Friday, October 29, 2010
Superintendents: November HAA Meeting
The agenda for the November Heartland Administrators Association meeting is still being finalized. We apologize for the inconvenience. The agenda will be sent to superintendents via email on Monday, November 1. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, November 2 at the West Des Moines Learning Resource Center from 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Curriculum Network: November Meeting
The November Curriculum Network meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 5, 2010. The meeting will go from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and will be held at St. Mary's Church (4600 Meredith Drive, Des Moines, IA). The agenda and a map for the church are available at http://curriculumnet.pbworks.com/w/page/November-2010-Agenda
Nutrition Education for Educators offered at ISU
The College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University is offering a Nutrition Education for Educators online course in Spring 2011 that is available for either ISU graduate credit or licensure renewal credits for teachers or nurses (pending approval). Click here to download an informational flyer.
Resource to Establish a Stop Bullying Campaign
Earlier this week, the Department of Education urged the nation’s educators to ensure that they are complying with their responsibilities to prevent bullying and harassment, as laid out in federal laws. Districts are encouraged to visit a practical website offered by the federal government's U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Located at http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/, the website contains ready-to-use materials for administrators at all levels and will even give you a wonderful jump on establishing a Stop Bullying Now Campaign for your schools. Check it out and use the materials to win approval of the campaign with your leadership team by going to Starting a Campaign at http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/start-a-campaign.aspx. Hundreds of pages of downloadable materials and advice are available on the website.
Friday, October 22, 2010
DE News: Iowa Evaluator Approval Update
During the past two years, the Evaluator Advisory Committee represented by schools, area education agencies (AEAs), colleges/universities, School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) and the Department of Education (DE) have been meeting to analyze data regarding evaluation, reading and reflecting on research, seeking best practices in evaluation that improve teaching and learning and designing Evaluator Approval Level III. As the new calendar year approaches, the DE will be unveiling Evaluator Approval Level III for those professionals who will need to renew their administrator/evaluator license and have successfully completed Evaluator Approval Level I and II prior to January 2011. At the same time, the DE will be combining Levels I and II into an online course, iEvaluate.
Evaluator Approval Level III
The training for Evaluator Approval Level III will look somewhat different than the previous training for Evaluator Approval Levels I and II. Beginning January 2012, the four credits required to renew an administrator/evaluator’s license will be completed by selecting from a menu of required modules that will enhance the skills necessary to be an effective instructional leader and evaluator. Each administrator/evaluator will successfully complete one common learning module - Assessing Academic Rigor – for two required renewal credits. The additional two credits required to renew an administrative/evaluator license will be earned by selecting from any one of the additional modules:
NOTE: The DE does understand that some professionals have already completed two hours of credit toward this renewal and are awaiting information from the DE about future evaluator training to complete the four required renewal credits. To accommodate those individuals, the DE will allow a professional to use hours accumulated prior to December 31, 2011, plus the Assessing Academic Rigor module to meet requirements for renewal of administrator/evaluator licensure. Any hours completed after December 31, 2011, other than the required modules may not be used toward renewal.
For further information, you may download the following resources in the Administrator Connection blog:
Evaluator Approval Level III
The training for Evaluator Approval Level III will look somewhat different than the previous training for Evaluator Approval Levels I and II. Beginning January 2012, the four credits required to renew an administrator/evaluator’s license will be completed by selecting from a menu of required modules that will enhance the skills necessary to be an effective instructional leader and evaluator. Each administrator/evaluator will successfully complete one common learning module - Assessing Academic Rigor – for two required renewal credits. The additional two credits required to renew an administrative/evaluator license will be earned by selecting from any one of the additional modules:
- Fierce Conversations (available in all AEAs)
- Increasing the Effectiveness of Leadership Teams (release date Spring 2011)
- Employee Discipline/Intensive Assistance Plans
- Developing Professional Development Plans that Impact Teaching and Learning
- Leadership Skills for Beating the Odds
NOTE: The DE does understand that some professionals have already completed two hours of credit toward this renewal and are awaiting information from the DE about future evaluator training to complete the four required renewal credits. To accommodate those individuals, the DE will allow a professional to use hours accumulated prior to December 31, 2011, plus the Assessing Academic Rigor module to meet requirements for renewal of administrator/evaluator licensure. Any hours completed after December 31, 2011, other than the required modules may not be used toward renewal.
For further information, you may download the following resources in the Administrator Connection blog:
Google Apps Webinars Available for You!
Yesterday, participants logged in the AEA-sponsored live webinar covering GoogleDocs. As communicated in a past Administrator Connection, these Google App webinars are free and open to all educators in Iowa. If you were unable to attend yesterdays webinar, make sure to sign up for one of the below listservs that pertains to you. Signing up for the listserv will allow you to watch the recorded webinar.
Iowa Google Apps Group Listserv
The Iowa Google Apps Group is for tech directors, network administrators and other individuals that are deploying or managing Google Apps in their schools. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/iowa-google-apps-group
Iowa Teachers Google Apps User Group Listserv
The Iowa Teachers Google Apps User Group is designed for teachers and administrators using Google Apps everyday with students and staff. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/IA-Teach-GApps-UserGroup
Be sure to mark your calendars for the next two scheduled webinars. All live webinars will be accessible at http://iowaec.na4.acrobat.com/googleapps and do not require a pre-registration. Each webinar will begin at 3:30 p.m. on the dates below.
November 11, 2010 - Using Gmail
December 16, 2010 - Using Google Groups
(More webinars will be scheduled in 2011.)
For more information about the Google Apps webinars, contact Andy Crozier at acrozier@gwaea.org or (319) 399-6866.
Iowa Google Apps Group Listserv
The Iowa Google Apps Group is for tech directors, network administrators and other individuals that are deploying or managing Google Apps in their schools. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/iowa-google-apps-group
Iowa Teachers Google Apps User Group Listserv
The Iowa Teachers Google Apps User Group is designed for teachers and administrators using Google Apps everyday with students and staff. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/IA-Teach-GApps-UserGroup
Be sure to mark your calendars for the next two scheduled webinars. All live webinars will be accessible at http://iowaec.na4.acrobat.com/googleapps and do not require a pre-registration. Each webinar will begin at 3:30 p.m. on the dates below.
November 11, 2010 - Using Gmail
December 16, 2010 - Using Google Groups
(More webinars will be scheduled in 2011.)
For more information about the Google Apps webinars, contact Andy Crozier at acrozier@gwaea.org or (319) 399-6866.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)