Stay Connected With Social Media

Many administrators are using social media to communicate and collaborate in new and exciting ways. For example, every Sunday night from 8:00-9:00 p.m. Iowa educators lead a discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #iaedchat. This hour is a great way to engage in conversation with other educators and network.

Have you joined the conversation? Click here for a list compiled by SAI of Iowa education administrators who are on Twitter.

Remember you can stay up-to-date with news and information when ‘Follow’ Heartland AEA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HeartlandAEA and ‘Like’ us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/heartlandaea. Do it today and pass on the word!

Last Chance to Review the NGSS Draft

The second draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) will remain open for feedback until January 29, 2013. It is encouraged that all interested parties review the draft as individuals or in groups and provide feedback to the Lead States and writers.  If you have not already done so, please take some time to review the last public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards at http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards by next Tuesday.

If you are a K-12 Science Educator you should participate in the review because, NGSS is a research based redesign of the sequence and content of K-12 science. NGSS Student Performance objectives combine the practices of science and engineering with the disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts.  How will this change your classroom and teaching?  What new resources will you need to successfully implement NGSS?

Standards-Based Grading with Rick Wormeli, April 8

Heartland AEA is pleased to host a standards-based grading learning opportunity on April 8, 2013 with featured guest, Rick Wormeli. The intention of this professional learning opportunity is for participants to build upon a foundation of knowledge, moving toward support of systemic implementation.

Focus of the session:

• Participants will deepen their understanding of the principles related to standards-based assessment and grading.
• Participants will understand how standards-based assessment, grading and reporting practices to support the implementation of the Iowa Core.
• Participants will be equipped to provide leadership and coaching for exploration, study and possible implementation of standards-based assessment and grading practices in a school/district.

Click here for a flyer that can be distributed to interested school/district leadership teams, instructional coaches and teacher leaders.

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number SI014299991301INV in the correct field.

Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework with Doug Fisher, April 12

Heartland AEA will host Douglas Fisher, Professor of Language and Literacy Education at San Diego State University, in a session on the Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework model. Participants should have background in this framework and will build on their knowledge and proficiency.

Participants will be able to:

• Troubleshoot typical problems and possible solutions in implementation at systems level and individual teacher level
• Understand how the framework can by applied to support various content areas and grade levels within the Iowa Core
• Understand how the framework can be differentiated to support the needs of diverse learners (advanced and struggling learners)
• Coach teachers’ implementation to maximize student learning

Click here for a flyer that can be distributed to interested school/district leaders who support Gradual Release of Responsibility framework implementation in their district/school and have background knowledge of the framework through prior study and/or implementation.

Click here to register or register through the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog and put activity number SI014399111301 in the correct field.

Important ESL Reminders

• 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).
• 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. Each district may choose when to test during the state determined testing window of February 1, 2013 to April 30, 2013. Visit the Northwest AEA I-ELDA website for testing materials and other information.

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

New UNI Master of Arts in Education in Elementary Education to Begin Online Fall 2013

The University of Northern Iowa's Continuing and Distance Education is accepting applications through Monday, April 15, for a fall 2013 Master of Arts in Education degree in Elementary Education. This program, offered entirely online, is designed for pre-K through sixth-grade elementary classroom teachers with licensure in the field of elementary education.

Courses address curriculum issues, technology, literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and action research and are designed using the Quality Matter set of professional standards based upon research, best practices and national standards for course design.

The degree consists of 30 hours of credit, which can be earned in five consecutive semesters. All courses included in this program are offered entirely online through eLearning.

For additional information about the program and additional offerings through Continuing and Distance Education, visit www.uni.edu/continuinged or call (319) 273-2121 or (800) 648-3864.

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.

St. Cecilia School Principal Opening

St. Cecilia School in Ames, IA, seeks a full-time Administrator for a 240-student, PK-5 program for the 2013-14 school year. Candidates must be a practicing Catholic and hold an Iowa administrator license, or be eligible for the administrator license. Previous administrative experience preferred. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader committed to the formation of tomorrow’s Catholics and academic excellence. St. Cecilia School is a high performing, dynamic Catholic elementary school located two miles from Iowa State University and within 35 miles of Des Moines. The successful candidate will serve in excellent school facilities. Send letter of application, resume and completed application form (see website) by February 8, 2013 to Search Committee, 2900 Hoover Ave., Ames, IA 50010. For more information about the position and the school, go to www.stcames.org/school.

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.