Click here to download the minutes from the May HAA meeting. Below is also a note from Sharon Kurns on some closing remarks as the HAA meetings sunset for this calendar year.
Request for your input
Earlier this week, we sent out an end of the year summary survey for the HAA meetings this year. We would like for you to complete it even if you didn't attend May’s meeting or don't regularly attend. We are always trying to improve the quality of meetings and rely heavily on your input to help us plan agendas that will be helpful for local superintendents. Below is a revised link. If you prefer, you can find a form here which can then be printed and sent to me via the van mail.
http://tinyurl.com/supt11
Link to Center for American Progress
During the professional learning portion of Tuesday’s meeting, Roger Scott shared a website from the Center for American Progress which provides a district-by-district evaluation of educational productivity. They have attempted to calculate the Return on Investment (ROI) for each school district in the country by developing ways to compare spending and academic achievement. Many superintendents were interested in locating their own district on this site. The URL is below. Let me know if you have questions.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/01/educational_productivity/
Past meetings and resources
Finally, all the materials and resources that were used throughout the year for our professional learning are stored on a Google site. The URL is below. If there is anything that you are looking for and can't find, just let me know
https://sites.google.com/site/superintendentacademy/
Thanks for a great year!
Sharon
Friday, May 6, 2011
iEvaluate courses start May 16
The Iowa Department of Education, in partnership with AEA PD Online, is now offering Evaluator 1 & 2 online, packaged together in a 2-credit course entitled iEvaluate. Because of the high demand for the courses, the Iowa Department of Education is selecting participants on the basis of need (that is, whose license is up for renewal first). This spring, they have created a waiting list for the course, and will begin to notify those who are at the top of the list on how to register. Once every person on the waiting list has had a chance to take the iEvaluate course, the course will then be available for open registration on AEA PD Online's registration catalog.
How do I know if I'm on the waiting list?
If you have not done so, or if you would like to check to make sure, please contact Matt Ludwig at the Iowa Department of Education at matt.ludwig@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3750. You will need to provide him with 1) your name, 2) your email address, 3) your license folder number, and 4) when your administrative license expires.
How many credits is the course?
The course is 2 license renewal credits. It is not available for graduate credit at this time.
How many different iEvaluate courses are there?
iEvaluate replaces both Evaluator 1 & 2, which are no longer being offered. However, there are 2 different iEvaluate courses, one for the evaluation of teachers, and one for the evaluation of administrators. Just like before, you need to complete one of those to meet the BOEE requirements for administrative licensure. Multiple sections of both courses will begin on May 16.
How long does the course take?
The course is designed to take 5-6 weeks. There is a final assignment requiring the recording of a teacher/administrator conference and reflections, and there will be additional time afforded for this final assignment.
Is the course all online? What is the format for the course?
Yes, the course is entirely online. It also is entirely asynchronous, meaning the participants won't meet at the same time (as opposed to via the ICN, for example). Participants can select when in the day to participate in the course.
What technical requirements do I need for the course?
Each participant needs a computer with Internet access. The course is accessed through AEA PD Online's Moodle system via a standard web browser. Each participant will also need access to either Microsoft Office or compatible software, as there are Microsoft Word and Power Point documents used in the course. And finally, participants will need to have the ability to record digitally their teacher/administrator conferences. There will be an online dropbox for participants to submit their digital video file. Participants needing assistance with technology may contact their instructor to find alternative methods.
What work is involved in the course?
In addition to recorded teacher/administrator conferences, there are a variety of activities in the course. There are reflection forums (discussion threads), quizzes for checks of understanding, as well as individual writing assignments.
If you have additional questions, please contact Matt Ludwig at the Iowa Department of Education at matt.ludwig@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3750.
How do I know if I'm on the waiting list?
If you have not done so, or if you would like to check to make sure, please contact Matt Ludwig at the Iowa Department of Education at matt.ludwig@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3750. You will need to provide him with 1) your name, 2) your email address, 3) your license folder number, and 4) when your administrative license expires.
How many credits is the course?
The course is 2 license renewal credits. It is not available for graduate credit at this time.
How many different iEvaluate courses are there?
iEvaluate replaces both Evaluator 1 & 2, which are no longer being offered. However, there are 2 different iEvaluate courses, one for the evaluation of teachers, and one for the evaluation of administrators. Just like before, you need to complete one of those to meet the BOEE requirements for administrative licensure. Multiple sections of both courses will begin on May 16.
How long does the course take?
The course is designed to take 5-6 weeks. There is a final assignment requiring the recording of a teacher/administrator conference and reflections, and there will be additional time afforded for this final assignment.
Is the course all online? What is the format for the course?
Yes, the course is entirely online. It also is entirely asynchronous, meaning the participants won't meet at the same time (as opposed to via the ICN, for example). Participants can select when in the day to participate in the course.
What technical requirements do I need for the course?
Each participant needs a computer with Internet access. The course is accessed through AEA PD Online's Moodle system via a standard web browser. Each participant will also need access to either Microsoft Office or compatible software, as there are Microsoft Word and Power Point documents used in the course. And finally, participants will need to have the ability to record digitally their teacher/administrator conferences. There will be an online dropbox for participants to submit their digital video file. Participants needing assistance with technology may contact their instructor to find alternative methods.
What work is involved in the course?
In addition to recorded teacher/administrator conferences, there are a variety of activities in the course. There are reflection forums (discussion threads), quizzes for checks of understanding, as well as individual writing assignments.
If you have additional questions, please contact Matt Ludwig at the Iowa Department of Education at matt.ludwig@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3750.
Institute to Focus on Working with Visually Impaired Students
Statewide System for Vision Services/Iowa Braille School will offer a three-day training in August for professionals who work with a student who has a visual impairment during the 2011-2012 school year. The Summer Institute 2011 will be held at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University Campus on August 9, 10 & 11. Click here to download a registration form.
Changes to Earning Graduate Credit through Drake University
Due to recently updated federal guidelines, some requirements for Drake credit will change effective July 1, 2011. Heartland AEA 11 will continue to offer license renewal credit (LR) as before and Drake graduate credit for courses meeting the guidelines. However, if a participant seeks to use the graduate credit towards a master’s degree program, they must earn EDMA credit (new opportunity). As always, educators are encouraged to check with their university to determine what (if any) courses can be applied to a master’s program. Click here to download a grid that highlights the guidelines.
Also effective July 1, 2011, Drake University will no longer offer graduate credit for conferences, workshops or clinics. License renewal credits may still be earned if the conference, workshop or clinic meets the requirements.
If you have questions about these changes and new guidelines, please contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us or at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14379.
Also effective July 1, 2011, Drake University will no longer offer graduate credit for conferences, workshops or clinics. License renewal credits may still be earned if the conference, workshop or clinic meets the requirements.
If you have questions about these changes and new guidelines, please contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us or at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14379.
May 2011 Educator Connection Newsletter
Yesterday Heartland AEA sent out the second edition of our new newsletter called the Educator Connection. 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. We will send the next Educator Connection next fall. 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.
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.
New ELL Screener Coming Next Fall
School districts in Iowa currently use either the IPT or LAS to place new students appropriately for ELL service based on their English language proficiency levels. The State of Iowa has determined that a new screener will be available in the fall called the Tennessee English Language Proficiency Assessment or TELPA. Advantages of the TELPA include the fact that it is aligned with the I-ELDA. As such, it provides a ”zero” data point to show growth, unlike the IPT or LAS screeners currently utilized.
While districts are free to exhaust their current supplies of the IPT and LAS assessments first, the TELPA will be available at that time. Heartland AEA ESL Consultants, Stephaney Jones-Vo and Pat Latham, will be attending a training session on May 26 about the TELPA.
In the fall (2011), districts will receive notification of TELPA training which will be offered for all district ELL teachers and administrators interested in learning how to administer this new screener. Information on how to order the TELPA will also be shared.
While districts are free to exhaust their current supplies of the IPT and LAS assessments first, the TELPA will be available at that time. Heartland AEA ESL Consultants, Stephaney Jones-Vo and Pat Latham, will be attending a training session on May 26 about the TELPA.
In the fall (2011), districts will receive notification of TELPA training which will be offered for all district ELL teachers and administrators interested in learning how to administer this new screener. Information on how to order the TELPA will also be shared.
IASB Section 504 Manual Recently Updated
The Section 504 manual has been recently updated and available online with the convenience of exhibits just a click away at this link:
http://www.ia-sb.org/PolicyLegal.aspx?id=10532
This manual is intended to provide general information about § 504 and IASB is available to assist member school boards and their administrators, board secretaries, employees and attorneys in understanding § 504. Questions can be directed to contact Mary Gannon at mgannon@ia-sb.org or (800) 795-4272 x229.
http://www.ia-sb.org/PolicyLegal.aspx?id=10532
This manual is intended to provide general information about § 504 and IASB is available to assist member school boards and their administrators, board secretaries, employees and attorneys in understanding § 504. Questions can be directed to contact Mary Gannon at mgannon@ia-sb.org or (800) 795-4272 x229.
Hold from serving SnoKist Brand Applesauce
If you have SnoKist brand of applesauce and the following information on the cans or cases, you need to hold the product and DO NOT USE.
All of the potentially implicated product was applesauce packed in #10 cans intended for Schools (A350). The can codes are in the format 16047 P08XX, where XX is a two letter code. 16047 is the plant code for the product/pack size. P08 is the code for that production day, and the two letter code (found in distribution list available here) is for the production period during the day. Additional instructions will be provided for affected schools at a later time.
All of the potentially implicated product was applesauce packed in #10 cans intended for Schools (A350). The can codes are in the format 16047 P08XX, where XX is a two letter code. 16047 is the plant code for the product/pack size. P08 is the code for that production day, and the two letter code (found in distribution list available here) is for the production period during the day. Additional instructions will be provided for affected schools at a later time.
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