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 May 7

The next Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting will be held on May 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 will feature Peter Fagan with F3Law Firm to discuss education technology issues including artificial intelligence, social media, student data privacy, and equal access and digital literacy. We will also recognize retiring superintendents and have time for partnership updates.

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!

Have You Registered Your Students for the Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo

Join this FREE event for Iowa educators, students and area partners in this one-of-a-kind virtual event on April 25! Be inspired and get involved! Register today at http://bit.ly/ALNexpo24.

April 2024 Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is Released

The April 2024 edition of the Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter focuses on structured literacy grounded in the science of reading and practical strategies for both educators and parents to support children's learning journeys at home. Key topics include:

• Structured Literacy - Grounded in the Science of Reading
• Helping Kids Learn at Home
• Reading comprehension: Core Components and Processes
• DE Updates: MTSS, FAST, Panorama, IDGIs
• Professional Learning Opportunities

Calling all Principals! Join Our Principal Alliance Networking Group on April 30

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.

Adventure Awaits at the Heartland AEA SEBMH Coaches Camp

Join us for a day of empowerment and collaboration at the Heartland AEA SEBMH Coaches Camp on April 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, this event is tailored for PBIS coaches, administrators, counselors and grade-level teachers.

Morning Session:
Review PBIS foundational principles and explore new assessments for effective implementation.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

• Evidence-Based Classroom Practices
• Integrating SEL into PBIS
• Data-Based Decision-Making with Panorama
• Student Success: An Elementary’s Journey Using Restorative Practices

Register: Secure your spot!

Join us to enhance your PBIS toolkit and foster positive school cultures. Limited spots available!

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: 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.