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.