HAA-hosted Legislative Breakfast on January 12

The Heartland Administrators Association will be hosting a legislative breakfast on Wednesday, January 12, 2011, from 7:00-8:30 a.m. at the West Des Moines Learning Resource Center. Heartland AEA will be sending invitations to all area legislators, but it is strongly suggested that you contact legislators from your area to personally invite them to the event. Click here for a complete list of area legislators and their contact information. Please also be encouraged to invite your school board members and other administrators who may be interested in attending.

Tom Lane to Serve as Heartland Area Superintendent-IASB Liaison

As a reminder from last week, Dr. Tom Lane, superintendent of the Carlisle Schools, will represent Heartland area superintendents again this year and will be gathering contract information. Jim Moore has been brought back by IASB and an IASB team has developed new tools to assist in your work. The team consisting of Jackie Black, Lee Tack, Jim Moore and Tony Vander Zyl will present these new tools at a future HAA meeting.

Superintendents: January HAA Meeting Agenda

Download a Word Doc or PDF version of the January Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 4 at the West Des Moines Learning Resource Center from 9:00-11:50 a.m.

During the first hour of professional learning we will begin a series of conversations using portions of the book, District Leadership That Works by Marzano and Waters. We will have copies of the book available for anyone who needs one. If you have your own copy of this book, please bring it.

Superintendents: December HAA Meeting Minutes

Click here to download the minutes from the December HAA meeting. The minutes and handouts are also posted on Heartland's Web site under the Heartland Networks link under the Leaders tab. You can also bookmark this address: http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/leaders/ldr/admin.html.

Urbandale Schools to host Langford Four-Day Quality Learning Seminar

The Urbandale Community School District will host the Langford Four-Day Quality Learning Seminar from June 13-16, 2011 in the media Center at Urbandale High School. This intensive seminar will introduce you to Quality Learning principles, history, tools and applications to learning. Gain the vision, purpose and direction for quality implementation in your organization.

Langford Quality Learning applies statistical thinking, human interaction techniques and philosophies of quality to the learning environment. The Four-Day Seminar focuses on the Deming philosophy of Profound Knowledge as it is applied to learning organizations. It incorporates brain research, current learning and teaming concepts and techniques, as well as effective uses of technology to improve learning environments. With its focus on continual improvement and student-centered learning, the seminar strongly supports the Iowa Core Curriculum.

David Langford will provide you with case histories that illustrate the successes and pitfalls associated with implementing quality improvement methods in education, government and corporate environments. You will learn:
• New ways to strengthen and build the relationship between learner and facilitator
• How to create an educational environment where learners are responsible for learning
• How to build systems that enable learners to make choices and give them experience in self-evaluation

Through an interactive multimedia process, you will study learning concepts, how to improve learning systems, how to gather data and how to work in teams. The seminar explores these essential Quality Learning concepts and tools:
• 60 Tools for Improvement from the Tool Time Handbook
• Exponential Learning
• Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
• Teaming and Teamwork
• Result-Oriented Learning
• Process Learning
• Improvement vs. Change
• The Deming PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) Cycle and Profound Knowledge

For more information (including registration), please go to the following website: http://www.langfordlearning.com/events/2011-urbandale-iowa-4-day-quality-learning-seminar/

Heartland AEA to Host School Budget Workshops

Heartland AEA will once again be hosting school budget workshops for area school district personnel. The goal of the workshops is to assist schools in completing their school budget in a single work session. Larry Sigel and Margaret Buckton will facilitate sessions on February 7 and March 9, and Dennis Scudder, AEA 267 Director of Finance, will host a session on February 22. Workshops will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Johnston Regional Education Center at 6500 Corporate Drive on their scheduled days. Click here for session descriptions and registration information on these workshops. You may also register online through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog if paying by credit card or purchase order.

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities for ESL Teachers and Administrators

I-ELDA Trainings
Districts are encouraged to send representatives to one of the two state I-ELDA trainings scheduled in Denison and in Marshalltown, listed below. These test administration trainings will support the newly shortened I-ELDA form.

Go to the link below to register for the I-ELDA training in Denison, Iowa on January 11, 2011.
http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvp&invite=0gfm52331ec01cwgy8kra214dr03cgystkmgx0p4a15vmb8d4nsd

Go to the link below to register for the I-ELDA training in Marshalltown, Iowa on January 18, 2011.
http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvphttp://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvp

Questions can be directed to John Scott at john.scott@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3805.

Title III-Funded Workshops for ELL Teachers
Title III funds are providing two workshop opportunities that will benefit classroom teachers who have ESL students. We encourage you to send teams of classroom teachers or ESL and classroom teams to these workshops. For a complete description, go to the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog.

Introduction to Sheltered Instruction for Teachers of ELLs
Dates: January 29 & February 19, 2011
Instructors: Stephaney Jones-Vo & Shelley Fairbairn
Activity Number: ES004292111101

This workshop is not for teachers who have previously attended unless they come with a team of at least four other classroom teachers. A $200 stipend will be given for full attendance and completion of the assignment. Graduate credit is available.

Empowering ELLs in the Mathematics Classroom
Dates: February 5 & 26, 2011
Instructor: Judy Kinley
Activity Number: ES006192111101

Participants will receive the book Supporting English Language Learners in Math Class and a $200 stipend upon completing the attendance and assignment requirements. Graduate credit is available.

Communication of Inclement Weather Closings & Cancellations

Inclement weather office closings and professional development class cancellations will no longer be communicated via TV & radio stations. Closings and cancellations will be posted on our agency website under our “Latest News” section, on our Facebook and Twitter pages and on our cancellation hotline at (515) 270-0405/(800) 255-0405 ext. 14041.

Holiday Office & Van Route Schedule

Heartland offices will be closed December 24, 27, 28 and 31 during the holiday season. Please take note of the following schedule as you plan to send and receive items through our van mail.
• December 20-23, 2010 Regular Van Delivery
• December 27-31, 2010 No Van Delivery
• January 3, 2011 Regular Van Delivery Resumes