Level 1 Investigator Training Correction

AEA PD Online received some questions about the initial message that was sent out about Level 1 Training. In last week’s Administrator Connection, it stated that the "board-appointed Level I Investigator and at least one alternate are to be posted with their phone numbers in every room of the building." This was text that had been sent out by Carol Greta in the past, and until this year, we had not heard back from school districts on the discrepancy.

However, in the blue book itself, it states:

102.5(3) Annually publish the names or positions and telephone numbers or other contact information of the designated investigator and alternate: 
a. In the student handbook,
b. In a local newspaper of general circulation, and
c. Prominently post the same information in all buildings operated by the school authorities.

This is the information that is shared in the training itself. We will amend future informational emails/messages to change "every room of the building" to "every building."

Superintendents: October 2 HAA Meeting

Download a PDF or Word Doc of the October Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held from 9:00-11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, October 2 at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) in Room 13A and B.

Please remember that we had decided to go paperless with our meetings. Please bring a computer or I-pad to the meeting, or we will have a cart of I-pads available for members to use. All handouts will be available on the Google Site at bit.ly/HAA2012 

We will begin our learning sessions this month. Each superintendent should have received a copy of Professional Capacity. Our conversations will be around Chapter One. Please bring your copy of the book with you. Our professional learning session will be from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Curriculum Network: October 5 Meeting

Go to the Google Site link below to find the Curriculum Network agenda and handouts for next week’s meeting. The meeting will be held on Friday, October 5 in Rooms 3, 4 & ICN of the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Curriculum Network Google Site: https://sites.google.com/a/aea11.k12.ia.us/curriculum-network-aea-11/home

Invitation to the Administrator Connection

If you are interested in having the Administrator Connection sent to other personnel in your district in addition to the superintendent, principal and curriculum coordinator, please email the Heartland Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us with the subject line of "Add to Administrator Connection List." Please include the person's name, title (assistant principal, activities director, etc.) and email.

AEA Digital Library: Digital Videos for Today’s 21st Century Curriculum

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies are pleased to announce that AEA Digital Library – a new video database for Iowa students and teachers – has been added to the list of fabulous Iowa AEA Online resources! AEA Digital Library’s collections offer current and relevant materials for curriculum needs and student learning, both in and out of school. Parents are encouraged to use this access with their children to model and guide good practices for information retrieval and problem-solving. Use the online database username/password assigned to your school. Browse through AEA Digital Library at www.aeadigitallibrary.org. Click here for more information.

Teachers can create a personal account to retrieve teacher support materials. Ask your teacher librarian or call the Heartland AEA library for the AEA Digital Library teacher passkey for your building.

Urgent ESL Reminders

Title III Mini-grant to Support ELLs in the CORE
The deadline for submitting proposals for the Title III Mini-grant to Support ELLs in the CORE has been extended to October 5. If your district would like to apply for additional funding to purchase materials that support your ELLs, please click here for the proposal form and reporting guidelines.

Multi-tiered Systems of Cultural and Linguistic Support for ELLs
With Cristina Sanchez-Lopez
Date: October 12-13, 2012
Time: 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Location: Zion Lutheran Church (4300 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines)
Activity Number: ES006999991301

Title III will provide sub reimbursement to districts for Friday’s session and a $150 stipend to participants for Saturday. Books will be provided.

Mid-TESOL (Regional Conference for Administrators and Teachers)
Dates: October 19-20, 2012
Location: Iowa State University
More information to come, watch the ESL Listserv (please click here to subscribe).

Title III will provide a $100 stipend to participants. To receive this stipend you must find Stephaney Jones-Vo or Pat Latham on Saturday to get a stipend claim form. This claim form must be returned to Stephaney or Pat before you leave that day. NO stipends will be paid to anyone who does not complete and return the form before the end of the conference on Saturday. For more information about MidTESOL and to register, go to: http://www.midtesol.org/midtesol/

Iowa Culture and Language Conference
Dates: November 12-14, 2012
Location: Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Coralville, IA
More information to come, watch the ESL Listserv (please click here to subscribe).

Title III will support teachers and administrators by providing district reimbursement for registration, substitute teacher pay, and a travel stipend of $100. Participants must attend the entire session. If you are registered for the preconference, you must stay the entire day. If you are registered for the conference, you must attend the two entire days. Participants may register for both the preconference and conference, or just the preconference or just the conference.
To register go to: http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/programs_and_services/iowa_culture__language_conference/

October Edition of "Each and Every Child"

Click here to find a link to the October edition of "Each and Every Child" brought to you by the Iowa 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. This edition includes a story about differentiated instruction.

Procedural Safeguards Manual Available in Multiple Languages

Below are links to the Procedural Safeguards Manual (updated July 1, 2012) which is available in multiple languages.
English
Arabic
Bosnian
Croatian
Laotian
Spanish

Risky Business Conference to Be Held Oct. 15

Registration is open for the Risky Business Conference to be held October 15 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. This conference is essential for those working with At-Risk populations. Click here for registration 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.

Reminder: Drake University Extension Online Classes Available

It is not too late to take an online course this fall through Drake University Extension Education. October 8 is the registration deadline for the two courses listed below. Enroll now while there is still room.

Anti-Bullying: Where to Start (EDMA 205)
October 15 - December 9
3 semester hours of graduate credit - $550
Bullying is a growing problem in our schools. Discover what you can do to halt bullying and harassment and improve the culture and climate of your classroom.

Teacher Leadership Strategies (EDMA 206)
October 15 - December 9
3 semester hours of graduate credit - $550
Enhance your leadership abilities and learn how to communicate more effectively and persuasively with students, parents, colleagues, community members and board members. This course will explore ideas of leadership, communication and personal relationships as they relate to your social and professional relationships.

You may find a comprehensive listing of all online courses offered through Drake University Extension Education by visiting http://www.drake.edu/edex/distance/Online_Courses.php.
 
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.

MS/HS Spanish Classes Invited to Explore Latin Cultures through Stephens Auditorium Performances

The Performing Arts Series at Stephens Auditorium is known for bringing in many enriching cultural experiences each year. The 2012-2013 season will be no exception, as audience members get the chance to explore Latin culture with both the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico and the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba. Both of these performances would be enriching opportunities for middle and high school students taking Spanish to learn more about Latin culture beyond what they learn in the classroom. Please pass the attached flier of information to Spanish teachers. More information about the two shows is available at the following:

Ballet Folklorico:  http://www.center.iastate.edu/events/dance/ballet-folklorico-de-mexico/

National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba:  http://www.center.iastate.edu/events/classical/nsoc/

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.

World Food Prize Posters to be Distributed Via Van Mail

Dr. Norman Borlaug arguably did more to alleviate world hunger than anyone in history. To help celebrate his legacy, Iowa’s leaders proclaimed October 16 as Dr. Norman Borlaug – World Food Prize Day. The World Food Prize Foundation has organized a series of events throughout the state for a week-long celebration and has coordinated with the AEAs to distribute a poster to promote the awareness of Borlaug and global food security issues. Posters, accompanied with a letter from the governor, will be delivered to area schools via the Heartland van mail service in the next two weeks. 

Update on Level 1 Investigator Training

Iowa Code Section 280.17 requires all public and non-public schools to annually appoint a Level 1 investigator and alternate to investigate complaints regarding abuse of students by school employees and volunteers. The board-appointed Level 1 investigator and at least one alternate are to be posted with their phone numbers in *every building (see correction here). Investigators and alternates are to be trained upon initial appointment and once every five years thereafter. The training is to familiarize designated individuals with their roles, rules, procedures and required timelines for action. 

The delivery of training for Level 1 Investigators is changing this year from the ICN to a self-paced activity online. This training will be available for participants on Monday, September 24. The training consists of videos, case study scenarios and online lessons to help meet the above objectives. Individuals will also have access to the necessary materials such as the Chapter 102 Level 1 Investigators Manual (Blue Book - Revised January 2011). After completing the course, you will be able to print off a certificate of completion. 

There is no fee required to attend. To access the training, you must: 

 1. Go to http://moodlesw.aeapdonline.org/course/view.php?id=116 (this won't be available before September 24). 

2. Login with your statewide Moodle username and password. 
*NOTE: This is on our new statewide server, Moodle version 2.0. Since we have not completed a full migration from our old server, you will need to make a new username and password if you have not previously logged into the new server. To do so, from the link above: 

• Click "Create a New Account" on the right side of the screen.
• Enter a username, password, full name, city and email address, and then select your country.
• Click "Create My New Account."
• A verification email will be sent to you (you might want to check your spam filter/folder if you don't receive it).
• Click on the link in the email to verify.

If you have difficulty logging in to the Moodle server, please contact AEA PD Online at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14668.

Waukee CSD to Host Rick Wormeli, Oct. 19

The Waukee Community School District will host two workshops on October 19 with featured guest Rick Wormeli. The first workshop will focus on differentiation and the second on standards-based grading and assessment. Click here for more information.

7th-12th Graders With Disabilities & Their Families: Transition Times Workshop on Oct. 16

Join the Heartland AEA & Des Moines Public Schools' Parent & Educator Connection for a Transition Times workshop on October 16. Information will be shared on planning for successful post-high school experiences. This workshop will feature a panel of successfully employed young adults with disabilities who will share their success stories. Please pass on the attached flyer to students age 14 and older, families and teachers who may be interested in attending.

Reminder: Title III ESL Seminar Next Wednesday

All administrators working with Title III (ELLs) are invited to bring a team of ESL and content/grade level teachers to this full day seminar to meet the new Title III director and hear from a number of experts. Title III will provide reimbursement for substitute teacher costs (up to five), and ELL-specific resources will be available to districts. Click here for more information.

September 26, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center, Rooms 13 A & B

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number ES006892111301 in the correct field.

Nominations Sought for Iowa School Counselor of the Year

Do you know someone who deserves to be named Iowa School Counselor of the Year? Think of a counseling colleague… someone with whom you work, someone from whom you find support, someone whose counseling program supports the ASCA standards, someone who does the extra to support his/her students, someone who makes a true difference and is a credit to the school counseling profession. Doesn’t this individual deserve state-wide recognition by his/her peers? 

Then take a few minutes and nominate a school counselor by submitting an application for an Iowa School Counselor of the Year Award. Your nominee must be a current member of ISCA as of October 15, 2012. 

Here are the steps:

• Write a letter of recommendation and include the award category (elementary, middle school/junior high, high school or multilevel).
• Attach a vita for the nominee.
• Write a statement describing the program, activity and/or contribution demonstrating the individual’s worthiness to receive this award. 

The application procedure is also detailed at the ISCA website at www.iowaschoolcounselors.org under “Awards and Grants.” Applications can be mailed to Janis Powers, Prairie Crest Elementary School, 401 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 or faxed to her at (319) 848-5283. Questions can be directed to Janis at jpowers@prairiepride.org. 

The deadline for application submission is October 15, 2012. 

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.

Nominations Sought for ISCA Lifetime Achievement Award

Annually, the Iowa School Counseling Association recognizes an individual who has made major contributions to the school counseling profession in the state of Iowa through the awarding of the ISCA Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The nominee must:

• Hold a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling or its equivalent.
• Have worked as a school counselor, district administrator of school counseling programs, and/or AEA school counseling consultant.
• Maintain high moral standards in their personal and professional conduct. 

Criteria for recognition:

• The nominee has been responsible for innovations in guidance and counseling programs, for providing leadership in the further development of existing guidance and counseling programs, or for performing an outstanding service to the school or community.
• The nominee has contributed to the professional development of school counselors at the local, area or state level. 
• The nominee has represented the interest, needs and concerns of school counselors. 
• The nominee has impacted the future of school counseling in Iowa. 
• The nominee demonstrates exemplary support and promotion of guidance and counseling services.
• The nominee demonstrates the implementation of new/additional guidance and counseling services.
• The nominee should demonstrate the improvement of guidance and counseling services. 

Procedures for nomination:

• Complete Nomination Form.
• Complete letter of nomination. This letter should contain a description of the program(s), activities and/or contribution(s) for which the individual is being nominated (not to exceed three pages).
• Send Vita (resume) for the nominee (not to exceed two pages)
• Send Letters of support (not to exceed four letters). 

The form can be found at the ISCA website at www.iowaschoolcounselors.org. All award materials must be received by October 15, 2012. Questions can be directed to Janis Powers at jpowers@prairiepride.org or (319) 848-5285. 

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.

Developing Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Multi-tiered Systems of Support for ELLs

Come for an exciting two days of learning with ESL bilingual expert Cristina Sanchez-Lopez on October 12 and 13, 2012 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Des Moines. The workshop will provide guidance to those interested in designing more culturally and linguistically responsive multi-tiered systems of support (including RtI) for all their students with a special focus on ELLs. K-12 classroom and special education/ESL teachers and administrators, internal consultants and practitioners working with ELLs or special education students are encouraged to attend. 

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number ES006999991301 in the correct field.

Reminder: Implementing a Quality ESL Program Day Seminar

All administrators working with Title III (ELLs) are invited to bring a team of ESL and content/grade level teachers to this full day seminar to meet the new Title III director and hear from a number of experts. Title III will provide reimbursement for substitute teacher costs (up to five), and ELL-specific resources will be available to districts. Click here for more information.

September 26, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center, Rooms 13 A & B

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number ES006892111301 in the correct field.

Active Learning At Its Best: Iowa Children's Museum Field Trips

The Iowa Children's Museum's focused field trips align with the Iowa Core and tie directly to classroom curricula. The field trips target preschool through 6th grade students. Visit their website at http://www.theicm.org/programs/group-visits for field trip 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.

DMACC Surplus Furniture Available

Des Moines Area Community College has surplus furniture available. Contact Julie Klocke in the DMACC Purchasing department if you would like to see pictures and are interested by e-mail at jaklocke1@dmacc.edu or by phone at (515) 964-6386.

The follow items are available immediately at DMACC’s Success Center on Porter Ave (Southside of Des Moines):

• Grey speckled top folding tables (13 – 5’ x 18", 2 – 6’ x 18", 3 – 6’ x 24")
• 16 – Burgundy High stacking Chairs
• 10 – Burgundy medium stacking chairs
• 7 – Grey Flex Back Stacking Chairs
• 118 – Blue Sled Base Desks in one style and 56 blue sled desks in another style

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.

Handicap Accessible Bus For Sale

South Page CSD has a 2006 Blue Bird yellow bus for sale which includes 1 wheelchair station and 1 wheelchair lift. The bus is in excellent condition and passed inspection on June 21, 2012. Click here for more information or contact Phil Greever, Transportation Director, at (712) 303-0933.

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.

Problems & Solutions for Electronic 4Box With DIBELS Next Data

We wanted to alert you to a potential problem as you get ready for your fall data days and offer three solutions.

The Problem
The current version of the electronic 4-Box Filemaker Pro tool that you received as part of the IDM Winter or Spring Cohort Reunion no longer works. Because the UO DIBELS Data System has two sets of benchmark goals (i.e., the Recommended and the Former), the Data System no longer populates a necessary field in the data set that is downloaded from their system and imported into the Filemaker Pro tool.

Three Solutions:
1. We have updated the electronic 4-Box Filemaker Pro tool (version 2.1). That means you will be able to initially sort your students by need based on their DIBELS Next data. However, you will need to delete the old Filemaker Pro tool and install the new tool. Click here for directions on how to delete the old tool, install the new tool and download the correct data set from the UO DIBELS Data System. Version 2.1 of the Filemaker Pro tool uses the Former (i.e., the goals we used last year and recommended by the DIBELS Next authors) benchmark goals. Please note that this solution is only for schools that use Mac computers.

2. A second solution is the availability of a quadrant report in HEART. You will need to work with your Heartland assessment consultant for assistance with importing the DIBELS Next data set into HEART. For an overview of how the HEART quadrant report functions, please see http://tinyurl.com/8lhu8ne. The HEART quadrant report allows you to set your own cut scores, thus the DIBELS Next Former or Recommended benchmark goals can be used. This solution works for Macs and PCs.

3. Of course, various paper-pencil versions of the 4-Box are still available. If you or staff at your school are a DIBELS Mentor, the grouping worksheets are available on Dynamic Measurement Group's Mentor website: http://dibels.org/mentors.html. In addition, Becky Hinze, AEA reading consultant, has a version of the grouping worksheets posted on her wiki: http://beckyhinze.pbworks.com/w/page/53368611/DIBELS. For these worksheets, please note that there is a slight modification in the winter and spring of 1st grade grouping. Instead of using Nonsense Word Fluency - Whole Words Read (WWR) as the second sorting variable, Nonsense Word Fluency - Correct Letter Sounds (CLS) is used. The grouping worksheets cited above currently reference the Former Goals.

One Caution
As you download the data set from the UO DIBELS Data System for import into the Filemaker Pro tool or HEART, you’ll notice that the Data System reports that the data set (i.e., DIBELS Next and Math Data Export (Deprecated)) will no longer be available after December 1, 2012. Please know that we are exploring several possibilities and are confident we can develop a solution before your winter data day.

If you have any question about the Filemaker Pro tool, please contact Alecia Rahn-Blakeslee (arahn@aea11.k12.ia.us) or Berrett Rice (brice@aea11.k12.ia.us). If you have questions about the HEART quadrant report, please contact the assessment consultant for your region.

New Data Collection System for Bullying/Harassment

For the 2012-2013 school year, the Iowa Department of Education (DE) is launching a new data collection system for bullying and harassment reports for all public and accredited non-public schools in Iowa.

Webinar sessions have been going on in August and September to give guidance to the system. The sessions are designed for district personnel who have the responsibility for reporting bullying and harassment incidents to the Department. Historically, this reporting has been a part of spring BEDS – Basic Educational Data Survey. Bullying and harassment data reporting will now be a part of Ed-Info.

The purpose of these sessions is to introduce each district to the new reporting system features and to provide guidance on the reporting and use of data from the system to guide district efforts in addressing bullying. There is another webinar scheduled for Friday, Sept. 14, 1-2 p.m., and you can register by clicking here.

Each session will include step-by-step instructions followed by a question-and-answer period. Handouts for the webinar sessions are available on the Department’s Anti-Bullying Anti-Harassment webpage. If you are not able to attend one of the sessions, a pre-recorded webinar will be available beginning Sept. 15.

You can also click here to view a recorded session of a previous webinar. http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/p5zwrgq2tdc/. Click here for a presentation handout introducing the new reporting system.

For more information, contact the Department’s Penny Bisignano at (515) 725-2142 or penny.bisignano@iowa.gov or Barb Anderson at (515) 664-6732 or barb.anderson@iowa.gov.

September Edition of "Each and Every Child"

Click here for the September edition of "Each and Every Child" brought to you by the Iowa 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.

Reminder: Student Invitation to the United State Senate Youth Program

The state of Iowa has accepted an invitation to participate in the U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP), sponsored by the William Randolph Heart Foundation. The program is designed to give young Americans a working knowledge of American political life.

Each year two Iowa students have the opportunity to spend a week in Washington, D.C. The William Randolph Heart Foundation pays all expenses. In addition, the two Iowa high school representatives each receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Selection of the two Iowa high school representatives is based on the outstanding ability and demonstrated leadership qualities of elected junior and senior high school student officers for the 2012-13 school year.

Each high school may nominate up to three students. Student application materials are available on the Iowa Department of Education website at http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=939:ussenateyouthprogram&catid=671:advanced-learning-opportunities&Itemid=2738.

Completed applications should be submitted to Chris Jeffryes at Heartland AEA 11, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131 by 4:00 p.m. on October 5, 2012. Nominees will take a qualifying examination on October 15 at 1:30 p.m. in Conference Room 13A at the Johnston AEA Regional Education Center on the U.S. Constitution and government. The award recipients will be announced in December.

Contact Chris Jeffryes (chris_jeffryes@aea11.k12.ia.us) or Cheryl Mullenbach (Cheryl.Mullenbach@iowa.gov) for information.

Employment as a Legislative Page for the Iowa Legislature

The 2013 Legislative Session begins on Monday, January 14, 2013, and will likely adjourn in early May. Whole or half-session appointments are available of high school students wishing to become pages. Go to https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Agencies/pageInfo.aspx for additional information and an application form.

Reminder: Save these Dates for ESL Opportunities

We wanted to remind you of some upcoming events and opportunities that focus on the unique needs of ELL/ESL learners. Click here to subscribe to the English Language Learner/Diversity listserv to get timely information on ESL/ELL opportunities.

ESL Advisory/Networking Meetings

All Heartland AEA area districts are invited to send a representative(s) to quarterly ESL Advisory/Networking meetings. Participants identify professional development needs and provide input on Title III support for the school year. They also find out firsthand about mini grant opportunities for implementation in their districts.

Remaining Dates: December 4, 2012; February 5, 2013; May 7, 2013

Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive), Room 13B

Implementing a Quality ESL Program: A Day Seminar for Administrator and Teacher Teams

Date: September 26, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive), Rooms 13A/B

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number ES006892111301 in the correct field.

Special Education Considerations for English Language Learners with Cristina Sanchez-Lopez

Dates: October 12-13, 2012

Time: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Location: Zion Lutheran Church (4300 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines)

More information to come. Please join the ESL Listserv.

Mid-TESOL (Regional Conference for Administrators and Teachers)

Dates: October 19-20, 2012 Time: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Location: Iowa State University

More information to come. Please join the ESL Listserv.

Iowa Culture and Language Conference

Dates: November 11-13, 2012

Location: Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Coralville, IA

More information to come. Please join the ESL Listserv.

The Pearson SIOP for Teachers Virtual Institute

Title III will reimburse the registration fee and provide the text, Making Content Comprehensible for English Language Learners, for participation in the Pearson Virtual SIOP Training for Teachers. A $200 stipend will also be awarded to participants who complete the requirements of the institute and receive the certificate of completion. Teachers are encouraged to form study groups around this training and submit an electronic course proposal for license renewal or Drake credit. Please contact Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us with any questions.

Dates: October 15-November 5, 2012 or November 13-December 11, 2012

Location: Online Learning

Go to http://siop.pearson.com/ to register for the Virtual Institute.

Contact Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us for any questions about these ELL/ESL opportunities.

AEI Fall Conference Registration is Open

Art Educators of Iowa (AEI) is pleased to announce its fall conference on October 5-7 in Council Bluffs. For more information about AEI or the Fall Conference, 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 imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.