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

 

Save the Date: Heartland Administrators' Association April 2

The next Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting will be held on April 2 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 will feature members of the Heartland AEA Emergency Reunification Team and Superintendent Clark Wicks from Perry CSD.

Student Planners: Help Keep Your Students Organized and Engaged!

Quality, affordable & beautifully-designed student planners are available for your school through Heartland AEA. Planners can support student engagement and awareness of school events, activities and projects. Visit our website to choose your planner style from the many options we offer. Order by May 1 to ensure delivery by the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. Check out our Creative Services newsletter for everything Student Planners, reading and literacy, specialty items and graduation celebrations!

Gifted & Talented News is Here

In this issue:

• ITAG Spring Workshop
• GT Learning Series
• What We’re Reading
• New Professional Books
• Let us know how you’re using online CogAT assessments

Calling all Principals! Join Our Principal Alliance Networking Group on March 29

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 and agendas.

Instructors: Download Your Vita & Course Syllabi in Anticipation of New Professional Learning Registration System

Thank you for being a valued part of our learning community! As you may have heard, Iowa’s AEAs will transition to a new Professional Learning Registration System this spring/summer.

To help you plan for this transition, we ask that you go into our current Registration System to download your Vita and the syllabi of the courses you wish to save. When it’s time to migrate information into the new system, you will need to enter the courses you wish to teach again, as that information will not be available in the new system. Stay tuned for instructions and training on how to enter courses into the new system.

Learn more and get instructions on our website.

Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines Training Opportunity for Buildings and/or District Teams Coming June 12

Heartland AEA is pleased to offer the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines workshop on June 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CSTAG is an evidence-based model for schools to use in conducting threat assessments of students. School threat assessment is a proactive and flexible violence prevention practice that is used when an individual threatens to commit a violent act or engages in threatening behavior. The CSTAG school threat assessment model allows school‐based teams to follow a decision‐tree process to resolve less serious, transient threats quickly while focusing greater attention on more serious, substantive threats.

This is a team training opportunity and each participating school/district is asked to identify a threat assessment team to attend the workshop. Heartland AEA will cover the cost of the workshop; schools/districts will just need to purchase the CSTAG manual (the manual cost ranges from $45-$50, depending on the total quantity purchased). It is recommended that each participant have their own copy of the manual. The use of the manual is critical to achieving fidelity of implementation.

If you have a threat assessment team that would like to attend, please register via this link: HL - The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) (Course # 216129), Section 318967.

** Please note: Each individual team member will need to register.

** If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Director, and/or Jadie Boens, Director of Social, Emotional, Behavior, & Mental Health Services.

Paraeducator Generalist Certification Courses Coming This Summer

Heartland AEA is offering the Paraeducator Generalist Certification courses this summer. There are three courses you must register for and complete to be able to apply for the Paraeducator Generalist Certificate through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

Prerequisites:

• Participants must be at least 18 years old
• Participants must have a high school diploma or equivalent GED
• Participants must have access to a computer/internet in order to take the courses
• It is preferred, but not required, that participants be employed by an accredited Iowa school district as a practicing paraeducator, or work as a substitute paraeducator in an accredited Iowa school district, or have a teacher and administrator who are willing to mentor you through the certification program. If you need assistance with this, please email the instructor at: ncoe@heartlandaea.org.

Click on the name of the course below to link to the registration system. You will need to register and pay for each course separately. Each course is $120 for a total of $360. The courses must be taken in order.

BoEE Application Fees: The application and background check process through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) is online and will be started in Course III.

The application fee is currently $40 and the background check fee is $35 (+ a $3 convenience fee) payable to the Board of Educational Examiners (fees subject to change by BOEE). Applicants will complete their background screenings through Iowa Fieldprint and pay a fee of $34.35 to them.

Course: Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course I Introduction/Foundation
Course #: 180378
Dates: May 30, June 6 & 13, 2024 (3:30-4:30 p.m.)
Via Zoom + Online Work due by June 20, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Course: Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course II Instructional Support
Course #: 180380
Dates: June 25 & July 9, 2024 (3:30-4:30 p.m.)
Via Zoom + Online Work due by July 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Course: Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course III Behavioral Supports
Course #: 180382
Dates: July 18 & August 1, 2024 (3:30-4:30 p.m.)
Via Zoom + Online Work due by August 8, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Logging In:
Your AEA Login is the same email and password you use to log into the AEA Learning System (e.g. Mandatory Reporter, Bloodborne Pathogens).

If you don't have an account in our system, you will need to click on Create Account at the bottom of the screen. Once you create your account, it doesn't actually get set up in the registration system until overnight. So you will need to go back in the next day and register for the courses.

Registration:

1. Once you have logged in, click on the Register button for this course.
2. Next, read the Disclaimer and click Accept to continue the registration.

Online Payment Options:

• Visa or MasterCard
• Purchase Order issued by an Iowa school district
• Split payment: a portion of the fee is paid with a purchase order (school district) and the remainder is paid with a credit card (participant)

You will receive a confirmation email after you register.

Questions? Contact Professional Learning at (515) 473-6780 or profdev@heartlandaea.org

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

 

Save the Date: Heartland Administrators' Association April 2

The next Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting will be held on April 2 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 will feature members of the Heartland AEA Emergency Reunification Team and Superintendent Clark Wicks from Perry CSD.

Empower Your Digital Learning Journey with Heartland AEA

In this issue:
📚 Women's History Month
🌎 Coding for Climate
🎙️ Adobe Podcasting
🎓Transforming Your Teaching with Universal Design For Learning Course & Webinar
🎧 Audiobooks
🧑‍🎓 Upcoming Technology Courses from HAEA

Future Ready Network's March Event to Elevate Meaningful Career Conversations

The March 21 Future Ready Network will focus on Taking Future Ready to the Next Level - Meaningful Career Conversations for Elementary. During our time together we will explore career conversations and activities for elementary students and hear from districts about how they are implementing career exploration at the elementary grade levels. Participants can join in person at Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston or via Zoom.

Heartland AEA Library Digital Resources Newsletter Has Arrived

In this issue:

• Media Literacy Lessons and Checkology
• NEW: Book Resumes in TeachingBooks
• AI: Imagining Story Setting with Text-Evidence Support Prompting
• 2023 School Library Average Book Prices
• Gamify the Classroom
• And...some Iowa trivia

 

Enjoy the Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter!

In this issue:

• Where does the “Science of Reading” go from here?
• Troubleshooting Student’s Progress in Accuracy, Automaticity and Monitoring for Meaning
• A Healthy Diet for Beginning Readers: Decodable Texts as Part of a Comprehensive Literacy Program
• "The Academy" – a comprehensive platform offering support to use evidence-based tools and resources.
• Juicy Sentences and Sentence Deconstruction
• West Virginia Phonics Updated Lessons and Supporting Documents

Calling all Principals! Join Our Principal Alliance Networking Group on March 29

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 and agendas.

Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines Training Opportunity for Buildings and/or District Teams Coming June 12

Heartland AEA is pleased to offer the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines workshop on June 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CSTAG is an evidence-based model for schools to use in conducting threat assessments of students. School threat assessment is a proactive and flexible violence prevention practice that is used when an individual threatens to commit a violent act or engages in threatening behavior. The CSTAG school threat assessment model allows school‐based teams to follow a decision‐tree process to resolve less serious, transient threats quickly while focusing greater attention on more serious, substantive threats.

This is a team training opportunity and each participating school/district is asked to identify a threat assessment team to attend the workshop. Heartland AEA will cover the cost of the workshop; schools/districts will just need to purchase the CSTAG manual (the manual cost ranges from $45-$50, depending on the total quantity purchased). It is recommended that each participant have their own copy of the manual. The use of the manual is critical to achieving fidelity of implementation.

If you have a threat assessment team that would like to attend, please register via this link: HL - The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) (Course # 216129), Section 318967.

** Please note: Each individual team member will need to register.

** If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Director, and/or Jadie Boens, Director of Social, Emotional, Behavior, & Mental Health Services.

Paraeducator Area of Concentration Courses Offered This Summer

Heartland AEA is offering four Paraeducator Area of Concentration courses this summer. A prerequisite for these courses is having completed and received the Paraeducator Generalist (Level I) certification. Each of these courses can be used as the three credits needed to renew a paraeducator certificate and can also be used to add an area of concentration to a paraeducator certificate.

The cost to register for each course is $180. The fee to add an area of concentration to your paraeducator certificate through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is $25 (subject to change) once you complete the course.

Paraeducator Concentration: English as a Second Language (ESL)
June 1, June 15 & June 29, 2024 (3 hours)
Via Zoom + online work due by June 30, 2024
For the ESL course only, Title III funds will provide a stipend of $300 for all paraeducators who work with English Learners, fulfill the course requirements and are currently employed by a public or non-public PK-12 school in the Heartland AEA service area. (Not available for employees of Des Moines Public Schools or Johnston Schools.) A reimbursement claim form will be available at the end of class.
Register Now


Paraeducator Concentration: Library, Media & Technology
June 18 & June 25, 2024 (4 hours)
Via Zoom + online work due by July 2, 2024
Register Now


Paraeducator Concentration: Special Needs
July 15, July 16, July 17 & July 18, 2024 (9 hours)
Via Zoom + online work due by July 24, 2024
Register Now


Paraeducator Concentration: Early Childhood
July 23, July 24, July 25, July 30, July 31 & Aug. 1, 2024 (12 hours)
Via Zoom + online work due by Aug. 6, 2024
Register Now


Logging In:
Your AEA Login is the same email and password you use to log into the AEA Learning Online system (e.g. Mandatory Reporter, Bloodborne Pathogens).

Registration:
Once you have logged in, click on the Register button for your course. Next, read the Disclaimer and click Accept to continue the registration.

Online Payment Options:

• Visa or MasterCard
• Purchase Order issued by an Iowa school district
• Split payment: a portion of the fee is paid with a purchase order (school district) and the remainder is paid with a credit card (participant)

You will receive a confirmation email after you registe.

Questions? Contact Professional Learning at (515) 473-6780 or profdev@heartlandaea.org.

Behavior Support Community of Practice Continues on April 9

The intention for the Behavior Support Community of Practice (CoP) is to engage in common learning, network, and collaborate to build community among individuals who hold similar roles. This CoP is designed for staff who serve in the role of a Behavior Interventionist, Behavior Coach, Behavior Strategist, etc.

Attendance at last year’s CoP is not necessary to join us this year! If you did not attend last year, and are interested in attending this year, please complete this Google Form to ensure you are added to the distribution list.

We will be facilitating the CoP on the following dates and times for the 2023-2024 school year:

• April 9, 2024 - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Johnston Regional Education Center, Room 141
• May 14, 2024 - 12:00 - 3:00 p.m - Johnston Regional Education Center, Room 101

**To facilitate a meaningful CoP, in person attendance is recommended. However, we do recognize that your responsibilities may not allow you to attend in person; thus a zoom option will be offered, upon request. Please contact Jadie Boens, Heartland AEA Director of Social Emotional Behavior Mental Health (SEBMH) Services, to request a zoom link and/or for any further questions.

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 March 5

The next Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting will be held on March 5 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 Session 2 of INspired Leadership Overview with guest speakers Tamara Lindholm and Kelly Turcotte, from ESSDACK, and partnership updates.

Future Ready Network's March Event to Elevate Meaningful Career Conversations

The March 21 Future Ready Network will focus on Taking Future Ready to the Next Level - Meaningful Career Conversations for Elementary. During our time together we will explore career conversations and activities for elementary students and hear from districts about how they are implementing career exploration at the elementary grade levels. Participants can join in person at Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston or via Zoom.

Heartland AEA Library Digital Resources Newsletter is Here

In this issue:

• Accessibility Features in Digital Resources
• Simulate EPIC Conversations with Historical Figures With AI
• New Videos in Learn360
• New Features in PebbleGo
• Professional Reading

Calling all Principals! Join Our Principal Alliance Networking Group

Principal Alliance Meeting: Feb. 29, 2024

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.

Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines Training Opportunity for Buildings and/or District Teams Coming June 12

Heartland AEA is pleased to offer the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines workshop on June 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (location TBD). CSTAG is an evidence-based model for schools to use in conducting threat assessments of students. School threat assessment is a proactive and flexible violence prevention practice that is used when an individual threatens to commit a violent act or engages in threatening behavior. The CSTAG school threat assessment model allows school‐based teams to follow a decision‐tree process to resolve less serious, transient threats quickly while focusing greater attention on more serious, substantive threats.

This is a team training opportunity and each participating school/district is asked to identify a threat assessment team to attend the workshop. Heartland AEA will cover the cost of the workshop; schools/districts will just need to purchase the CSTAG manual (the manual cost ranges from $45-$50, depending on the total quantity purchased). It is recommended that each participant have their own copy of the manual. The use of the manual is critical to achieving fidelity of implementation.

If you have a threat assessment team that would like to attend, please register via this link: HL - The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) (Course # 216129), Section 318967.

** Please note: Each individual team member will need to register.

** If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Director, and/or Jadie Boens, Director of Social, Emotional, Behavior, & Mental Health Services.

An Easier Way to Register for AEA Courses is on the Horizon!

Iowa’s AEAs are collaborating to move to a new registration system for our professional learning courses. We’ve heard your feedback — you need an easier way to find, register and pay for courses. Stay tuned as we work to bring you a new system!

What does this mean for me?
A new and improved interface and experience! It will be easier to navigate and locate learning opportunities.

What about my course history and transcripts?
We are working with our current vendor to import each person’s course history into the new system. There’s nothing you need to do at this time!

In the coming months, there will be ongoing communication about the new system. If you have any questions, contact your AEA’s Professional Learning Office.

What does this mean for courses ending by July 31, 2024?
Tentatively, courses that end by July 31 will continue to be housed on our current registration system.

What does this mean for courses going into the new professional learning system?
Participants will still be able to easily access our catalog/registration system from our agency website. Training and support will be provided for instructors.

Instructors
What does this mean for courses an instructor has created in the past?
We are working to identify a process to export course data so you can easily access and re-enter course information as you teach them.

What about my instructor credentials (vita)?
Instructors’ credentials (vita) will need to be re-entered into the new system. There will be an opportunity to copy/paste and download/upload data into the new system. More information for instructors will be coming soon.

Strengthen Your School Counselor Relationship at Counselor Connection on March 7

Are you confused about the role of the school counselor? As an administrator, do you want to strengthen the relationship with your school counselor? If so, Counselor Connection on March 7 is for you! The morning will cover the counselor/administrator relationship and teams of school counselors and their admin are suggested. Lunch is on your own, then in the afternoon, the school counselors come back for some directed professional learning. Register here! for this fantastic day! For questions, contact Sue Schirmer, Heartland AEA Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant.

Counselor Connection
March 7
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Register at this link

Behavior Support Community of Practice Continues on April 9

The intention for the Behavior Support Community of Practice (CoP) is to engage in common learning, network, and collaborate to build community among individuals who hold similar roles. This CoP is designed for staff who serve in the role of a Behavior Interventionist, Behavior Coach, Behavior Strategist, etc.

Attendance at last year’s CoP is not necessary to join us this year! If you did not attend last year, and are interested in attending this year, please complete this Google Form to ensure you are added to the distribution list.

We will be facilitating the CoP on the following dates and times for the 2023-2024 school year:

• April 9, 2024 - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Johnston Regional Education Center, Room 141
• May 14, 2024 - 12:00 - 3:00 p.m - Johnston Regional Education Center, Room 101

**To facilitate a meaningful CoP, in person attendance is recommended. However, we do recognize that your responsibilities may not allow you to attend in person; thus a zoom option will be offered, upon request. Please contact Jadie Boens, Heartland AEA Director of Social Emotional Behavior Mental Health (SEBMH) Services, to request a zoom link and/or for any further questions.

Reiman Gardens Celebrates Teachers with Free Admission & Giveaways on June 7

Calling all educators! Reiman Gardens wants to shower you with appreciation this summer. Mark your calendars for Teacher Appreciation Day on June 7, 2024, where you'll enjoy free admission.

This is our heartfelt THANK YOU for nurturing young minds and inspiring the future. While free admission extends to dedicated teachers (excluding families), we've got even more in store to brighten your day.

• Grand Prize: Free Class Field Trip to Reiman Gardens
• Gift Card Bonanza
• Surprise Goodies & More

Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to celebrate YOU! Visit the Reiman Gardens website for more information and share the news with your fellow educators.