Friday, March 13, 2009

We Need Your Help By Completing the Iowa AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey

Earlier this week we sent out the annual Iowa AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey to our schools. We strongly encourage you to fill out the survey. Our goal is to double our response rate from 18% to 36%.

The survey provides us with opportunities to improve our service to your school(s) and students. This is part of Heartland’s continuous improvement effort. The information is used to evaluate the quality of our programs and services and to ultimately improve our services.


The survey is available from now until Thursday, April 9, 2009. It can be accessed at http://survey.aea267.k12.ia.us/survey/5520/1706/ and only takes a few minutes to complete.


Here are some frequently asked questions about the Iowa AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey.
Q: I’m really busy. Why should I take the time to do this?

A: Heartland uses data to make decisions that affect every school administrator and their staff. Your voice needs to be heard.

Q: Lots of people will be filling this out, one person won’t make a difference.
A: Only 18% filled out the survey last year. That means approximately 2 out of every 10 individuals’ thoughts were used to make decisions for everyone. We know that having more individuals filling out the survey gives us more representative data to make better decisions.


Q: Will I be able to see the information gathered?

A: Yes. Each year we report information from this survey in our annual progress report. In addition, we share specific findings at various stakeholder meetings throughout the year. You can also contact your Partnership Director to request summary information.


Please remind all of your staff to participate. Let's have the highest response rate in the state!

“Iowa's AEAs...Impacting Lives” is Theme for AEA Marketing Campaign

“Iowa’s AEAs …. Impacting Lives” is the theme of a campaign planned statewide beginning in March 2009 to further awareness and understanding about Iowa AEA services.

The campaign will kick off across Iowa with feature ads on cable TV’s “Discovery,” “Food Network” and “Nickelodeon” channels. The channels will feature 30-second ads that will focus on the following three themes:

• An ad called “She Will” will highlight special education services

• An ad called “R
ocket Scientist” will highlight that AEAs provide services to help prepare children for learning
• An ad called “When Teachers Succeed” will highlight professional development services


The campaign also includes a variety of other advertising methods, posting on blogs for Iowa parents, radio public service announcements and public service announcements on local access cable channels. Legislators were also
welcomed at a coffee in the rotunda at the State Capitol building to kick off the campaign. Heartland is also sharing news about some of our success stories through presentations to local school boards.

The campaign is supported by funds received from the Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC), an initiative of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. The IEC provides a statewide voluntary purchasing program for K-12 schools. All materials were prepared with support from the AEA Communications Committee. For questions, contact the Heartland Communications Department, comms@aea11.k12.ia.us.

New Statewide AE
A Logo
At the same time, a new statewide AEA system logo is being introduced. A consistent visual identity is an important element of an organization’s communication plan. Print or online materials are often the first introduction individuals have to the Iowa AEA system.

The updated logo features the letters AEA and the words, Iowa Area Education Agencies and the AEA tagline, “Partners in Education,” in the AEA colors of maroon and gold.
Along with the new logo, a revision to the AEA Graphic Identification Guidelines has been completed and will be posted to the Iowa AEA Web site at http://www.iowaaea.org.

Suicide Protection: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention

Click here for the flyer and agenda for a suicide conference hosted by Southeast Polk Community School District. The conference will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Adventureland Inn.