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

 

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!

Exciting Updates in Heartland AEA Digital Learning Newsletter

In this issue:

• May 13, 2024: Day of AI
• HOI Webinar: Jennifer Pusateri
• Call for Session Proposals!
• Accessibility Features and AEA Digital Resources
• April is National Library Month!
• Upcoming Technology Courses from HAEA

Heartland AEA ESL/Diversity Newsletter: Highlighting Title III Mini-Grants for English Learners

In this issue of the Heartland AEA ESL/Diversity newsletter, we highlight how Heartland AEA provides Title III mini-grants to school districts in order to support district English Language Development programs in their work with English Learners.

New Book and Courses Offer Deep Dive into Mathematical Reasoning Strategies

In the latest edition of the Heartland AEA Math Minutes newsletter, we're introducing resources and courses aimed at enhancing mathematical fluency and reasoning strategies.

• New Book: Figuring Out Fluency--Ten Foundations for Reasoning Strategies With Whole Numbers
• New Course Offering: Figuring Out Fluency: Let's Build Fluency from Conceptual Understanding - Fraction/Decimal Operations, Ratios, Equation
• Course Offering: Math Well Played
• Websites to Explore: The Achievery, Sembl

Unique Educator Development: Teaching for the Workforce Conference 2024

The Greater Des Moines Partnership and DMACC Work Based Learning are partnering for a unique professional development learning experience for secondary educators in and around the Des Moines Metro region. 

Teaching for the Workforce Conference: Connecting Careers to the Classroom will be held June 17-18, 2024 (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) at the Greater Des Moines Partnership and various downtown Des Moines businesses. 

This interactive two-day course allows educators, counselors and administrators to connect to local business to better understand workforce needs. Please only register if you are able to attend the full two-days. Upon completion, educators will receive one license renewal credit, if desired.

Registration
The course is FREE to attend. The optional license renewal credit fee is $35.

To register, all educators must click here to secure your spot today! 

If license renewal credit is desired, also register for the course through Heartland AEA: HL - Teaching for the Workforce: Connecting Careers to the Classroom (DSM Metro)

University of Iowa Offers Summer Programs for Communication Needs: Stuttering, Hearing Loss and Social Skills

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa is offering several summer programs for kids and teens who stutter; those who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing; or individuals building social skills.

All programs are planned and coordinated by Iowa CSD graduate student clinicians, who are
supervised by licensed and experienced speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Collaboration with school-based and/or private speech-language pathologists is available and encouraged.

Communication Explorers: Formerly called Listen and Speak Up, Communication Explorers focuses on communication skills for children ages 3-6 with hearing loss. Individualized treatment plans are developed for each child and targeted in group and one-on-one therapy sessions. The program meets twice each week for six weeks during June and July.

Social Climbers: We offer social language opportunities within a group setting to allow kids ages 6-14 to focus on any functional needs, such as conversation skills, understanding and building relationships, self-advocacy, perspective-taking and navigating social issues. Individualized instructional and practice opportunities are based on each person’s priorities and needs.

UI SHINE: Formerly named UISPEAKS, this 3-1/2 day summer program was created for children and teens ages 7–17 who stutter or are Deaf/hard of hearing. Participants will engage in activities to develop confidence and self advocacy using individual and group speech therapy sessions.

Questions? Email or call the program coordinators and read more on the website: https://csd.uiowa.edu/clinic/summer-programs-and-social-groups.