Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve
the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.
Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success
The Iowa Department of
Education announced a series
of February public forums and an online survey following a state panel’s
recommendation to get public feedback on the Next Generation Science
Standards. This is the name of science standards developed by 26 states,
including Iowa, that all states can consider adopting and adapting to
meet their needs.
Academic standards
represent expectations for what students should know and be able to do
from kindergarten through high school. Iowa’s academic standards are
being reviewed, starting with science, as part of Executive Order 83.
The process began last
fall when Buck convened a team of education and business leaders to
review Iowa’s science standards, as well as rigorous science standards
from other states, and to make a preliminary recommendation for
improvement to take to the public for feedback.
The science standards review team’s preliminary recommendation came in December, following three public meetings.
Feedback from the
February public forums and survey will be used to provide guidance to
the science standards review team, which is expected to submit a final
recommendation regarding science standards to the State Board of
Education later this year.
Buck said fine-tuning
Iowa’s science standards is especially critical as the state works to
bolster its commitment to science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) education so that students can compete for a growing
number of STEM-related jobs.
The survey will be open through Feb. 27.
Iowans also can provide feedback in person at any of the four public forums in February.
To read the Next Generation Science Standards, visit the Next Generation website.
To read Iowa’s academic standards, visit the Iowa Core website.
The February 2015 issue of the School Leader Update is now available from the Iowa Department of Education. Inside, Dr. Buck asks for your help to get a survey out that focuses on the state’s science standards. Legislative Liaison Shan Sievert gives you a rundown of everything education in the Legislature, and Attorney Nicole Proesch gives you a primer aplenty on everything legal.
The Iowa BOEE's February 2015 newsletter includes information about legislation, recent rule changes, renewal credits, hiring new graduates and more!
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the “something” in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions that achieve positive results. Join EQ Certified Trainer, Joel Pedersen, on Feb. 13 to engage in an exploration of the importance of emotional intelligence and learn how EQ can take your school or district to the next level. Register on the School Administrators of Iowa website.
Heartland AEA is pleased to announce that it will hold its first-ever Education Career Fair in March 2015!
March 4, 2015
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Heartland Area Education Agency
Johnston Regional Education Center
6500 Corporate Drive
Johnston, IA 50131
- The job fair will be
an opportunity for teachers and other education professionals to meet
with over 15 central Iowa school districts at one location to apply for
jobs for the next school year. Positions will range from administration
to teaching to support positions.
- Heartland AEA will
also be recruiting for careers such as speech therapists, occupational
therapists, physical therapists, school psychologists, school social
workers and special education consultants.
- The job fair will be
packed with opportunities for job seekers, including mock interviews,
resume critiques and graduate program information from area
universities. A number of districts will also be offering candidates
interviews right on the spot!
Visit Career Opportunities
page to view a list of the districts that will be participating in the fair
as well as the positions they will be hiring for. There is no
registration required, and the fair is free of charge.
Interested in finding out more about the State of Iowa STEM Scale Up? Want to see what each Scale Up is about? Ready to apply for the grant but want more information? You can find this and more in the training module "STEM and Scale Up Introduction” found at AEA PD Online’s Professional Development system.
To access the training:
1. Go to http://training.aeapdonline.org
2. Log in with your username and password (same on that you use to take trainings such as Mandatory Reporting and Blood Borne Pathogens)
3. Click on “Courses" at the top
4. Click on “Catalog”
5. Scroll down to STEM and Scale Up Introduction and click on it
6. Click on the “Register” button that appears below.
If you have any questions about the content, please contact Denise Krefting.
A common theme we hear
among area school administrators is the need for more substitute
teachers. Heartland AEA is an approved provider of the substitute
authorization program, and we would like to assist you in recruiting
more substitute teachers from your communities. Below are some tools to
help assist you in this effort.
Poster
These
posters may be hung in your schools during parent/teacher conferences
and sporting events and around the community. There is space at the
bottom of the poster where you can write in the district’s/school’s
hiring contact information. Posters can be ordered through our Creative
Services department. Posters will be printed on 13x19 hardy poster paper
and cost 40 cents each. Complete a Creative Services order form
and under item description, write “Substitute Teacher Poster” with the
quantity. Completed forms can be sent to Jill Crees, Production
Facilitator, at creativeservices@heartlandaea.org. Allow two weeks for process and delivery.
Link to the Heartland AEA website
Ask
your technology personnel to include a “Become a substitute teacher!”
link on your district’s/school’s website that links to the Heartland AEA
substitute authorization page:
http://bit.ly/AEA_SubAuth
Press Release
Consider
sending a press release on school letterhead to your local newspaper.
Be sure to revise and personalize the press release linked above. The press release can also be used as an article in your district/school newsletter.
Boone and Story county families, educators and community and agency staff who support students with special needs are invited to attend our Transition Resource Fair! The Resource Fair is a FREE event that focuses on linking transition-age students (14 and older) with special needs to valuable community and agency resources. Please pass on the flyer to any teacher, parent or student who may be interested in attending.
Transition Resource Fair
Date: March 3, 2015
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Ames Office (511 S. 17th Street)
The Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) provides a high quality online resource to assist parents and professionals in examining the evidence-base of a variety of psychological, educational and biomedical treatments for individuals with autism.
