The state of Iowa has accepted an invitation to participate in the U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP), sponsored by the William Randolph Heart Foundation. The program is designed to give young Americans a working knowledge of American political life. Each year two Iowa students have the opportunity to spend a week in Washington, D.C. The William Randolph Heart Foundation pays all expenses. In addition, the two Iowa high school representatives each receive a $5,000 scholarship.
Selection of the two Iowa high school representatives is based on the outstanding ability and demonstrated leadership qualities of elected junior and senior high school student officers for the 2011-12 school year.
Each high school may nominate up to three students (in previous years, schools were only allowed to nominate one student). Student application materials and the brochure are available on the Iowa Department of Education website http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=939&Itemid=1225
Completed applications should be submitted to Kim Thuente at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131 by 4:00 p.m. October 3, 2011. Nominees will take a qualifying examination on October 19 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 18 at the Johnston AEA Regional Education Center regarding the U.S. Constitution and government. The award recipients will be announced in December. Contact Kim Thuente (kthuente@aea11.k12.ia.us) or Cheryl Mullenbach (Cheryl.Mullenbach@iowa.gov) for more information.
Friday, September 9, 2011
New Usernames/Passwords for Online Databases
Each school has a new username/password for the online databases such as Learn 360, iClipart for Schools, Gale, netTrekker, EBSCO, Atomic Learning, Soundzabound, etc. The license agreement allows schools to share the username/password and log-in information with parents. Please don't post username/passwords on a website, wiki or blog nor include them in any printed materials that may be sent to the general public. Ask your teacher librarian for the new username/password or call the Heartland library.
Parents can be directed to the Homework Help section found here for links to the databases or go to our home page, click the Parents tab and scroll down to Homework Help.
Parents can be directed to the Homework Help section found here for links to the databases or go to our home page, click the Parents tab and scroll down to Homework Help.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Superintendents: September 6, 2011 HAA Meeting at Johnston Regional Education Center
Click here to download the September Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held from 9:00-11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6 (the day after Labor Day) at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) in Room 13A and B. It is open to all superintendents in the Heartland service area. No registration is necessary.
Book Provided as a Resource for Learning
All participants will be provided with a copy of: Skillful Leader II: Confronting Conditions that Undermine Learning, by Alexander D. Platt, Caroline E. Tripp, Robert G Fraser, James R. Warnock, and Rachel E. Curtis
The book will be used to frame our study of the conditions that need to be in place to accelerate student learning…and what to do about those conditions that undermine it. Some of the topics discussed will include:
Book Provided as a Resource for Learning
All participants will be provided with a copy of: Skillful Leader II: Confronting Conditions that Undermine Learning, by Alexander D. Platt, Caroline E. Tripp, Robert G Fraser, James R. Warnock, and Rachel E. Curtis
The book will be used to frame our study of the conditions that need to be in place to accelerate student learning…and what to do about those conditions that undermine it. Some of the topics discussed will include:
- Collaborative learning and leadership structures
- Community engagement
- Supportive learning environments
- Use of data
- Effective educators (Improving hiring, induction and evaluation to support learning, principal development, impacts of contracts and collective bargaining on improving learning conditions)
- Supporting effective instructional and assessment practices to deliver a high quality curriculum
Orientation for School Improvement Visits Available After September HAA Meeting
Schools and districts scheduled for a site visit during the 2011-2012 school year, as well as those volunteering to be a member of a site visit team, are strongly encouraged to attend one face-to-face training session. The time scheduled within Heartland AEA is September 6, 2011 from 1:00-3:30 p.m. at the Heartland Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston).
Materials needed for the school improvement part of the training are available on the Department of Education website at http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1558&Itemid=2342
You may also find helpful, the series of video clips that were developed for the 2010-11 site visits. You can access these video clips at
http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2038
Materials needed for the school improvement part of the training are available on the Department of Education website at http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1558&Itemid=2342
You may also find helpful, the series of video clips that were developed for the 2010-11 site visits. You can access these video clips at
http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2038
ITEC Conference to Promote 21st Centry Learning, Oct. 17-18
Many schools are heading down the path of preparing students for the 21st century through the use of technology. If you are interested in sending teachers or attending an exceptional technology in education conference, check out ITEC. ITEC (Iowa Technology in Education Connection) will be on October 16-18 and hosted in Des Moines, IA at the Polk County Convention Center.
October 17 & 18 will include one-hour conference breakouts, but on October 16 there will be a lineup of hands-on workshops. The featured workshop offerings this year are mentioned in the digital flyer attached in the Administrator Connection. Also, if you are interested in registering more than 10 individuals, there are group discounts available. Contact Jeff Sypersma at jsypersma@nwaea.org for group rates.
October 17 & 18 will include one-hour conference breakouts, but on October 16 there will be a lineup of hands-on workshops. The featured workshop offerings this year are mentioned in the digital flyer attached in the Administrator Connection. Also, if you are interested in registering more than 10 individuals, there are group discounts available. Contact Jeff Sypersma at jsypersma@nwaea.org for group rates.
Professional Development Opportunities for School Counselors
Please forward the below information to your school counselors. Register for workshops and classes through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog.
Preparing your School Counseling and At-Risk Program for a DE Site Visit
Date: September 14, 2011
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) in Room 13B
Activity Number: CN05292111201
Come join Sue Schirmer (Heartland AEA) and Susan Walkup (DE) for a review of what to prepare and organize for your DE Site Visit.
Refining Your School Counseling Program
Date: October 18 and December 1, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center in Room Room 13A
Activity Number: CN005392111201
K-12 School Counseling programs in the state of Iowa are required to be articulated and sequential. They are also required to be comprehensive in scope, preventive in design, developmental in nature, driven by data and integral to the school district's curricula and instructional program. This two-day course is designed to assist teams of school counselors and administrators to analyze their current programming, determine gaps and create plans to fill those gaps.
Secondary Counselor Advisor/Advisee Work Day
Date: October 20, 2011
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center in Rooms 3, 4 and ICN
Activity Number: CN005892111201
Struggling with your advisor/advisee curriculum, planning, resources and ideas? Load up what you have and come to this one-day workshop prepared to share and learn!
Counselor Academy III: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Date: October 27 and December 7, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center in Room Room 13A
Activity Number: CN004392111201
Counselor Academy III has been changed a bit this year. This two-day experience is a professional development opportunity for counselors to review, write and problem-solve curriculum; work on instructional strategies and design formative assessments for the K-12 school counseling program. Participants have the option of earning one license renewal credit or graduate credit upon successful completion of the program.
Using Data to Drive Your School Counseling Program (statewide on-line course)
Time: November 28, 2011-February 13, 2012
Activity Number: 22004799991201
This two-credit on-line learning opportunity is open to all counselors in the state. The goal is to recognize how to use data to support the work of the school counseling program. Participants will walk through the process of evaluating data, uncovering the “root cause,” selecting and administering interventions, then reviewing the results.
I Have a Plan Workshops
We are in the planning stages for IHAPI, Financial Literacy and PAWS in Jobland (Elementary career) Workshops. Watch for registration information in the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog.
As always, make sure your school counselors are on our list serve! Contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us for more information.
Preparing your School Counseling and At-Risk Program for a DE Site Visit
Date: September 14, 2011
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) in Room 13B
Activity Number: CN05292111201
Come join Sue Schirmer (Heartland AEA) and Susan Walkup (DE) for a review of what to prepare and organize for your DE Site Visit.
Refining Your School Counseling Program
Date: October 18 and December 1, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center in Room Room 13A
Activity Number: CN005392111201
K-12 School Counseling programs in the state of Iowa are required to be articulated and sequential. They are also required to be comprehensive in scope, preventive in design, developmental in nature, driven by data and integral to the school district's curricula and instructional program. This two-day course is designed to assist teams of school counselors and administrators to analyze their current programming, determine gaps and create plans to fill those gaps.
Secondary Counselor Advisor/Advisee Work Day
Date: October 20, 2011
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center in Rooms 3, 4 and ICN
Activity Number: CN005892111201
Struggling with your advisor/advisee curriculum, planning, resources and ideas? Load up what you have and come to this one-day workshop prepared to share and learn!
Counselor Academy III: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Date: October 27 and December 7, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center in Room Room 13A
Activity Number: CN004392111201
Counselor Academy III has been changed a bit this year. This two-day experience is a professional development opportunity for counselors to review, write and problem-solve curriculum; work on instructional strategies and design formative assessments for the K-12 school counseling program. Participants have the option of earning one license renewal credit or graduate credit upon successful completion of the program.
Using Data to Drive Your School Counseling Program (statewide on-line course)
Time: November 28, 2011-February 13, 2012
Activity Number: 22004799991201
This two-credit on-line learning opportunity is open to all counselors in the state. The goal is to recognize how to use data to support the work of the school counseling program. Participants will walk through the process of evaluating data, uncovering the “root cause,” selecting and administering interventions, then reviewing the results.
I Have a Plan Workshops
We are in the planning stages for IHAPI, Financial Literacy and PAWS in Jobland (Elementary career) Workshops. Watch for registration information in the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog.
As always, make sure your school counselors are on our list serve! Contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us for more information.
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