December Edition of “Impacting Lives” Newsletter

Go to http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/ to read the latest edition of "Impacting Lives." The blog newsletter is a statewide effort to communicate AEA success stories and services across the state. The newsletter is sent to all school administrators, legislators (in-session) and AEA staff in Iowa. The issue includes:

• Discover the Savings through the Iowa Educators Consortium
• Twin Rivers Makes SMART Use of Technology
• Student Improvement Through Relationship Building
• New Teacher Center: Developing Teacher Leaders and Instructional Coaches

Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Information

Click here for information about the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council that was shared earlier this month at the December HAA meeting.

Holiday Office & Van Route Schedule

Heartland offices will be closed December 26, 27, 29 and 30 during the holiday season. Please take note of the following schedule as you plan to send and receive items through our van mail.

December 19-22, 2011 Regular Van Delivery
December 26-30, 2011 No Van Delivery
January 2, 2012 Regular Van Delivery Resumes

Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection blog update on December 30.

Reminder: IEC Winter Paper Buy to End Jan. 6

Don’t miss your chance to save big money on your paper supply needs through the Iowa Educator Consortium (IEC). Supplying this winter’s supply is the Paper Corporation which offers excellent pricing on a large variety of paper weights, colors and sizes. Additional discounts are available for orders at or above 440 assorted cases, 880 assorted cases and 880 white only. Ordering and pricing information is available on the IEC website at http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4cea867abe0cf.

If you have questions regarding the IEC ordering process, contact Joni Puffett at jpuffett@iec-ia.org or (319) 268-9008.

Reminder: New Prices for Printing/Copying Services Effective Jan. 1

During the Fall 2011, Heartland AEA performed a cost analysis of our printing services. It was found that what was being charged did not allow the agency to recover the service, supply and labor cost when producing printed documents from the Print Center. In order to continue to provide printing services for the schools we serve, we needed to increase the prices. Our cost analysis findings were presented to area superintendents who approved the increased print prices. Click here for our revised print prices that will take effect January 1, 2012.

Despite the cost increase, the price per copy remains considerably lower than commercial printers and school copiers. We would be very grateful if you would pass the new pricing information on to teachers and other school staff who use our Print & Production services. If you would like information about the cost formula that was used to determine the revised printing costs, click here.

Urbandale Schools to host Langford Four-Day Quality Learning Seminar

The Urbandale Community School District is hosting the Four Day Quality Learning Seminar, facilitated by David Langford, June 11-14, 2012. At this seminar participants will learn to:

• Manage data-driven learning and improvement
• Create performance-based learning
• Create student-led learning
• Create and manage portfolio assessment
• Inspire passionate learners

This seminar has a tight alignment with the Iowa Core, as it focuses on student-centered learning. Cost for the seminar is $450. This includes continental breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day. The learning presented in this seminar lays the foundation for educational transformation and improvement.

For preliminary registration, contact Maggie Lichtenberg at lichtenbergm@urbandale.k12.ia.us. For more information, please see www.langfordlearning.com.

Reminder: Expert to Lead IPI Introductory Level Workshop, Jan. 5 & 6

The Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) Process is used to track useful data about student engagement and learning. Join Jerry Valentine, Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri and a leading expert on the IPI process, for an intriguing introductory level workshop at Hoyt Middle School (Des Moines) January 5 and 6. Click here for more information on the IPI process and the workshop being offered.

Iowa-English Language Development Assessment Training Opportunities in Jan. 2012

Training for the administration of the Iowa-English language Development Assessment will be repeated January 12 in Coralville and January 18 in Council Bluffs. To register for this training:

https://docs.google.com/a/nwaea.org/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dGwtUU1SUWJvUTlCVXZIWlRxQndSeWc6MQ#gid=0

There are several changes that you need to become familiar with:

• Orders for the test materials will be done on-line here.
• You will need to complete a 504 or IEP accommodations' checklist on the front page of the answer sheet.
• This year form "2" that used the short-form format will be used.
• There will be a late fee for districts that do not submit their completed test prior to May 1.

You will still need to fill out the bar code template just as in the past. The form is also on the I-ELDA website and must be turned in at the same time as your Google order for materials. It is currently posted. Please expect all documents concerning I-ELDA to be updated on this site by January 2012. Visit the I-ELDA website.

It is strongly encouraged that new staff responsible for the administration of this test attend one of these training opportunities. Seasoned staff are also strongly encouraged to attend for a refresher. The one-year time lapse between the administration of these tests is sufficient to allow test administrators to forget or only partially remember the details involved with scoring the most difficult and technical portions of this test.

Happy Holidays from Heartland AEA

Best wishes to you for a very joyful holiday season. Please click here to view our holiday card.

Effective Jan. 1: Revised Pricing for Print Services

Heartland Print Center prices will increase, effective January 1, 2012. Heartland AEA has not changed the prices charged for color or black and white (b/w) copies for several years. As a result of the outdated pricing, the agency is not recovering service, supply and labor costs when producing printed documents from our Print Center.

Heartland AEA performed a cost analysis and presented its findings to the Heartland AEA Superintendent Advisory Council and Heartland Administrator Association during their November and December meetings. Both groups approved the revised printing prices found by clicking here.

The information below was used to determine the revised printing costs.

Cost formula: Service and supply costs (referred as a “click charge”) + paper costs + labor costs
Note: A "click charge" is defined as one 8.5 x 11 image, therefore . . .

• A 1-sided b/w or color 8.5 x 11 is billed as one "click"
• A 2-sided b/w or color 8.5 x 11 is billed as two "clicks"
• A 1-sided b/w or color 8.5 x 14 is billed as one "click"
• A 2-sided b/w or color 8.5 x 14 is billed as two "clicks"
• A 1-sided b/w or color 11 x 17 is billed as two "clicks"
• A 2-sided b/w or color 11 x 17 is billed as four "clicks"

Revised printing costs:

• A 1-sided b/w 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 image = $.005 (click charge) + $.005 (paper charge) + $.00722 (labor charge) = $.01722
• A 2-sided b/w 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 image = $.01 (click charge) + $.005 (paper charge) + $.0144 (labor charge) = $.0294
• A 1-sided b/w 11 x 17 image = $.01 (click charge) + $.01 (paper charge) + $.0144 (labor charge) = $.0272
• A 2-sided b/w 11 x 17 image = $.02 (click charge) + $.01 (paper charge) + $.0288 (labor charge) = $.0588
• A 1-sided color 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 image = $.043 (click charge) + $.01 (paper charge) + $.00722 (labor charge) = $.06022
• A 2-sided color 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 image = $.086 (click charge) + $.01 (paper charge) + $.0144 (labor charge) = $.11
• A 1-sided color 11 x 17 image = $.086 (click charge) + $.02 (paper charge) + $.0144 (labor charge) = $.12
• A 2-sided color 11 x 17 image = $.172 (click charge) + $.02 (paper charge) + $.0288 (labor charge) = $.22

The Heartland Print Center will continue to offer the schools we serve high-quality, cost-effective options for their printing needs. Despite the cost increase, the price per copy remains considerably lower than commercial printers and school copiers. We would be very grateful if you would pass the new pricing information on to teachers and other school staff who use our Print & Production services.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to fulfilling your printing needs in the future. If you have any questions about the revised prices, contact Steve Prall, Executive Director of Operaions, at sprall@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-9030.

Save Money During the Holidays with the IEC

Our holiday shopping days are dwindling! Before you pay full retail price for the latest gizmos and gadgets, be sure to check out the personal discounts in the Iowa Educator Consortium’s ‘Teacher & Student Buys’ section on the IEC website. All Iowa K-12 teachers, students, administrators and other school personnel are eligible for discounts on computer software, cell phone plans, digital cameras and camcorders and OfficeMax and Staples merchandise. For most offers, your school email address is your only needed proof of employment.

See what you can save through the IEC, an important and valued initiative of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies.
http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Teacher%20%26%20Student%20Buys

United States Senate Youth Program Selects Local High School Delegate

Congratulations to Scott Syroka, Johnston Community School District, on being selected as one of the two delegates from Iowa 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. The other Iowa student is Blake McGhghy, Keokuk High School.

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.

Dr. Wilkerson Honored with ISU Alumni Award

Congratulations to Dr. Dave Wilkerson, Superintendent of Waukee Schools, who recently earned the Virgil S. Lagomarcino Laureate Award from the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University. Click here for more information.

Simulcast Available for Dec. 15 Iowa Assessment Workshop

Heartland AEA will host a simulcast of the Iowa Assessments (formerly ITBS/ITEDS) workshop that is being held next Thursday, December 15 at 12:30 p.m. This simulcast is intended to offer another option for those unable to attend face-to-face sessions which are being held across the state. The session will be approximately three hours in length and will cover how the Iowa Assessments are used to measure progress of the Iowa Core, monitor student growth and track student readiness. The link for the video session is below.

https://aea111.eduvision.tv/SchoolLiveSchedules.aspx

The session will go live approximately 10 minutes prior to the actual 12:30 p.m. start time to allow time for participants to log in. There is no registration; simply join the session.

Unfortunately, there will not be an option for interaction during discussion time with this webinar (unless there are multiple people at your site). We are working on a way to make materials available, but at this time it is unclear if materials will be available in time for the session.

Heartland AEA to Host School Budget Workshops, Feb. 1 & 17

Heartland AEA will once again be hosting school budget workshops for area school district personnel. The budget workshops will run differently this year from feedback we received last year. Two days will be offered this year and both days will be split in two sessions, one for experienced managers and one for new managers. Please choose which day works best in your schedule and which session would best fit your abilities.

Larry Sigel and Margaret Buckton will facilitate all sessions in the computer lab at the Johnston Regional Education Center at 6500 Corporate Drive. Click here for session descriptions and registration information for this year’s budget workshops.

Check Out What's New in Professional Development

There are LOTS of professional development classes to check out on our PD blog including The Art and Science of Classroom Management, Using Iowa AEA Online Databases in the Social Studies Classroom, Exceptional Learner, Verbal Behavior Teaching Strategies, Examining: Bullying from Both Sides and much more. To find more detailed descriptions and to register, visit the PD blog by clicking on the link below.

http://pdblog.aea11.k12.ia.us/

IEC Winter Paper Buy to End Jan. 6

Don’t miss your chance to save big money on your paper supply needs through the Iowa Educator Consortium (IEC). Supplying this winter’s supply is the Paper Corporation which offers excellent pricing on a large variety of paper weights, colors and sizes. Additional discounts are available for orders at or above 440 assorted cases, 880 assorted cases and 880 white only. Ordering and pricing information is available on the IEC website at http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4cea867abe0cf, and information will be sent to schools the first week of December.

If you have questions regarding the IEC ordering process, contact Joni Puffett at jpuffett@iec-ia.org or (319) 268-9008.

Print & Production Holiday Scheduling

During winter break, we encourage staff to spend valuable time with friends and families and so we will have limited Print and Production staff on hand. If your district uses our print services for monthly newsletters, please send in your newsletter draft by December 9 to ensure that we have enough time to complete your order. Thank you for your understanding during the busy holiday season, and please contact our Print Center or graphic designers if you have any questions.

Local Education Blueprint Town Hall Meeting, Dec. 10

Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds have scheduled an education town hall meeting on Saturday, December 10 at 11:00 a.m. in the DMPS Central Campus Multi-Purpose Room (1800 Grand Avenue, Des Moines). The event is free and open to the public and provides a great opportunity to learn about the plan that was released in October and provide your feedback.

Superintendents: December 6 HAA Meeting Agenda

Click here to download the December Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 6 in Room 13 A/B of the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Expert to Lead IPI Introductory Level Workshop, Jan. 5 & 6

The Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) Process is used to track useful data about student engagement and learning. Join Jerry Valentine, Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri and a leading expert on the IPI process, for an intriguing introductory level workshop at Hoyt Middle School (Des Moines) January 5 or 6. Click here for more information on the IPI process and the workshop being offered.

Final Notice for Title III Mini-Grant Opportunity

The Title III Mini-Grant to Support Districts in Providing Access to the CORE through Differentiated Materials for Content Classes and the Development of Language mini-grant deadline is Tuesday, December 6, 2011, by 5:00 p.m. Each district serving ESL students are eligible to apply for additional funds to help support the education of their ESL students in core classes. Click here for more information and here for the proposal format.

UNI Courses Help Improve Mathematical Instruction

The University of Northern Iowa Center for Teaching and Learning Mathematics (CTLM) is supporting elementary math teachers by offering "Making Sense Professional Development" courses. These high quality, research-based courses are intended to improve teacher practice in order to enhance student learning.

To create these classes, a team of course developers from across Iowa collaborated to discuss the many factors that create a quality education. All courses are aligned with the Iowa Core, Common Core State Standards and Iowa Professional Development Model. The CTLM also provides training for principals to ensure support of teachers working to improve mathematical instruction.

Through these courses, teachers develop a deeper understanding of mathematics, increase knowledge for teaching, implement practices based on the current standards for mathematical practice and improve their own means of instruction. As a result, students also develop a deeper understanding of mathematics and improve their own level of achievement.

To register for any of these courses, visit www.uni.edu/ctlm. For additional information, contact Melissa Reade, assistant director of communications and operations at the CTLM, at melissa.reade@uni.edu (319) 273-3820.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Iowa's AEAs Celebrate American Education Week with Launch of New Video and Website

American Education Week is a great opportunity to remember and celebrate the partnership between Iowa's Area Education Agencies and educators, students and families. A new video captures those partnerships and tells the story of how AEA services made a difference in their lives. Take a just a few minutes and view the video at http://iowapartnersineducation.org.

If an AEA has touched your life like the ones seen in the video, please share your story at http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/tell-us-your-story/.

Be sure to also view the new and improved website at www.iowaaea.org. Visitors will find a clean look and feel, improved navigation and easier entry points to valuable resources.

Share these sites with others! When you do, you ensure that Iowa’s AEAs will be there to provide support and leadership for years to come.

See How Iowa's AEAs are “Impacting Lives”

Go to http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/ to read the latest edition of "Impacting Lives." The blog newsletter is a statewide effort to communicate AEA success stories and services across the state. The newsletter is sent to all school administrators, legislators (in-session) and AEA staff in Iowa. The issue includes:

• Iowa's AEAs Unveil New Website and Video
• Miracles Happen Every Day at Wayne Elementary
• Making Classroom Experiences More Meaningful for Students
• iPad App Helps Youngster Communicate More Effectively
• Iowa Future: The world is changing. We need to change with it.

Thanksgiving Week Van Delivery Schedule

We wanted to remind you that all Heartland AEA offices will be closed November 24 and 25. There will be no van delivery November 23-25.

Colfax-Mingo Earns 2011 Breaking Barriers Award

The Colfax-Mingo district recently earned a Breaking Barriers award for raising their math proficiency among low-income students in eighth grade by 20 percent or more. Read more on the Iowa Department of Education’s website at http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2548%3A2011-breaking-barriers-awards&catid=666%3Ahighlights.

Videos Available from September Autism Conference

Videos from our Fall Autism Conference are now available on our Eduvision site. Do a word search for "Autism Conference" to find all nine videos. Click here to access handouts and other resources presented at the conference on September 9.

Reminder: I-ELDA Training for ESL Educators and Administrators

Districts are encouraged to send representatives to an I-ELDA training in December. The target groups for this training will include those who have not given the test before and those who need a refresher in the administration of this test. The primary focus of this training will be on building reliability on the speaking and writing tests.

Date/Time: December 2, 2011 from 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: 1917 Dean Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316 Training
Lead by: Lynn Tiemann and Amy White

For more information, contact John Scott, Iowa Department of Education, at john.scott@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3805.

Click here to register.

Reimbursement Claim Form for ICLC

Any school district that sent participants to the Iowa Culture and Language Conference earlier this month should contact Pat Latham for the reimbursement claim form. Pat can be reached at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us or (800) 375-5073 ext. 11228.

Help Us Update the Heartland AEA PeopleBox Database

Next week the school building secretaries of all Heartland area schools will receive an e-mail from the Heartland AEA Communications Department asking the secretaries to update each building's staff members for our PeopleBox database. Secretaries will be able to login to our database with a username and password and do the updating themselves. The PeopleBox database houses all AEA employee and school staff data and is a vital to us when we need to contact school staff about important news and events. The accuracy of the information is critical as it is used to support the I-CAT training for the Iowa Core alignment requirements.

Please encourage your secretaries to complete this task for us. We would greatly appreciate their assistance in helping us maintain an accurate and up-to-date database. If you have any questions, please contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology, at lwilhelm@aea11.k12.ia.us.

Holiday Office & Van Route Schedule

All Heartland AEA offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 24 and 25. Heartland offices will also be closed December 26, 27, 29 and 30 during the holiday season. Please take note of the following schedule as you plan to send and receive items through our van mail.

• November 23-25, 2011 No Van Delivery
• December 19-22, 2011 Regular Van Delivery
• December 26-30, 2011 No Van Delivery
• January 2, 2012 Regular Van Delivery Resumes

Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection blog updates on November 25 or December 30.

Join the New ISU Online Literacy Coaching Certificate Program Starting Summer 2012!

The College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is recruiting students to enroll in its newly redesigned online Literacy Coaching Certificate Program. The literacy coaching certificate program consists of a series of new advanced graduate level courses (17 Semester Credits) and makes use of distance technologies to allow Iowa teachers to earn a literacy coaching certificate by taking courses online.

The program is aimed at preparing eligible classroom teachers, instructional leaders and other school personnel to serve in literacy leadership roles with the goal of improving teacher practices and student achievement in diverse PreK-12 school settings.

The Literacy coaching certificate program provides a unique opportunity to develop deep expertise in literacy research, policy and practice, as well as skill in leadership at a leading university supported by two outstanding programs within the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University: Literacy Education and Educational Administration.

If you are interested in finding more about this exciting opportunity, please check out the informative flyer found here. For more information please visit the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Literacy Program website at http://www.ci.hs.iastate.edu/literacy/index.php. The application deadline is December 1, 2011 for summer enrollment and March 1, 2012 for fall enrollment.

For additional questions please contact Dr. Amy Hutchison at amyhutch@iastate.edu.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

'Rise to the Challenge' with Certiport’s Free Industry Certification Opportunity

Certiport is an organization that administers industry recognized certifications. It is the sole source provider of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Adobe Certified Associated (ACA) both of which are globally recognized industry certifications. Its certifications have helped many students obtain better continual educational opportunities as well as higher paying jobs.

Certiport is running a campaign known as Rise to the Challenge under which CTE instructors and administrators are given the opportunity to take any of Certiport's industry certifications for FREE. There are no obligations when registering for this promotion and it's a great opportunity for instructors and administrators to use the certifications as a professional development tool in addition to the evaluation process.

To register for this promotion, an instructor or administrator will need to go to www.certiport.com/rise and select the certifications they would like to take. Below is a full list of available certifications below. Registration for this promotion must be completed by February 29, 2012 and exams must be completed by March 31, 2012.

• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
• Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)
• Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3)
• Quickbooks Certified User
• Autodesk Certified User
• CompTIA Strata Fundamentals

Questions can be directed to Justin Barker at jbarker@certiport.com or (888) 999-9830 ext 110.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Share the Administrator Connection with Others!

If you are interested in having the Administrator Connection sent to other personnel in your district in addition to the superintendent and principal, please contact the Heartland Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us. Please include the name, prefix, title (assistant principal, curriculum director, etc.) and building that each person serves.

TrueFLIX eBooks For Grades 3-6

These interactive ebooks help students understand how to read non-fiction text. Students can access video/book titles from home and follow along with the quality read-aloud feature. Categories of content include: American Indians, Ancient Civilizations, Continents, U.S. Government, Westward Expansion, Disasters, Ecosystems, Extreme Nature, Human Body, Space. TrueFLIX is a perfect whiteboard application. Go to http://trueflix.scholastic.com and login using the online database username/password assigned to your school.

Get the Word Out about School Weather Closings!

As winter approaches, we’re all reminded that inclement weather is around the corner. Check out the notification systems available through the Iowa Educators Consortium at http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/School%20Administration.

IEC purchases allow schools to take advantage of aggressive pricing based on the purchasing volume of many Iowa schools. Always remember to check in on the IEC website at http://www.iec-ia.org/ to take advantage of the newest available cost-saving services!

Check Heartland’s Facebook/Twitter, Website and Hotline for Weather Closings & Cancellations

Can you tell we have winter weather on the brain?! Heartland AEA has changed the way we communicate closings and cancellations to make sure the information is communicated correctly, consistently and in a timely manner. We will no longer broadcast closings via TV and radio stations, but through the following ways:

Website
We will post closing/cancellation information on the front page of the Agency’s website (www.aea11.k12.ia.us) at the top of the Latest News section.

Cancellation Hotline
We will record closing information on a “cancellation hotline” at (515) 270-0405 or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14041. When you call in, you will hear a recorded message that says the date and offices/classes that have been closed/canceled. If there are no closings/cancellations, the message will reflect that.

Social Media
We will post closing/cancellation information on the Agency’s Facebook and Twitter accounts at www.facebook.com/heartlandaea and twitter.com/HeartlandAEA, respectively.

I-ELDA Training for ESL Educators and Administrators

Districts are encouraged to send representatives to an I-ELDA training in December. The target groups for this training will include those who have not given the test before and those who need a refresher in the administration of this test. The primary focus of this training will be on building reliability on the speaking and writing tests.

Date/Time: December 2, 2011 from 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: 1917 Dean Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316
Training Lead by: Lynn Tiemann and Amy White

For More Information, contact John Scott, Iowa Department of Education, at john.scott@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3805.

Register here.

Chance for snow? Receive National Weather Service Updates Via Facebook

The National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Des Moines recognizes that local educators through Iowa have a vested interest in the weather. NWS offices around the nation have joined Facebook. Their presence on Facebook will give school administrators a way to monitor real time expectations of weather for the current and immediate future.

Find and “like” the National Weather Service Office in Des Moines, Iowa on Facebook here and receive real time updates about the weather.

The NWS Des Moines Iowa office website is at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

2011-2012 Heartland AEA Staff & Schools Directory Now Available

Click here for the 2011-2012 Heartland AEA Staff & Schools Directory. It is archived on our website under the General Information link, which can be found under the About Us link on our homepage. The Agency no longer prints bound copies of the directory to be more environmentally friendly and budget conscious.

Also keep in mind that Heartland AEA has an online staff directory. This electronic directory contains the most up-to-date information about Heartland staff members. To access this directory, visit our homepage and click on the “AEA Staff Directory” link on the top right hand side of the page above the Leaders tab. You can search for Heartland staff members by last name, position or by the school districts they serve.

Superintendents: November 1 HAA Meeting Agenda

Click here to download the November Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 1 in Room 13 A/B of the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Our schedule will be a bit different for this meeting. Tom Narak from School Administrators of Iowa will be first on the agenda as he was unavailable later in the morning. We will have our professional learning session from 9:30-10:30.

Director Jason Glass will also be joining us to discuss the Department's future plans and the Blueprint for Education.

Title III/ESL Reminders and Opportunities

Mini Grants
The following two mini grants with proposal templates that are available to school districts. Questions and proposals may be sent to Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us or Stephaney Jones-Vo at sjonesvo@aea11.k12.ia.us.

Family Literacy/Parent Involvement Mini Grant
Three grants of $3,300 each will be awarded on December 6, 2011, so don’t delay in sending your proposal electronically to Pat Latham or Stephaney Jones-Vo, due November 30, 2011. See the proposal template found here to help you write and submit your district’s proposal for the Family Literacy/Parent Involvement Mini Grant.

Title III Mini-Grant to Support Districts in Providing Access to the CORE through Differentiated Materials for Content Classes and the Development of Language
The number of ESL students in your district will determine the grant amount. Send your proposal electronically to Pat Latham or Stephaney Jones-Vo by December 6, 2011. See the proposal template found here to help you write and submit your district’s proposal for this mini grant.

Iowa Culture and Language Conference
November 8-9, 2011
Coralville Marriot Hotel and Conference Center
Coralville, Iowa

Title III will fund participation in this statewide pre-conference and conference. Title III will reimburse for registration, substitutes and provide a travel stipend based on the number of teachers attending the conference (5 or fewer-$150, 6-10-$300 per district). Districts are encouraged to send a team. Districts will be reimbursed following submission of the claim form, which will be available after the conference from Pat Latham. Full attendance is required for reimbursement.

For registration and to see full conference details, click here: http://tinyurl.com/3mrck85

Collaboration and Co-Teaching
November 11-12, 2011 & April 28, 2012
Activity Number: ES006669571201
Andrea Honigsfeld and Maria Dove, authors of Collaboration and Co-Teaching Strategies: Strategies for English Language Learners. will address the fundamental questions, issues and structures about collaboration and co-teaching to help ELLs be successful in the classroom. While participants are welcome to attend the class for no credit, there is a two a 2-credit option available.

Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force to Hold Public Hearing, Oct. 31

Iowa's Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force will hold a public hearing on Monday, October 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Room 103 at the State Capitol. This is an opportunity for Iowans to come and share public testimony about child sexual abuse prevention policies and other actions and recommendations the Task Force should consider in its report to the Iowa Legislature. IASB attorney Mary Gannon sits on the task force.

All members of the public are invited to attend and share ideas. For more information, contact Steve Scott of Prevent Child Abuse Iowa at (515) 244-2200 or 1-800-CHILDREN, or sscott@pcaiowa.org.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Teaching About the Holocaust and the Iowa Core, Nov. 10

The Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines, in cooperation with the University of Northern Iowa Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education, will co-host a learning opportunity for middle and high school teachers. The workshop, Teaching About the Holocaust and the Iowa Core Curriculum, is offered free of charge and will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2011 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Temple B'nai Jeshurun in Des Moines. Register by e-mail to chge@uni.edu. Participants should provide a name, school building, district and grade/subject taught.

For more information, contact Stephen J. Gaies, Director, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education, at www.chge.uni.edu, gaies@uni.edu or call (319) 277-1909.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Children’s Museum to Offer Iowa Core-Focused Field Trips

The Iowa Children's Museum in Coralville has updated their schedule to include K-5th grade field trip packages to match the Iowa Core standards. Click here for their “Standards at a Glance” field trip offerings. All of their focused field trip information may be found at http://www.theicm.org/programs/group-visits/focused.

Starting in January, they will be offering CityWorks S.T.E.M. focused field trips which will cater to 1st-5th grade audiences.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Technology Program Promotes STEM Interest for Girls

Microsoft, along with the Technology Association of Iowa, will be hosting a free technology program, Digi Girlz, specifically for 8th-12th grade girls. During the event, the girls will interact with women in technology, participate in technology tours and demonstrations, network and learn with hands-on experience. Digi Girlz will be held November 17, 2011 at the Hy-Vee Conference Center and is prior to the Iowa Women of Innovation awards dinner that elevates and celebrates today’s extraordinary women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Click here for more information.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Letters to Governor Branstad and Senator Harkin Issued by Executive Leaders Group

The Executive Leaders is a new group in Iowa, coordinated through SAI and open to all school superintendents. The purpose of the SAI Executive Leaders is to provide strategic leadership for system improvements that will result in a quality education for Iowa's youth. The group met September 25 and 26 at Drake University and listened to presentations by Bruce Hunter, AASA associate executive director; and Jason Glass, Iowa DE director, on Iowa school reform. The letters (attached below) resulted from participants' discussions and may be used as superintendents participate in the town hall meetings occurring around the state, to help inform legislators, etc.

Letter to Governor Branstad
Letter to Senator Harkin

You Have a “Friend Request!”

Heartland AEA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts are bustling with activity! We use Facebook and Twitter to post information about resources, classes, good news stories and other fantastic reads.

Follow Heartland AEA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HeartlandAEA

Like Heartland AEA on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/heartlandaea

Also remember to check out Iowa’s Area Education Agencies social media sites. Get quick and current updates on education issues, policies and professional learning opportunities available around the state.

Follow Iowa's Area Education Agencies on Twitter at http://twitter.com/iowa_aea

Like Iowa's Area Education Agencies on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/iowaaea

Urbandale CSD to Host ESL Simulation

Click here for more information on Urbandale CSD’s Life in a Second Language, a unique, interactive experience about the challenges faced by non-English speaking Urbandale residents. The free event will be held next Monday, October 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Webster Elementary. Registration has been extended to be open until filled.

SAI to Host Administrator-Counselor Workshop, Dec. 7

Click here for more information about the Administrator-Counselor Workshop that SAI will host on December 7, 2011. In light of the Governor’s Education Blueprint, this workshop will explore how the principal/counselor team can work together to ensure every learner's success. Dr. Matt Davidson, executive director of the Institute for Ethics and Excellence will lead the workshop.

Session with Linda Fandel, Governor's Special Assistant for Education, Oct. 17

On Monday, October 17 Linda Fandel will be presenting a session for the Heartland Administrators’ Association. The session will be held at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) at 10:00 a.m. Linda will be addressing the Governor's Blueprint for Education. She will speak for about 20 minutes and then take questions.

If you are unable to attend in person, you may access the session online via webinar. The directions for the webinar are below. If you access the session this way, you will be able to hear the session and text in any questions that you would like to have answered.

If you need assistance, please contact Sharon Kurns at skurns@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-9030. On the morning of the session contact her by cell phone (515) 419-5814.

Before the Session

• Go to http://admin.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm to test the computer you will be using for an Adobe Connect session.
• Adobe Connect will automatically run a test of your computer. The latest Acrobat Connect Add-In will be installed if necessary. It is strongly recommended to use an ethernet connection (as opposed to wireless).

Checklist of Items You Will Need

• A computer (tested with the above URL).
• The computer connected to an ethernet cable (Recommended, it will work with wireless, but the ethernet connection will be more reliable).
• The computer connected to a projector/screen (only if several participants are in the same room).
• The computer connected to external speakers (only if several participants are in the same room).

Webinar Directions for the Day of the Session

• Click on this link or paste the URL into your browser http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/fandel
• Click "Guest."
• Type in your name.
• Adjust the volume on your computer.
• Use the chat box on the left hand side of the screen if you want to ask a question.

HEART Training to be Offered in Adel Office

We will be offering a session on HEART on Tuesday, November 1 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the meeting room at the Adel regional office (600 Visions Parkway). The class is intended for the newly tapped HEART users (and those who would like a refresher) who will need to understand how to run HEART and retrieve data in the system.

To register for this class, click here or go to the Heartland Professional Development Catalog and enter activity number AS003792111203 in the correct field.

Participants for this class will need to bring a laptop. If you do not have a laptop of your own, please reserve one by contacting Jennifer Swanson at jswanson@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14560.

EdInsight Training to be Offered Nov. 1

As we have communicated last year, EdInsight is the Iowa Department of Education’s data warehouse and analysis system. It holds data from Project EASIER, the IMS system (IEP information) and the Iowa Testing Program.

Heartland AEA is providing a training opportunity in the Adel regional office meeting room on Tuesday, November 1 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. To register for this class, click here or go to the Heartland Professional Development Catalog and enter activity number AS005192111201 in the correct field.

Participants for this class will need to bring a laptop. If you do not have a laptop of your own, please reserve one by contacting Jennifer Swanson at jswanson@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14560.

Learn more about EdInsight at http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1691&Itemid=2490

Exit Code Clarification and Procedures Manual Language

Two exit codes, RRT and RRC, communicate that a student has returned to general education in Iowa. These codes have been rewritten for clarification.

RRT: Returned to Iowa general education, either within or outside of AEA, Iowa IEP inactivated; student remains eligible for special education.

RRC: Returned to Iowa general education, either within or outside of AEA, Iowa IEP completed or parent revoked consent for services; student no longer eligible for special education.

There are two circumstances when a student is no longer eligible for special education upon the return to general education; 1) when an IEP team has determined that a student is no longer eligible (“Iowa IEP completed”) or 2) when a parent or age of majority student revokes consent for services. In all other circumstances, students who return to general education retain special education eligibility.

When code definitions were changed in the Web IEP, the IMS and the Documentation Guide, the Procedures Manual language on page 173 was not revised to reflect the code change. As of March 1, 2011, the correct code for revocation of consent for services is “RRC.”

The Document Revocation of Consentjavascript:void(0) of Service, on page 173 of the Procedures Manual should read as the following:

“When it is determined that a student should be exited from special education due to the revocation of consent for services, the student is removed from the roster and the Exit form is completed using the appropriate exit code (RRC) for IMS.”

The full document with this information can be found on the Iowa IDEA website at http://www.iowaidea.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4a8b1534597fd labeled Errata: Return to General Education Exit Code for Revocation of Consent – Posted September 2011.

If you have questions, please contact the Heartland AEA Regional Director that serves your district.

Invitation to Participate in Title III Mini-Grant

Districts are invited to apply for a Title III Mini-Grant that supports districts in providing access to the CORE through differentiated materials for content classes and language development. The number of ESL students in a district determines the eligible grant amount. A base amount of $1,000 will be awarded to the recipients with an enrollment of 1-50 ESL students. This amount will increase an additional $500 per additional 50 students. Don’t delay in sending your proposal electronically to Pat Latham or Stephaney Jones-Vo, which is due on or before December 6, 2011.

See the proposal template found here to help you write and submit your proposed Title III Mini-Grant.

The following is the timeline for the grant. (These dates are non-negotiable.)

• December 6, 2010-Grant Proposal Due to Heartland AEA 11 ESL/Diversity Consultants
• December 16, 2011-Awards will be announced
• December 16, 2011 to May 6, 2012- Purchase of materials
• May 8, 2012-Money must be expended by this date
• May 8, 2012-Narrative Report of purchases
• May 31, 2012-Signed invoice sent to Dr. Kim Thuente, (515) 270-0405, ext. 14372 by your district’s business office

Please direct questions to Stephaney Jones-Vo at sjonesvo@aea11.k12.ia.us, (515) 270-0405, ext 14680 or Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us (515) 993-4596, ext. 11228.

ICLC: Coming Together to Move Forward, Nov. 7-9

Pre-conference-November 7, 2011
Conference-November 8-9, 2011
Coralville Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
Coralville, Iowa

Title III will fund participation in this statewide pre-conference and conference. Title III will reimburse for registration, substitutes and provide a travel stipend based on the number of teachers attending the conference (5 or fewer-$150, 6-10-$300 per district). Districts are encouraged to send a team. Districts will be reimbursed following submission of the claim form, which will be available after the conference from Pat Latham. Full attendance is required for reimbursement.

For registration and to see full conference details, click here: http://tinyurl.com/3mrck85

Collaboration and Co-Teaching in the ELL Classroom

Teacher collaboration and co-teaching are proven strategies for helping students with diverse needs achieve academically. Two national presenters, Andrea Honigsfeld and Maria Dove, will address the fundamental questions, issues and structures about collaboration and co-teaching to help ELLs be successful in the classroom. This course will include three face-to-face sessions with the presenters and activities online and in the classroom between sessions.

Substitute reimbursement (Friday) and teacher stipends (two Saturdays) will be provided for all teachers/schools/districts that are part of the Heartland AEA 11 Title III grant. To register for this class, click here or go to the Heartland Professional Development Catalog and enter activity number ES006669571201 in the correct field.

ISPRA to Host PR Power Hour Webinars

The Iowa School Public Relations Association (ISPRA) board invites you to participate in the 2011-12 PR Power Hour Webinars. All PR Power Hours begin at 11:00 a.m. Each event is free for members and $10 for non-members. ISPRA has coordinated two locations for ISPRA members to come together, discuss and participate in the webinars.

Grant Wood AEA Coralville Office
Conference Room C
200 Holiday Road
Coralville, IA 52241

West Des Moines Learning Resource Center
3550 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50265

2011-12 PR Power Hours

• October 14, 2011 - The Inside Scoop: Learn the Trends, Results, and Insight from the Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll on the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools (Webinar)
• November 18, 2011 - New Tactics and Strategies for Passing Finance Elections
• December 2, 2011 - Doing It Right! Introducing Your New Superintendent to Your School Community
• January 6, 2012 - How to Empower Your Principals with Branding and Marketing Skills (Webinar)
• January 27, 2012 - Setting the Foundation for Effective Social Media in Your District
• February 24, 2012 - Getting Proactive About School Security (Webinar)
• March 16, 2012 - Keeping Score: Proving the Value of School Communication Using the Balanced Scorecard Approach (Webinar)
• April 13, 2012 - Fresh Perspectives on the Superintendency: The Integral Role of Communication

Click here to sign up for the webinars.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

PreK-3 Reading Handout for Parents and Educators

Parents of beginning readers might be interested in the ebooks and online reading materials that they can use at home. Schools may order copies of a small folded handout describing BookFLIX, Britannica Learning Zone and Kids InfoBits. There is a space to write the school username/password on the handout. Contact Sherise Ahlers at sahlers@aea11.k12.ia.us for copies.

Handouts Available from September Autism Conference

On September 9, Heartland AEA provided 160 educators, parents and AEA staff a chance to learn together at a day-long conference. By popular request, we wish to make available the resources that were presented. Handouts and presentations are now available on the front page of our website under “Latest News.” You may access the handouts here.

New Issue of Educator Connection Newsletter Released

On Wednesday, Heartland AEA Communications Department sent out October issue of the Educator Connection newsletter. It was e-mailed to all educators in the Heartland area and is intended to keep our educators better connected to our agency and to the many programs and services we offer to educators, students and families. Click here to download the newsletter. If you have any comments or suggestions for articles you’d like to see, please e-mail them to the Heartland AEA Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us.

IEC Customer Service Evaluation

The Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) is an initiative of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies and was formed as an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit institution that supports the mission of the Area Education Agencies. Earlier this week, the IEC invited school administrators to participate in the following survey to help them plan for the 2012-2013 school year as well as to learn how to better serve Iowa schools and AEAs in the future. Please remember to take the survey if you have not done so. All of your responses will be kept confidential unless you indicate otherwise.
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22D87DYERZZ

Iowa Department of Education's "Each and Every Child"

Click here to download the October edition of "Each and Every Child" brought to you by the Department of Education’s Bureau of Student and Family Support Services. The e-newsletter is designed to enhance communication between parents and teachers. Please forward it to your parents, and use the stories as opportunities for discussion.

September Edition of “Impacting Lives” Newsletter

Go to the link below to read the September 2011 edition of "Impacting Lives." The blog newsletter is a statewide effort to communicate AEA success stories and services across the state. The newsletter is sent to all school administrators, legislators and AEA staff in Iowa.
http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/

Superintendents: October 4 HAA Meeting Agenda

Click here for the October Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 4 in Room 13 A/B of the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Learning Forward to host "Becoming a Learning School"

Learning Forward Iowa (formerly the Iowa National Staff Development Council) will host a one-day conference (held in three different locations) on becoming a learning school. Schools staff and AEA staff are urged to attend. Click here for a brochure for the conference.

AEI Fall Conference set for Oct 7-9

Even though the topic of Creativity is usually thought to be the domain of art teachers, the Art Educators of Iowa (AEI) believe that it is important for ALL classroom teachers. AEI is pleased to announce its fall conference on October 7-9 in Downtown Des Moines. The conference will be held at a variety of locations, including the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel, the East Village and Grand View University. For more information about the AEI Fall Conference, the conference schedule and registration information, go to the AEI website at http://www.artedia.org/. Please share this information with interested staff, especially K-12 visual art teachers, GT teachers and/or curriculum directors.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not infer sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Pleasantville CSD Seeks Guidance for Lighting in School Buildings

Pleasantville Schools requests some guidance on lighting in school buildings. Their question is the following:

“Who has retrofitted the lighting in their buildings and who did the work for you? Pleasantville is looking to reduce energy costs by moving from T-12 to T-8 lights and ballasts and they would like to know who does that type of work in the Central Iowa area.”

If you are able to provide some insight, please contact Bob Miller, Pleasantville Superintendent, at bmiller@pleasantville.k12.ia.us.

IEC Update: Save Big this Month on the Amazon Kindle

For a few years now, CDW-G and the Iowa Educators Consortium/AEPA have come together to bring you exclusive pricing on the latest computer and technology related products. During the month of September, the IEC and CDW-G bring you a great deal on Amazon Kindles! Click here to see exclusive Kindle pricing and product specs!

In addition to significant savings, with CDW-G you get expert advice, superior customer support, and extensive product and service offerings. With the AEPA/IEC contract pricing, you also receive advanced solutions to your technology needs at competitive prices. CDW-G understands what you need.

Under the CDW-G AEPA/IEC Competitively Bid Contract you receive:
• Discounted pricing on the entire CDW-G catalog
• Dedicated account team
• Installation and other services available

CDW-G also provides you with:
• More than 1000 leading technology brands of hardware, software and peripheral products and services support
• Advice and support from a dedicated account team that leads the industry in public sector customer service and product knowledge
• Fast shipping — we ship most credit-approved orders complete the same day
• CDWG.com extranets that provide customized access to your account team, product information, purchase history, quotes and order status — plus the ability to track previous orders, manage asset-tagged items and order configured systems
• The CDW-G Software License Tracker extranet tool that allows your organization to track licensing agreements and expiration dates, generate standard reports or create custom layouts and schedule reports for delivery via e-mail.

For more information, visit the CDW-G IEC profile on the Iowa Educators Consortium website.

Learning Forward Releases New Standards for Professional Learning

In July, Learning Forward (formerly the National Staff Development Council) released the revised Standards for Professional Learning, the third iteration of standards outlining the characteristics of professional learning that lead to effective teaching practices, supportive leadership and improved student results.

Learn more about the new standards at www.learningforward.org/standards/ or contact the Heartland professional library which has ordered and received copies of the Standards for individual checkout.

Iowa DE Guidelines on ELL Participation in Districtwide Assessments

Several questions have surfaced about what accommodations are acceptable to use for ESL students. There is a brand new document posted on the Iowa Department of Education website called "Iowa Guidelines for K-12 ELL Participation in Districtwide Assessments, (2011-2012)” which is under the “Guidelines” section. Find the document and other resources by going to the Department’s ELL support webpage.

Any questions related to this document can be directed to John Scott at the Department at (515) 281-3805.

Save the Date for ISFIS School Budget Workshops, Feb. 1 & 17

The Iowa School Finance Information Services (ISFIS) will host School Budget Workshops on February 1 and 17, 2012. Based on last year’s feedback, ISFIS will split the workshops into two sessions so participants will only need to attend one half-day session. ISFIS hopes that this new format will accommodate more people.

Morning Session: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
This session is intended for superintendents and business managers that have been through the budget process several times and that have FY11 Worksheet 1, Worksheet 2 and FY12 re-estimated Worksheet 1, Worksheet 2 completed and ready to go.

Afternoon Session: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
This session is intended for newer superintendents and business managers that haven't been through the budget process or need a little extra guidance. You are not required to have anything completed prior to attending.

Each registrant will be allowed to pick their session; however, the first session will go faster than the second so it's important that you select correctly and register early. Watch for registration information in the next couple months.

One-Day Program Promotes Kids Helping Kids with Diabetes

Camp Hertko Hollow is Iowa’s Camp for children with diabetes. Camp Hertko Hollow has been giving kids for over 44 years the education and skills they need to manage their diabetes.

During the month of November (National Diabetes Month) the Camp is supporting a new program, “Rock Out Diabetes Day.” This one-day program promotes kids helping kids in the community through the school systems in the State of Iowa. Click here for a flyer of information about the program and suggested ideas to get the student body to engage in helping children with diabetes in their community.

For more information, contact Debra Holwegner at d.holwegner@camphertkohollow.com or (515) 471-8523.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not infer sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Level I Investigator Training on ICN, Oct. 3

Iowa Code Section 280.17 requires all public and non-public schools to annually appoint a Level I Investigator and alternate(s) to investigate complaints regarding abuse of students by school employees and volunteers. Carol Greta, attorney for the Iowa Department of Education, will facilitate this training over the ICN. The training is scheduled for Monday, October 3, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Click here for more information about the training and a list of ICN sites.

I Have A Plan Iowa Workshops

Iowa Code requires all eighth grade students create their high school course plans with I Have A Plan Iowa (IHAPI). Ninth through eleventh grade students must expand on their plans each year, too. Heartland AEA is pleased to provide six workshops that have been set up for school counselors, administrators and teachers in the use of I Have a Plan Iowa (IHAPI).

Go to the Heartland Professional Development Catalog and use the appropriate activity number in the correct field.

All workshops will be held in the Computer Lab of the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive).

Beginning/Intermediate Users:
October 18, 2011
CN004692111201 - Middle School (8:30-11:30)
CN004792111201 - High School (12:30-3:30)

October 20, 2011
CN004692111202 - Middle School - (12:30-3:30)
CN004792111202 - High School - (8:30-11:30)

Experienced Users:
CN005992111201 - November 1, 2011
CN005992111202 - November 3, 2011

Please contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us if you have questions.

AEA PD Online: Your One Stop Shop for Online Professional Development

Educators across the state have increasingly taken advantage of AEA Professional Development Online, an initiative provided by Iowa's AEAs. Online courses fit better in busy schedules as you can choose when during the day it works to log in. They provide a 21st century learning experience, embedded with digital resources and self-directed activity, mixed with digital collaboration with classmates. And they save on the cost of gas, which can’t be ignored right now. Be sure to check out AEA PD Online for your professional development!

The list of current offerings now includes:

• Asbestos Awareness
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• BRIDGES: Classroom Behaviors
• Ethics for Iowa Educators
• Lockout/Tagout
• Mandatory Reporting of Abuse
• Medication Administration in Iowa Schools
• Medication Administration: Administering Glucagon to Students with Diabetes
• Medication Administration: Administering Rectal Diazepam for Seizures
• Medication Administration: Giving Insulin Injections
• Medication Administration: Insulin Pumps
• Medication Administration: Medication Administration by Gastrostomy Tube
• Medication Administration: Nebulizer Treatments at School
• Module I: Section 504 Awareness
• Module II: Section 504 Application
• Overview of State Requirements Regarding Seclusion and Restraint: Chapter 103
• Right to Know

Check out the descriptions of the above courses on the left side of the AEA PD Online website at http://training2.aea11.k12.ia.us/.

Identified SINA/DINA: Webinars to Outline New Submission Process

This message is only intended for schools/districts on the SINA/DINA list.

Starting this year, schools/districts identified on the SINA/DINA list will use an electronic submission process to report their plans. To support our identified schools, Heartland AEA will be providing webinars next week to explain the new online submission process.

Two webinars have been scheduled at this time. The first will be held on September 21 at 8:30 a.m. The second will be held on September 22 at 3:00 p.m. The information in the webinars will be shared during the September 29 workshop session with newly identified buildings. If a building is attending on September 29, they do not need to take part in the webinar.

Log in to the webinars:
Go to http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/chood/ to access the visual portion of the meeting. Log in as a guest, and enter your district/school name so we can see who is participating.

For the audio portion of the webinar, dial 1 (866) 685-1580. When prompted, enter 000-999-1606 followed by the pound (#) sign.

If you have questions concerning the SINA/DINA webinars, please contact Rob Brookhart (rbrookhart@aea11.k12.ia.us), Becky Teut (bteut@aea11.k12.ia.us) or Connor Hood (chood@aea11.k12.ia.us).

Instructional Decision Making (IDM) Evaluation Update

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for participating in Instructional Decision Making (IDM) training and/or implementing IDM practices in your school. We are pleased to announce that we are returning the 2010-11 implementation data that was collected last spring in 75 buildings. Data will be returned via van mail the week of September 6. The package will include a cover letter and a CD with the following files:

• A link to an Eduvision video that provides an overview of how to navigate the files and interpret results (http://bit.ly/pZoDvM)
• A README file to assist schools with interpreting the results
• Implementation results: Building- and agency-level
• Special education eligibility results: Building- and agency-level
• PESA indicators and evidence criteria

We continue to strive to make the data collection process timely and more efficient. We appreciate your willingness to partner with us in our efforts to better support your schools. We welcome any feedback you have regarding this process. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to helping all children succeed.
If you have any questions about the IDM implementation results, please contact Alecia Rahn-Blakeslee at arahn@aea11.k12.ia.us or your Regional Director.

OSDFS and FEMA to Host Webinar on Available Resources to Prepare Schools for Emergencies

On September 13, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. EDT, as part of National Preparedness Month, the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) will be hosting a webinar along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on “ Available Resources to Prepare Schools for Emergencies.” Participants will learn about getting schools prepared for hazards of any kind.

If you are a school administrator, principal, teacher or concerned parent, you won’t want to miss this important discussion. Just a few examples of questions to be answered during this session include:

• How was Joplin successful in preparing for and recovering from a disaster? How can other schools learn from their experience?

• Where can schools find additional funding and resources in today’s budget climate? How does the Department of Homeland Security grant process work? For further information go to: http://www.dhs.gov/xopnbiz/grants/

• What free preparedness trainings are available for schools and school administrators, both online and in person?

• What other preparedness resources are available at little or no cost to schools?

For more information about National Preparedness Month, please visit: http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/READYNPM

For information on other preparedness webinars taking place during the month of September and beyond, please visit the Citizen Corps Webinar site: http://www.citizencorps.gov/news/npm2011webinars.shtm

Nationally Acclaimed ELL Expert to Lead Workshop on Developing Academic Language

Join us September 30, 2011 at the West Des Moines Learning Resource Center for a workshop with nationally acclaimed ELL expert and author Dr. Kate Kinsella. Dr. Kinsella will address the research based features of planned, explicit instruction and structured classroom interaction necessary for all students to develop a confident command of academic discourse, appropriate spoken and written classroom language with special emphasis on English Language Learners. She will include classroom video examples, hands‐on demonstrations, a detailed training handout, including a relevant research synthesis, instructional strategy guidelines, reproducible templates, and practical walk-though tools to facilitate school-wide implementation.

Register for this workshop through the Heartland Professional Development Catalog using activity number ES006469571201.