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