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

 

Reminder: HAA Meeting April 1 at 10:30 a.m.

The April 1 HAA meeting will be conducted via Zoom starting at 10:30 a.m. There will be no in-person meeting, and the agenda will include a legislative update with Dave Daughton, SAI Government Relations Director, along with other partnership updates. Calendar invitations have been updated to reflect the start time and include the Zoom link.

Priority Service Requests: Submit Now

District and School leaders, it’s time to submit your priority service requests for the upcoming year. To ensure timely processing, please complete the Heartland AEA Service Request Form 2025-26 by March 31.

Key Items to Complete

Any sections highlighted in turquoise color require your attention, including:

✔ Library Collection
✔ Digital Resources
✔ Technology Requests
✔ AEA Learning Online (Mandatory Trainings)
✔ Critical Incident "Insurance Policy" Enrollment
✔ District/school staff authorized to allocate funds for AEA Services

While these priority requests need to be submitted now, additional service requests—including professional development, technology support and contracted services—can be made throughout the 2025-26 school year.

We look forward to partnering with you to create a customized support plan for your district or school! 

If you have any questions, contact Cindy Yelick, Chief Administrator, and/or Susie Meade, Chief Academic Officer.

Student Planners: Help Keep Your Students Organized and Engaged!

Quality, affordable and 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 before the end of May to ensure delivery by the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

The Writing Rope Book Study K-12, Coming June 4

This course will provide a foundation for effective writing and is recommended for teaching writing to kindergarten-12th grade students. Participants will engage in a book study of The Writing Rope by Joan Sedita. The Writing Rope organizes multiple writing skills, strategies and techniques into five components that represent the elements of a comprehensive writing curriculum: critical thinking, syntax, text structure, writing craft and transcription.

Writing Rope is an evidence-based framework rooted in research from cognitive science, literacy development and writing instruction.

• Learn a variety of instructional strategies that engage students in the writing process and meet the needs of all learners
• Learn a variety of tools to integrate the use of technology into writing instruction

Dates & Times
Two Zoom Sessions: June 4 & June 25 from 10:00-11:30 a.m

Register
Registration Link

Contacts
Jodi Cross, Literacy Consultant
jcross@heartlandaea.org

Karla Day, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant
kday@heartlandaea.org

New Self-Paced Course Offers Strategies to Help Older Students Read with Confidence

In this self-paced, hybrid course, participants will learn how to improve literacy outcomes for older students who are reading below grade level.

What You’ll Gain

• Learn the research behind literacy accelerators that can propel reading progress
• Consider how to support students in rebuilding their academic confidence
• Gain practical skills for how to implement these ideas to support students in regular classroom settings

Course Details

📅 April 17 – May 23, 2025

📍 Hybrid Canvas Course with two live Zoom sessions

🖥️ Zoom Sessions: April 17 & May 6 | 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

💰 Cost: $150, plus $50 for license renewal credit

🔗 Register Now – Secure your spot today!

Explore 142 New Learn360 Videos for All Grade Levels

Great news! 142 new videos have been added to Learn360, covering a wide range of topics for students from early childhood to high school. These engaging and educational resources can be accessed in Learn360 or OneClick.

📌 Quick Access: Click here to explore a curated selection of just the newly added titles!

This latest collection includes fresh content across multiple subjects, including history, science, technology and social-emotional learning. Here are just a few highlights:

• Six Queens of Henry VIII
• Makematic series (lots of info on computer science and computational thinking)
• Manners Manor is a new series from Baby Einstein
• Elephant Nature Park (Sanctuary)
• Combat Poaching in Southern Africa
• On Safari with Nala series
• Elephant Biologist & Elephant Communication (ChangeMakers)

Cognitive Coaching Level 1 & 2 Courses Offered at Heartland AEA

Effective teaching hinges on strong cognitive skills. Cognitive Coaching enhances these skills, leading to higher student achievement. We're offering two impactful courses:

Cognitive Coaching Level 1: Foundational Skills
Focus: Planning, listening, questioning, reflection.
Dates: April 22-23 & April 29-30, 2025
Location: Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA
Registration link


Cognitive Coaching Level 2: Advanced Strategies
Focus: Problem-solving, refining coaching tools, facilitating conversations.
Dates: June 12-13 & June 23-24, 2025
Location: Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA
Registration link

Both courses are approved for Evaluator Approval.

See the Cognitive Coaching Course Flyer for more information.

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 Ahead: Secure Your Heartland AEA Services for 2025-26

As you’re planning for the 2025-26 school year, we want to thank you for partnering with Heartland AEA to support your students, staff and schools. Our team is committed to providing high-quality services that meet your needs, and early planning helps ensure we have the staff and resources available to serve you effectively.

To streamline your service requests, please use this Service Request Form to order your services. Here’s a quick guide on key deadlines:

Submit Now

To ensure proper staffing and scheduling, we encourage you to submit requests as soon as possible for:
✔ Contracts for AEA services
✔ Specific service providers
✔ Professional development dates

By the End of March

To continue receiving seamless support, please submit additional requests by the end of March for:
✔ Print and Digital Resources
✔ AEA Learning Online
✔ Technology Support
✔ Critical Incident Response

Your proactive planning helps us provide the best possible service to your district. Thank you for your continued partnership—we look forward to working with you in the upcoming school year!

Streamline Math Curriculum Success with Heartland AEA’s Support

Heartland AEA's mathematics consultants partner with districts and schools to ensure successful math curriculum implementation. We provide comprehensive support throughout the entire process, from initial exploration to full and sustained classroom integration. We work alongside school leaders, understanding that strong collaboration and supports are crucial for successful curriculum implementation.

Partner with Heartland AEA for Math Success
We understand the challenges of implementing new math curricula. Our team is dedicated to providing personalized support tailored to your district's unique needs. We are committed to helping you achieve your math goals and improve student achievement.

Let’s Build Your Custom Plan!
Reach out today to explore how we can support your district or school math goals.

Contact Crista Carlile, Service for Fee Team Leader, ccarlile@heartlandaea.org to schedule a consultation.

WATCH: Strengthening Student Wellbeing - The PCM & Heartland AEA Partnership

Part of our mission statement reads, "𝗧𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵..."

By providing social, emotional and behavioral health services to districts like PCM Community School District, our staff is working hard to improve the well-being of children and youth!

PCM dug in and determined the district needed to do more to support its students from a mental health standpoint. From a needs assessment to professional learning for school counselors to Youth Mental Health First Aid training for teachers, the district has relied on Heartland AEA to provide the district with solutions to improve the support it provides to students.

Cognitive Coaching Level 1 & 2 Courses Offered at Heartland AEA

Effective teaching hinges on strong cognitive skills. Cognitive Coaching enhances these skills, leading to higher student achievement. We're offering two impactful courses:

Cognitive Coaching Level 1: Foundational Skills
Focus: Planning, listening, questioning, reflection.
Dates: April 22-23 & April 29-30, 2025
Location: Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA
Registration link

Cognitive Coaching Level 2: Advanced Strategies
Focus: Problem-solving, refining coaching tools, facilitating conversations.
Dates: June 12-13 & June 23-24, 2025
Location: Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA
Registration link

Both courses are approved for Evaluator Approval.

See the Cognitive Coaching Course Flyer for more information.