in February

Zoom classes must have a minimum of 10 participants with a cap at 18..

Investigations: Bullying and Section 102 Level 1
3 different opportunities, virtual in the morning. Administrators and counselors are encouraged to attend to refresh learning about investigations. Seats are still available!

Feb. 15, 17, 22 and 24
March 22, 24, 28 and 31
June 8, 9, 13 and 14

This course reviews bullying investigations and Section 102s (briefly the difference between Title IX and Section 102), conversations with attorneys. It also includes a recorded zoom with two students talking about social media apps and how they work.

Fierce 1
2 offerings, 2 credits, virtual in the morning. More participants are needed!

Feb. 1, 10, 14, 16 and 21 + a placeholder only date

June 15, 16, 20, 21 and 22 + a placeholder only date

Fierce 2
1 credit, virtual in the morning
June 23, 27, 28 and 29

Professional Standards That Support Students' Academic Success and Well-Being
This course is best suited for teams to attend together; most beneficial to include teacher leaders. The course unpacks the new administrator standards but with a lens on SEL of students and leads to planning for the future. Class meets twice then a third time at a later date with your team.

June 6 and 7, 3rd date TBD by your team
1 credit, in person at the AEA in Ottumwa - 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

If a couple districts would like to have a class (need 10+ participants), that can be done on a mutual schedule next year or second semester, contact Anne Morgan at Great Prairie AEA, (641) 208-1017.

UNI Leadership Camp License Renewal Credit – Approved for Evaluator Renewal Summer 2022

The University of Northern Iowa again is hosting leadership camps that 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:
Date: June 8-9, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Participants: 40
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131
Phone: (515) 270-9030 or (800) 362-2720

Opportunity 2:
Date: June 23-24, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Participants: 40
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131
Phone: (515) 270-9030 or (800) 362-2720

Registration:
Email Denise Schares to sign up and indicate your choice of dates in your email.

Cost and Credit:

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