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

  

Welcome to the Administrator Connection, a weekly online newsletter from Heartland AEA for school and district administrators, superintendents, principals and curriculum directors.

Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) Professional Learning Sessions Coming Sept. 6

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

Assistance with Redistricting is Now Available

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

More InformationYou may refer to this Frequently Asked Questions Document or contact Jodi Flory, Cornerstone Geospatial Consulting, (970) 409-9238, jodiflory@gmail.com.

ESOL Network Meetings for 2022-23

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.

2022-23 Meetings:

• Sept. 26, 2022
• Dec. 5, 2022
• Feb. 27, 2022
• May 15, 2022

Interested in Future Ready Topics? ​​Join the Heartland AEA Future Ready Network

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.

CPI Training Announced for 2022-2023 School Year

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.

Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Licensure Updates August 2022 Now Available

The News from the BoEE - August 2022 is now available. In this issue:

• renewal credit options
• substitute licensure
• recent legislation
• frequently asked questions
• tips for administrators
• ethical dilemmas (boundaries)
• recent cases

Iowa Department of Education School Leader Update is Now Available

The Summer 2022 School Leader Update is now available. Topics include:
Message from the Director

• Social-emotional-behavioral professional development grants, health screening tools, updated resources, learning opportunities
• Iowa BEST Summit 2022 Registration
• Cybersecurity tips
• Student Reporting in Iowa training opportunities and documentation
• Iowa eTranscript Gateway Pilot
• Concussion management professional development
• myIGDIs preschool screening updates and resources
• Early Learning Fall Institute
• Iowa Healthiest State 5-2-1-0 events and activities