Friday, January 11, 2013

Parent PBIS Workshop, Jan. 29

Parents of children with more challenging behaviors are invited to attend a special PBIS workshop sponsored by Heartland AEA's Parent & Educator Connection and Des Moines Public Schools on January 29, 2013. Parents will learn the importance of building positive relationships, designing supportive environments and teaching strategies. Click here for a flyer that can be distributed to interested parents and school staff.

Heartland AEA Now Offering Data Backup Services

If you would like to back up your district's important data to Heartland's secure storage bunker, we are now offering that service at a cost of 55 cents per month per gigabyte. Please contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology, at lwilhelm@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-9030 if you are interested.

PLN for District Technology Personnel

Heartland AEA will be hosting Technology Professional Learning Network meetings for those leading technology integration in area districts. If you or the appropriate district staff member are interested in attending, contact Denise Krefting at dkrefting@aea11.k12.ia.us. The first meeting of the year will be on January 15, 2013 from 1:00-3:30 p.m. Any district can attend. Click here for more information and the agenda.

Standards Based Grading Learning Opportunities Available Through Grant Wood AEA

Grant Wood Area Education Agency will help sponsor two Standards Based Grading learning opportunities this spring. The first is a series of three workshops facilitated by Tammy Heflebower from Marzano Research Labs that will explore the deeper work on Standards, Assessments and Grading practices. Click here for information about the workshops.

The second is an event hosted by educators from Solon, Clear Creek Amana and Van Meter Schools for secondary educators, administrators and others interested in learning more about Standards Based Grading. Click here for more information. Registration information will be available later in January.

Expert to Lead IPI Workshops at AEA 267, Jan. 30 & 31

AEA 267 will be hosting Jerry Valentine, Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri and a leading expert on the Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) process for two workshops. Register through the AEA 267 learning portal.

Course #4311, Section #7538, West Marshall Winter 13. [No Credit]
January 30, 2013
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
The Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) process delves into the area of student engagement. IPI is built on the three broad categories of engagement: Student-Engaged Instruction, Teacher-Directed Instruction and Disengagement. Participants will learn how to observe and score six different categories of student engagement to create a profile of student learning experiences throughout a typical day of instruction in a building. The profile is used by faculty to analyze school-wide data and engage in reflective conversations about how to improve student engaged learning. An example of how staff use the data: The staff of the Peoria Public Schools has had tremendous buy-in and is using the data as a foundation for rich dialogue around student engagement and higher order thinking. Student engagement and higher order thinking connect with the Iowa Core Curriculum Characteristics of Effective Instruction.


Course #4824, Section #7539, West Marshall Winter 13.  [No Credit]
January 31, 2013
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The basic IPI Process provides the opportunity for teacher leaders to collect student engagement data around six categories and for teachers to study the data profiles and consider instructional designs to better impact student success. The processes associated with the use of the IPI are firmly set in the following premises: The importance of collaborative learning and the value of adults creating a school culture that supports collaborative learning; the importance of using data as the basis to understand, reflect upon, and improve existing instructional practices; and, the significance of engaging students during learning time and the importance of engaging them in analytical, critical, and deeper learning experiences. As a school continues to gradually infuse technology into classroom learning experiences, what the faculty learns about current practices and what will be learned as technology is more readily present in the learning setting provide a foundation for decisions about professional development and resource allocation. The observer must make an IPI engagement code for all students and for “only the tech students”, and also designate the predominant technology category. The IPI-Technology categories describe how technology is being used for learning.

I-ELDA Testing & ESL Updates

It is the time to prepare for administering the Iowa English Language Development Assessment, the I-ELDA, to the English language learners in your district. 

To access archived Adobe Connect training sessions on ordering, administering, and returning the I-ELDA, visit the Iowa Department of Education ELL page for live links to these trainings.

Visit the Northwest AEA I-ELDA website for testing materials and other information.

Heartland AEA schools (which do not include Des Moines schools) have reported approximately 2,800 English language learners for the 2012-13 school year. To meet Federal Title I and Title III guidance, it is imperative that all English language learners (ELLs) take the I-ELDA to measure growth and proficiency in their language learning process. Each district may choose when to test during the state determined testing window of February 1, 2013 to April 30, 2013.

According to the 2012 Fall BEDs report, the number of English language learners has grown to approximately 25,000. This significant increase in ELLs signals a growing need to support teachers and staff as they strive to improve their knowledge of appropriate strategies imperative to the success of the English language learners in their classrooms.

  •  Heartland’s next ESL professional development opportunity is a class, Engaging Middle School ELLs in the Math Core, ES007092111301 on February 2 & 16, 2013.  Participants will earn a stipend and receive useful resources.
  • The next ESL Advisory/Networking meeting will be February 5, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 13B of the Johnston REC. All Heartland districts are invited to send a representative(s).
If you have any questions please contact the ESL consultant for your region.

Stephaney Jones-Vo
(515) 270-0405 ext. 14680

Pat Latham
(515) 993-4596 ext. 11228

January Edition of "Each and Every Child"

Click here to find a link to the January 2013 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 in your district and use the stories as opportunities for discussion.

Iowa Department of Revenue Encourages Electronic Filing

Beginning in mid-January, the Iowa Department of Revenue website (www.iowa.gov/tax) will feature links to software companies offering online filing of income tax returns. File your federal and Iowa income tax returns together from the Department’s website. Most students are eligible to eFile for free! 

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. 

Openings for MOC Floyd Valley HS Principal & MS Principal

MOC Floyd Valley will have an opening for a high school principal (one position) and a middle school principal (one position) beginning next year (2013-14 school year). Deadlines for applications are January 18, 2013 for the high school position and February 8, 2013 for the middle school position.

Go to http://www.moc-fv.k12.ia.us/district/vacant.php 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.