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

 

Thanksgiving Office Hours and Van Delivery

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, all Heartland AEA offices will be closed Nov. 23-24. Our van delivery schedule will be as follows:

• Regular delivery Nov. 20-21
• No delivery Nov. 22-24
• Regular delivery resumes Nov. 27

Save the Date: Advocacy Day on the Hill

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Day on the Hill to advocate for Iowa students. This year's Day on the Hill will be hosted collaboratively with the Iowa Association of School Boards, School Administrators of Iowa, and Iowa's Area Education Agencies.

Save the Dates: Feb. 12-13, 2024
Feb. 12 Legislative Advocacy Briefing: This event will bring together school board members, administrators and partners from across Iowa to gain up-to-date legislative insights, and will briefly summarize how to best engage with legislators. A panel of legislators will discuss the session and answer questions.

Feb. 13 Day on the Hill: Join your colleagues from around the state for a day promoting public education in Iowa. In the morning, educational lobbyists will share the three things to communicate with legislators and tips on how to handle confrontational situations. Later that morning, attendees will go to the Capitol to celebrate public education and meet with legislators. Representatives from districts and AEAs from around the state are encouraged to attend to showcase their positive stories.

Save these dates for these two upcoming webinars in 2024 designed to help educational leaders
Deeper Dive into the Issues with AEA, IASB and SAI lobbyists
Jan. 30: Noon-1:00 p.m.

State of the Budget and the Impact on AEAs with Finance experts from AEA and IASB
Feb. 7: Noon-1:00 p.m.

More details coming!

New AI Education Documents - 3rd in a Series

Whether you're a teacher, administrator or a passionate advocate for our learners, these AI docs are designed to steer you in the right direction.

AI Plagiarism & Citation: This document is intended to help guide educators to teach how to use AI responsibly, ethically and how to give credit to AI sources.

Teaching CS Behind AI: This document contains usage policy information and elementary and secondary resources.

To access all of the AEA’s AI documents in this series, visit AI Documents for Teachers.
If you would like more information, contact a member of the Heartland AEA Computer Science Team.

Empower Your Leadership with Technology: Our EdTech Course for Administrators

Our Heartland AEA Digital Learning Team is pleased to announce the return of our popular EdTech course specifically designed for administrators. This course qualifies for evaluator approval credit or license renewal. Share this opportunity with your fellow leaders who may be interested in expanding their technological expertise.

This comprehensive course will equip educational leaders with the skills and strategies to leverage technology for improved productivity, communication, organization and school management. Through four engaging modules, you will gain valuable insights into:

• Integrating technology tools for leadership in digital environments to support student engagement, adult learning and creativity
• Exposure to digital-age learning experiences and digital tools that will help administrators become productive leaders in their schools and districts
• Growing an understanding of modernized, innovative options for feedback and data-based decision-making
• Exploring instructional and leadership practices utilizing education technology

 Register Here

Location: Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Dates: Nov. 29 and Dec. 7
Credit: 1 LR and/or Evaluator Approval
Course #: 203354

Future Ready Focus: December is Work-Based & Authentic Learning

The Dec. 21 Future Ready Network will have time devoted to Work-Based and Authentic Learning. Several districts will also present their Work-Based Learning programs and how they use the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning to manage their projects in the morning. The afternoon workshop from 12:30-2:30 p.m. is for district Work-Based Learning leaders who are interested in becoming a district project board manager in the Clearinghouse. If you are interested in becoming a Clearinghouse project board manager for your district, complete this survey.

Visit the Heartland AEA Future Ready Website to stay up to date on news, resources, past network Zoom recordings and more! For more information, contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@heartlandaea.org or Angela Dvorak at advorak@heartlandaea.org.

Watch Now to Discover How AEA Hearing Screenings are Helping Children

Heartland AEA provides hearing screenings for infants, young children and school-age learners, all at no cost to families. These screenings help to identify children who may need further testing for hearing loss or additional support in the classroom. Early detection of hearing loss can help ensure that appropriate services and supports are put in place to meet the unique needs of each child. This can make a significant difference in their learning, development and social-emotional well-being. 

To learn more about Heartland AEA's hearing screenings, please watch our video: https://youtu.be/Jz3yohG8PIQ.

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources Newsletter: Unleashing the Power of AI, Exploring Social Media, and Diving into Math by the Book

In this issue of the Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources Newsletter:

• New AI Education Readings
• 46 New PebbleGo and Pebble Go Next Articles
• Social Media, Algorithms, and More "I didn't know that!"
• New: Reader's Advisory in TeachingBooks
• Where Are the Resources Written in Tigrinya?
• Math by the Book--New Ebooks

Chapter 102 Investigation Training for Elementary and Secondary Principals and Superintendents

Heartland AEA is hosting two Chapter 102 Investigation training sessions led by Ahlers and Cooney, P.C. One session is specifically for secondary principals and superintendents, while the other is tailored for elementary principals. Registration is required as space is limited. Participation is free of charge.

Ch. 102 Investigation Training for Secondary Principals and Superintendents (Course #226258)
Dec. 18, 2023
Location: Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston


Ch. 102 Investigation Training for Elementary Principals (Course #226259)
Jan. 11, 2024
Location: Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Calling all Principals! We have a Networking Group Just for You

Principal Alliance Meeting: Nov. 30, 2023

The Principal Alliance Lasting Leadership Series will focus on current practices in the field of leadership and principalship. Join your colleagues on the last weekday of the month from 9-10 a.m. for thematic whole group and small group discussions centered on current problems of practice. Additional resources will be shared to support the topics. Visit the Iowa’s AEAs website for meeting dates.

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

 

Plan to Attend: Heartland Administrators' Association Nov. 7

The next Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting will be held on Nov. 7 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston. This will be an in-person meeting with lunch provided. The agenda features a legislative update with guest panelists Margaret Buckton, Dave Daughton, Emily Piper and Kate Walton, an update on Artificial Intelligence from Amy Wichman, and partnership updates.

Save the Date: Advocacy Day on the Hill

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Day on the Hill to advocate for Iowa students. This year's Day on the Hill will be hosted collaboratively with the Iowa Association of School Boards, School Administrators of Iowa, and Iowa's Area Education Agencies.

Day on the Hill
Save the Dates: Feb. 12-13, 2024

Feb. 12 Legislative Advocacy Briefing: This event will bring together school board members, administrators and partners from across Iowa to gain up-to-date legislative insights, and will briefly summarize how to best engage with legislators. A panel of legislators will discuss the session and answer questions.

Feb. 13 Day on the Hill: Join your colleagues from around the state for a day promoting public education in Iowa. In the morning, educational lobbyists will share the three things to communicate with legislators and tips on how to handle confrontational situations. Later that morning, attendees will go to the Capitol to celebrate public education and meet with legislators. Representatives from districts and AEAs from around the state are encouraged to attend to showcase their positive stories.

Save these dates for these two upcoming webinars in 2024 designed to help educational leaders

Deeper Dive into the Issues with AEA, IASB and SAI lobbyists
Jan. 30: Noon-1:00 p.m.

State of the Budget and the Impact on AEAs with Finance experts from AEA and IASB
Feb. 7: Noon-1:00 p.m.

More details coming!

New AI Education Documents - 2nd in a Series

Whether you're a teacher, administrator or a passionate advocate for our learners, these AI docs are designed to steer you in the right direction. If you’re just starting your AI journey, these documents are your gateway to understanding Artificial Intelligence.

AI for Educator Productivity
This document showcases how AI can assist educators in various aspects of their work. It discusses tools, platforms and strategies that can help teachers enhance their productivity and effectiveness.

Modeling AI in the Classroom
Educators can support students to efficiently, effectively and ethically use AI to become responsible and knowledgeable users. This document covers tools, examples and prompts for making AI part of the classroom experience.

Check out our first two AI documents for teachers:

AI Policy Considerations
As AI becomes more prevalent in our daily lives, it’s imperative for districts to think about how they want to address policies and use around them. This document is intended to help guide conversations as districts move forward in this work.

What is AI/Prompts
This document provides an introduction to AI, including its various forms and applications. It also includes sample prompts and discussion topics to engage teachers and students in AI-related conversations.

If you would like more information, contact a member of the Heartland AEA Computer Science Team.

Heartland AEA Creative Services Newsletter: Get Ready for Winter with Our Collection of Ready-to-Order Items!

Heartland AEA Creative Services Newsletter is excited to welcome winter with a collection of ready-to-order winter-themed items. Plan ahead to have your end-of-semester printing completed before winter break. Here are some items to consider:

• Newsletters
• Senior Banners
• Winter Concert or Activity Programs
• Winter Cards and Gifts for Students or Staff

Order your items before winter break to ensure timely delivery. Let Heartland AEA Creative Services help you tell your district's story this winter season.

Also, be sure to check out our Computer Science Vocabulary Cards!

Connect, Discuss, and Share: Curriculum Network Huddles on Zoom

Join us for a monthly Curriculum Network Huddle on the third Friday of each month! These informal Zoom meetings are an opportunity for Heartland AEA leaders to connect, discuss curriculum topics, ask questions, and share ideas.

Agenda:

• Welcome and introductions
• Curriculum discussion: This is where we focus on the most pressing curriculum topics and questions. The agenda is open-ended, so please feel free to add items you would like to discuss.
• Sharing of ideas: This is a time to share your best practices, lessons learned, and creative ideas.

To join:
https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/8376018864
Meeting ID: 837 601 8864

New Digital Learning Newsletter for Educators Covers AI in Education, FigJam, STEM Grants and More

In this issue of the Heartland AEA Digital Learning Newsletter:

• AI in Education Webinar 🎥
• Goodbye Jamboard, Hello FigJam 👋
• STEM Best Grant Applications Now Open 🔬
• Course for Administrators and Evaluators 👩‍💻
• Native American Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month 🗓️
• Upcoming Fall Technology Courses from HAEA 🧑‍🎓

Future Ready Focus: November is FAFSA, December is Work-Based & Authentic Learning

The Heartland AEA Future Ready Network meeting on Nov. 16 will focus on updates to the FAFSA. This network meeting and workshop will be offered as a hybrid option. District teams can join in person in the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center or via zoom at this link. Erick Danielson, ICAN Vice President of Programs, will share changes to the FAFSA and how to best support students and families through the financial aid process. If you have questions about the FAFSA or any other financial aid, add your questions to this Q&A document so we can respond to those during this session.

The Dec. 21 Future Ready Network will have time devoted to Work-Based and Authentic Learning. Several districts will also present their Work-Based Learning programs and how they use the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning to manage their projects in the morning. The afternoon workshop from 12:30-2:30 p.m. is for district Work-Based Learning leaders who are interested in becoming a district project board manager in the Clearinghouse. If you are interested in becoming a Clearinghouse project board manager for your district, complete this survey.

Visit the Heartland AEA Future Ready Website to stay up to date on news, resources, past network Zoom recordings and more! For more information, contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@heartlandaea.org or Angela Dvorak at advorak@heartlandaea.org.

Heartland AEA Digital Resources Support Government, Elections and Democracy Lessons

This is an exciting time to teach students about government, the election process, democracy and the right to vote. We hope this issue of the Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources Newsletter will help teachers build units and find resources on historical and timely topics. These quality digital resources may help save time when lesson planning and may lead to other resources you can incorporate into units. Start with OneClick. If you would like help finding resources or would like a short how-to with your PLC, contact the Heartland AEA library.

Boost Your Math Teaching: New Newsletter, Free Summit and More!

Check out the current Math Minutes Newsletter from the Heartland AEA math consultants:

• Free Math Summit from Make Math Moments Matter
• Numeracy Project 2.0 Training
• Numeracy Project Workshop Training
• New Course Offering: Figuring Out Fluency
• Ready to Order: Howard County Readiness Assessments
• New in Professional Heartland AEA Library
• Website to Explore: Legends of Learning
• Need a Happiness Boost? Check out Goodable and Find your Happiness in 5 minutes a day!

Calling all Principals! We have a Networking Group Just for You

Principal Alliance Meeting: Nov. 30, 2023

The Principal Alliance Lasting Leadership Series will focus on current practices in the field of leadership and principalship. Join your colleagues on the last weekday of the month from 9-10 a.m. for thematic whole group and small group discussions centered on current problems of practice. Additional resources will be shared to support the topics. Visit the Iowa’s AEAs website for meeting dates.

Registration is Open for Intro to Restorative Practices & Using Circles Effectively

The two-day course will provide participants with knowledge of the key concepts of restorative practices; an opportunity to reflect on how restorative practices may impact their professional and personal lives; practice in applying strategies from the restorative practices continuum; and an understanding of how to facilitate circles effectively and for different purposes.

Day 1: Introduction to Restorative Practices
Day 2: Using Circles Effectively

Dates
Section #318005 - Jan. 22-23, 2024 Heartland AEA Adel Office
Section #318006 - Jan. 22-23, 2024 Heartland AEA Ames Office
Section #318022 - Apr. 11-12, 2024 Heartland AEA Johnston REC

Recommended Audience
PK-12 teachers, administrators, school counselors, instructional coaches, at-risk staff, school leadership teams and AEA staff

Registration
License renewal credit is available

Register at this link

Heartland AEA to Offer Trauma-Informed Classrooms Training on Nov. 10

Heartland AEA is offering a learning opportunity on Nov. 10, facilitated by Melissa Crowl, a special education consultant who supports the HEART Classrooms and has agency-wide allocation for therapeutic programming. This training is intended for early childhood educators, general education teachers, special education teachers, administrators, and/or support staff.

The training, titled "Trauma-Informed Classrooms: Creating a Safe Learning Environment," will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center, located at 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston. To register, visit this link: HL - Trauma-Informed Classrooms: Creating a Safe Learning Environment, (Course # 205668).

During the training, attendees will learn strategies for fostering a positive and inclusive classroom culture that promotes emotional safety and resilience among students. The course will cover a range of topics, including:

• building and sustaining relationships
• classroom culture
• the impact of trauma
• student empowerment

Participants will gain an applicable framework for creating a trauma-informed classroom, from brain science and self-regulation to preparing students for learning.

This training is an excellent opportunity for educators and support staff to learn how to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

School Culture Workshop on Nov. 14: Increasing Belonging, Well-Being and Engagement

Heartland AEA will be hosting a School Culture Workshop, facilitated by Character Strong, on Nov. 14 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Stoney Creek Hotel, 5291 Stoney Creek Court, Johnston. Participants will learn about, and begin to apply, an instructional framework that promotes powerful relationship-building and helps students find value in their learning. The cost of the workshop is $349/person. However, Character Strong is offering a buy one - get one free discount. If you have a team that would like to attend, register via this link. After clicking on the link, click on "Register Now." Then choose the Des Moines, IA - Nov. 14 training in the dropdown menu. Enter the discount code CSVIP1, and Character Strong will apply your BOGO free discount when invoicing the district.