The Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) meeting will be held on Oct. 4 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston. The meeting will include a learning session on Family Engagement with guest facilitator, Ron Mirr. Agenda here. There is no Zoom option for this meeting. Lunch will be provided immediately following.
Family Engagement The research is clear: when families are involved in their child’s learning, children perform better in school. The question is not whether to do family engagement but how. Family engagement should never be the goal. Rather, family engagement should be a school improvement strategy that, when combined with effective classroom instruction, helps all students reach higher levels of achievement. During this session, participants will learn about the three pillars of an effective family engagement strategy their districts can employ to help all families support their child’s academic and social-emotional growth.
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
Cornerstone Owner Jodi Flory is an Experienced Geographic Information Systems Specialist with a 20+ year history of working with GIS mapping technologies and data analytics. Skilled in administering enterprise GIS for both municipal, county and state government operations. Extensive experience in legislative and local redistricting. Demonstrated experience with the ESRI suite of products in both desktop and web platforms. Superintendents may use this form to enter some basic information to request a meeting. This Frequently Asked Questions may also be helpful.
Mapping Strategies Mapping Strategies, LLC., is a data analytics firm focused on practical solutions to public policy issues. Mapping Strategies has provided redistricting services to school districts and is experienced in geographic information systems (GIS) projects. Jim Addy is a former Administrator of School Services and Information for the Iowa Department of Education. Jim oversaw departmental research, information technology, school finance, nutrition, health and transportation programs. Now the president of Mapping Strategies, Addy has personally provided spatial analysis solutions and redistricting for government jurisdictions.
The Heartland AEA Future Ready Network meeting on Oct. 20 will be a District Career Guidance Plan Workshop. This network meeting and workshop will be offered as a hybrid option. District teams can join in person in the Heartland AEA Adel Regional Office at 602 Visions Parkway, Adel or via zoom at this link.
Districts are encouraged to bring members of their District Career Guidance Team to review their plans and explore the trends with feedback to continue to improve opportunities for all students. This workshop will include the morning network time from 8:30-11:30 a.m., with guest speaker, Erica Woods-Schmitz, Education Program Consultant for Academic and Career Planning from the Iowa Department of Education.
In the extended afternoon work time from 12:30-3:30 p.m., districts can continue to work on revising and updating their plans with their teams and support from AEA consultants. Please complete this survey by Oct. 3 to indicate how and if your team is attending so we can plan for space and activities accordingly.
Pear Deck is full of ways to support teaching and learning. Flashcard Factory was designed to transform the way students engage with vocabulary. When you play Flashcard Factory students pair up and work together to create dynamic and engaging flashcards. Students collaborate to illustrate and define terms, making learning vocab an active and social experience!
This is a premium feature that all Iowa educators have access to through their AEA!
Every day, exceptional STEM educators across the state are helping prepare students for exciting, high-demand careers. Their passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics is shaping the future through generations of Iowans.
Does that sound like a teacher you know? Nominate them today for the 2023 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries!
Now in its ninth year, this award recognizes leadership and dedication that increases student interest in, and awareness of, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The award is given to one licensed, full-time PK-12 teacher from each of Iowa’s six STEM regions. Recipients receive $1,500 for their classroom, along with an additional $1,500 for personal use.
For this award, a full-time teacher is defined as an educator who spends at least 75% of their working hours (approximately 30 hours, minimum) in the classroom – both virtually and in-person – interacting with students. Nominations for previous recipients of this award and self-nominations will not be accepted.
The deadline to complete nominations is Oct. 11. Recipients will be announced in early 2023.
The nomination process is simple and open to everyone, including fellow teachers, school administrators, students and parents. Visit https://www.iowastem.org/teacheraward to learn more and submit your nomination.
