Assessing Academic Rigor Course Added for This Summer

We have added another Assessing Academic Rigor course to the catalog! This course is required for school administrators (superintendents, central office administration, building principals, assistant principals, etc.) and other educational leaders responsible for evaluating educators who are renewing their licenses. The class will be held June 25, 26, July 1 and 8 at the Johnston REC. For more information or to register, click here.

Keystone AEA to Host Mark Coppin Among Others at 2014 TIC Conference

Nationally recognized speaker Mark Coppin, who is an expert on serving diverse learners in the classroom, will be doing multiple sessions at the Keystone Technology in Classrooms (TIC) Conference June 17-18 in Dubuque. Mark comes highly recommended by Keystone AEA Special Education staff who have attended many of his sessions at Closing the Gap Conference in Minneapolis.

Sessions by Mark Coppin

•    Apps To Support Literacy for Struggling Readers
•    Adapting the Curriculum with iBooks Author
•    Creating Content for the Diverse Learner
•    Apps For Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Along with Mark, there will be two other Keynote speakers with lots of exciting ideas and over 70 diverse breakout sessions to choose from such as: Interactive Whiteboards,  Reading and Writing Accommodations, Google A-Z, Digital Citizenship, iPad apps for mathematics, Early Childhood Tech in the Classroom and Collaboration for Learning.

This is a great opportunity for special educators right in our area with the price to attend a small fraction of other conferences. The reduced rate for the 2 day conference (includes 4 meals) is available during the month of April and for $99.00. To register, click here.


Mark Coppin is the Director of Assistive Technology at the Anne Carlsen Center in Jamestown, ND where he coordinates the provision of assistive technology services for the Center. 

If you are looking for additional information on the TIC Conference, click here.

May 6 Busteed Session Cancelled

Due to scheduling conflicts, the May 6 session with Brandon Busteed, Executive Director at Gallup Education, has been cancelled.

Requirements for a Paraeducator Generalist Certification

In February 2014 the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) approved new competencies for the Paraeducator Generalist and Paraeducator Special Needs Area of Concentration certifications. The new competencies for certification will be effective January 1, 2015. These changes have the possibility to impact many paraeducators as they pursue certification. Please see the Paraeducator Certification Competency Changes page for a list of questions and answers regarding the changes.

AEA Customer Survey: Please Encourage Participation

The AEA Customer Survey will close on April 11. Our current response rate is a bit lower than in years past. We'd be grateful if you would continue to encourage your staff to participate in the survey. The survey is available at https://survey.aea267.k12.ia.us/survey/7822/3f08/

Below is a message that can be sent from a school administrator to district staff.

Greetings,

If you haven't already, please participate in the 2014 AEA Customer Survey. The information from this survey provides valuable data that assists the AEA system in evaluating its services and continuing to meet current and future LEA needs.

Access the survey at https://survey.aea267.k12.ia.us/survey/7822/3f08/

The survey will run through Friday, April 11, 2014. You are only asked to complete it once.

If you experience problems with the survey, please contact Dr. Gary Dannenbring, Director of Planning and Evaluation at Prairie Lakes AEA, at gdannenbring@aea8.k12.ia.us for assistance. 

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Save the Date: Our Kids Summer Institute, June 24-25

The annual Our Kids Summer Institute scheduled this year for June 24 and 25 will provide participants with the opportunity to network with other educational professionals and to discover new strategies for working with English Language Learners throughout Iowa. It is important to note that if your school had to write a CAP (Corrective Action Plan) you must attend with a team from your district. Heartland will provide a $200 stipend for Heartland school staff members who attend both days. Districts are encouraged to send teams of classroom teachers, administrators and ESL teachers. Click here for more information.

I-ELDA Testing in Districts

If you have not ordered your I-ELDA materials, now is the time. The deadline for returning the materials for scoring to Iowa Testing Programs is May 1, 2014. Click here for more information on I-ELDA Testing.

Stipend Opportunity for Mathematics Teacher-Teams of ELLs and Other Diverse Students

The course, Empowering Middle and High School ELLs in the Mathematics Core, will be held on April 12 and 26 and License Renewal and EDEX graduate credit are being offered.

The participants will examine strategies and techniques to assist English Language Learners develop both language skills and content knowledge in the mathematics classroom. Teachers will practice and take away useful strategies rooted in the firm understanding of the language acquisition process. Teachers will examine the principles of differentiation as they apply specifically to ELLs. Teachers will also examine how language-rich instruction and hands-on experiences empower ELLs with the skills to be successful in mathematics.

Title III funds will provide a stipend of $200 for all grade 5-12 educators who fulfill the course requirements and are currently employed within the Heartland AEA ELL consortium. Des Moines Public Schools educators are also eligible to receive the stipend through Vinh Nguyen, DMPS ELL Coordinator.

Click here to register. Please pass this information on to eligible teachers.

Best Practices in Social Studies Institute, June 24-25

The 2014 Best Practices in Social Studies Institute is offered entirely FREE for any K-12 social studies teacher in Iowa. Participants will have to cover their own travel expenses and meals. The Institute takes place June 24-25 at the State Historical Museum of Iowa (600 E. Locust) in Des Moines. Participants can sign up to attend both days of the institute, or just one of the days.

Click here for an at-a-glance schedule. 
Click here for the full description program.  
Click here to register for the Institute.  
Note: If you are unable to attend after you have already signed up for the Institute please contact Stefanie Rosenberg Wager, Social Studies Consultant at the Iowa Department of Education at stefanie.wager@iowa.gov or (515) 725-7842.

License renewal is available for the Institute; however, participants must sign up to attend both days in order to be eligible for credit. To register for credit, click here or go to www.heartlandaea.org and click on Professional Development then Heartland AEA PD Catalog. Where it says, “Enter an Activity Number” enter SS004399991501 and then complete the registration process.

Use the sharing functions below to pass the information on to anyone who may be interested in attending.

Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation Workshop, June 26

The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is coming to Des Moines to do a one-day workshop on June 26 at the Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge. The Foundation recently created curriculum around Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Each lesson highlights a recipient and is centered around a character trait of the recipient. This has great ties to social studies and character development. 

The workshop is also entirely FREE to attend and is open to any teacher or administrator of grades 6-12. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Click here for registration information.

Questions may be directed to Stefanie Rosenberg Wager, Social Studies Consultant at the Iowa Department of Education at stefanie.wager@iowa.gov or (515) 725-7842.

Use the sharing functions below to pass this information on to anyone who may be interested in attending.

April 2014 Each & Every Child Newsletter

Click here for a link to the April 2014 edition of the Each & Every Child newsletter from the Iowa Department of Education. This month’s issue highlights what all of our work is about: To make students productive and happy members of society. In addition, read the feedback given on high-growth schools.