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
Welcome to the Administrator Connection, a weekly online newsletter from Heartland AEA for school and district administrators, superintendents, principals and curriculum directors.
Join us in-person for these can’t miss school administrator-only learning sessions! Each session is 9-11:30 a.m. at Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston.
Sept. 6 Fundamentals of Communication and Media Interaction Presenter: Andy Garman, Communication Advisor & Trainer, Wixted & Co.
Oct. 1 Family Engagement Presenter: Ron Mirr, President, RM Consulting
Nov. 1 Iowa Department of Education Update and Legislative Panel Discussion DE Presenter: Ann Lebo, Director, Iowa Department of Education
Legislative Panel Discussion: Margaret Buckton, Partner, Iowa School Finance Information Services Dave Daughton, Lobbyist, School Administrators of Iowa Phil Jeneary, Government Relations Director, Iowa Association of School Boards Kate Walton, Partner, Eide & Walton Lobbying and Government Relations
Iowa redistricting is currently underway. Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral districts to equalize population between districts and is required by Iowa law following each decennial Census. If existing school director districts meet the standards in Iowa Code and the 2020 population between districts is still within the required parameters, existing districts can remain in place - though do still need to be recertified by the Iowa Secretary of State.
Redistricting Resources Iowa's AEAs are partnering with Cornerstone Geospatial Consulting to support districts in the redistricting process. Cornerstone is an Iowa-based GIS mapping company with considerable experience in non-partisan redistricting. Owner Jodi Flory has worked through three redistricting cycles with the Iowa Legislative Services Agency, and has extensive expertise in GIS mapping, particularly in working with school districts in boundary verification, reorganizations, and in performing director redistricting.
Cornerstone has begun preliminary work on AEA director redistricting. Flory is actively scheduling with school districts now to assist them in the redistricting process, and has begun some preliminary plan work with districts already signed up.
Getting Started Complete the Redistricting Information Form to provide the information needed to get the process started. Flory will follow up with you.
Timeline
Nov. 15, 2022 - First day that school boards can adopt a resolution redrawing director district boundaries
May 15, 2023 - Deadline for school boards to complete redistricting
July 1, 2023 - School director district boundaries become effective
All public and non-public school districts in the Heartland AEA service area are encouraged to send a representative(s) to share their voices, receive updates and network with colleagues around topics related to English Learners and their families. All meetings are from 4 – 5:00 p.m. and will be held virtually. Zoom links will be emailed to participants as the dates approach.
Join your local colleagues to learn and share about all things Future Ready!
Third Thursday of the month beginning on Sept. 15, 2022 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Via Zoom
For past recordings and resources from network meetings, visit our Future Ready Google Site. For more information, contact Angela Dvorak, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant.
At Heartland AEA, we have learned many things throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with one of those being how to provide CPI training in the most efficient manner. As school resumes again, we know your priority is going to continue to be to have educators in the classroom, supporting children/youth; likewise, our agency’s priority is to have our staff in buildings, supporting your educators, children, and youth.
Learning Format In an effort to minimize time outside of buildings, maintain the highest level of safety, while ensuring we can continue to meet your CPI training needs, Heartland AEA will continue with the blended learning option for CPI certification for the 2022-23 school year. See the CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Training - Blended Learning model for more information.
Participants In order to become officially certified in CPI, training participants are required to learn and safely practice any applicable physical disengagement and/or holding skills for managing risk behavior. We continue to request that districts prioritize those staff with the highest level of risk (staff with the highest likelihood of needing to be involved with physical restraint and/or seclusion).
De-Escalation / Verbal Intervention Training Option To ensure that we continue to meet the training needs of ALL staff, we have developed asynchronous learning options on De-Escalation / Verbal Intervention in 15, 30, and 60-minute increments, which can be accessed here. This learning focuses on supporting staff to be preventative, safe and intervene in non-restrictive manners, gaining knowledge of effective verbal de-escalation strategies.
Note: This learning option does not include training on physical intervention and will not result in any sort of certification
Learning in Districts / Regionally-Hosted We are asking that CPI training continue to occur within the district and/or be regionally-hosted. If you have a small number of staff who are considered “high risk,” (staff with the highest likelihood of needing to be involved with physical restraint and/or seclusion) work with your Heartland AEA Regional Director to explore options to combine training with another district/school.
Note: At this time, we do not intend to host any centralized CPI training during the 2022-2023 school year.
