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 

Meet the New Area Superintendents!

Before the first Heartland Administrator Association Meeting on Tuesday, September 1, we thought that we would introduce you to some new faces. Below are superintendents new to Heartland AEA's area who submitted profiles. 

Tracy Bonday, Diocese of Des Moines
 Education
BBA, University of Miami
Coral Gables, Fl. 1988
JD, University of Miami
Coral Gables, Fl. 1991
Master of Science, Education Administration
Nova Southeastern University, 2006
Currently, Drake University
Certificate Superintendent’s Endorsement

Past work experience
Principal, Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School,  Pk-12
Richmond, Virginia 2011-2015
AP Government Teacher/Administrative Aide, Douglas Freeman High School
Richmond, Virginia 2007-2011
Social Studies Teacher/SACS Self-Study Chair, Lehigh Senior High School
Ft. Myers, Florida 2005-2007
Development Director, Bishop Verot Catholic High School
Ft. Myers, Florida 2001-2005

Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
Bishop Pates was at a National Conference and met the Superintendent for the Diocese of Richmond. Bishop Pates was looking for someone who could take a more entrepreneurial approach to working with schools in the Diocese of Des Moines.  I wanted a position that would allow me to grow professionally and where I could use my strengths in fundraising, marketing and finance.

What is your vision for your district?
To continue to make sure our schools develop and inspire learning for life by providing a world-class education within a Catholic environment.

What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my daughters, cooking and traveling.  I enjoy supporting and spending time with my new extended family through the United States Naval Academy, where my younger daughter attends.  I also enjoy supporting UVA basketball  and watching my daughter perform in the band there.

Kreg Lensch, Glidden-Ralston
 Education
I graduated from Northwestern College and received my masters and specialist from Drake University.

Past work experience
I taught at Storm Lake St. Mary's, East Monona, Boyer Valley and Carroll Schools. I moved to Glidden and taught at Glidden-Ralston until I became principal in 2005.

Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
This district is very important to me and I felt it was time for me to move into this type of a leadership role. My vision is to continue to provide multiple opportunities for our students and work to be an example of an exemplary small school.

What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
I continue to coach football and girls basketball as well as follow my sons and daughters many activities...there isn't time for much else!

John Steffes, Kuemper
 Education
Master of Science in Education, Buena Vista University, 2003
Bachelor of Arts, History Teaching, University of Northern Iowa, 1993
Bachelor of Arts, Business Management, University of Northern Iowa, 1986
U.S. Peace Corps Training Program, 1986
Kuemper Catholic High School, 1982

Past work experience
Development Director, Kuemper Foundation
Social Studies Teacher, Kuemper
Driver Education Teacher, Carroll Community Schools
U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, Botswana

Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
I decided to pursue the president position at Kuemper mainly as a vocation in my career.  Having served my entire educational career in Catholic education and being a Kuemper graduate, it was a natural step for me. 

What is your vision for your district?
My vision for the Kuemper system is to advance the ministry of PreK-12 Catholic education for our parishes and for the Carroll area through its mission of a Christ-centered environment where students grow spiritually, academically and socially. Advancing a faith-based education where God is in the classroom becomes an effective synergy for quality academics and social experiences for students. 

What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
My hobbies include family time with my wife of 25 years and three children, along with family reunions with my nine siblings. I also enjoy U.S. history and presidents' museums, cross-country skiing, tennis, basketball with the old guys and kite flying.

Randy Alger, Melcher-Dallas 
Past work experience
Randy Alger, Melcher-Dallas Community School’s Superintendent/Jr.& Sr. High Principal, has been a veteran educator for the past thirty-three years.  Twenty-two years as a classroom teacher and coach, and eleven years as an administrator. 

Randy and his wife, Wendy, have been in education since graduating from Buena Vista College in 1982.  Randy and Wendy started their careers at Moravia CSD and in 1993 their careers took them back to northwest Iowa, to Carroll CSD.  After twelve years, in 2004, Randy was hired to be an administrator at Moulton-Udell CSD where he served as a Pk-12 principal the last five years.

What is your vision for your district?
Melcher-Dallas Community Schools will continue to focus on technology.  I want our students to have every advantage needed to be a productive citizen when they walk out our doors and into the global market. My staff and I will be pushing the “Five R’s,” which include the usual reading, writing and arithmetic, but will also be adding Respect and Responsibility.  When you put these expectations together, you will only ensure student success.

Further information
Randy and Wendy have three grown children, Gvonne, Gavin and Gravis.

Tim Hoffman, Ogden 
Education
•    PhD - Iowa State University
•    MA - Secondary Administration, University of Northern Iowa
•    BA - Mathematics, University of Northern Iowa
•    BA - Physical Education/Health, University of Northern Iowa

Past work experience
•    Superintendent, Adel DeSoto Minburn, 1983-2008
•    Superintendent, Griswold
•    Superintendent/Elementary Principal, North Kossuth
•    High School Middle School Principal/ Athletic Director, Northeast Hamilton
•    Teacher/coach, Laurens-Marathon
•    Teacher/coach, Manning

Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
After retiring at ADM, I kept my certification up in case a part-time or interim position should open. Ogden is a short drive from Adel, part-time interim position, enjoys a good reputation and has excellent people in key positions.

What is your vision for your district?
My vision is to help continue the positive learning environment and get the general fund balanced.

What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
While away from school, my wife and I like to travel when possible.  I also enjoy golf, landscaping and watching old western movies. 

Shawn Holloway, Panorama
Education
BS at Iowa State (elementary education), Masters at Drake (Educational Leadership), Specialist program from Wayne State

Past work experience
7-12 Principal at Manson Northwest Webster for six years, superintendent at Gladbrook Reinbeck for two years

Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
Location, community, solid foundation of good teaching and learning, and opportunities for my children.

What is your vision for your district?
My vision for the Panorama school district is to work towards and continue to be a leader in all aspects of PreK-12 education.

What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
I'm an avid cyclist, love to be outdoors and supporting the Cyclones.

Dirk Halupnik, Southeast Polk
Education
Ed.D. – Educational Leadership, University of Northern Iowa
M.A.E. – Educational Leadership, University of Northern Iowa
B.A. – Biology, University of Northern Iowa

Past work experience
Deputy Superintendent, Linn-Mar CSD
Executive Director of Instructional Services, Linn-Mar CSD
High School Associate Principal, Linn-Mar CSD
Secondary Science Teacher/Coach, Cedar Falls CSD
Secondary Science Teacher/Coach, Dike-New Hartford CSD

Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
Southeast Polk is a progressive, growing district with a proud history of excellence in academics, athletics, fine arts, clubs and organizations, coupled with strong community support.   look forward to continuing that great tradition and working closely with all stakeholders to achieve even greater success for the students of Southeast Polk. I believe that my strengths and skill set fit very nicely with the needs and expectations of the district. I am very excited about the opportunity to be able to serve the students, staff, parents and community in this new capacity.

What is your vision for your district?
Our mission is to engage all students in learning a challenging curriculum delivered through quality instruction. A great deal of quality work has been done to prepare students for success in college, career and civic life. It is my goal to continue to develop a learning community that is focused on promoting the success of all students, is open and conducive to meaningful change, and is constantly looking towards improvement and innovation.

What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my wife and two sons. I am a sports fan. I also like to read, listen to music and watch movies.

Tim Salmon, United
 Education
•    B.A. - Elementary Education, University of Northern Iowa, 1993
•    M.A. - Educational Leadership, Stephen F. Austin State University, 1999
•    Superintendent licensure, University of Northern Iowa, 2013

Past work experience
•    Principal at Horizon Elementary, Johnston CSD, 2008-2015
•    Teacher and Coach, Summit Middle School, Johnston CSD, 2005-2008
•    Director of Federal and State Programs, Aldine ISD, Houston, TX, 2002-2003
•    Assistant Director of Magnet Schools, Aldine ISD, 1998-2002
•    Elementary, Middle School Teacher, Skills Specialist and Coach, Aldine ISD 1993-1998, 2003-2005

Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
United CSD is a unique district with great traditions. Being a PK-6 school district, this was a great fit for me with my previous elementary experience. The school at United is the central meeting place for the district and the community provides tremendous support for the district.  While many smaller districts are struggling with enrollment, United is showing growth, and I want to help continue that trend. United's location also played a role in my interest, being centrally located. I'm excited to bring my strengths to the district and continue to make United a great district. 

What is your vision for your district?
I first want to see the district continue to grow and sustain financial solvency. Many of the pieces are already in place to make United a great district; we now just need to put all of them together. We are a very good district and need to be able to provide our students and staff the best learning opportunities that are available. The addition of the TLC grant will help build teacher leadership, and I will draw on my experiences of implementing this to help this transition. 

What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family, including my wife and two daughters. In my spare time I am an avid sports fan, especially football (Iowa Hawkeyes and Dallas Cowboys fan). You will often find me working in my garage woodworking or working on our vehicles. Working with my hands helps keep me patient and balanced in life.

Steve Bass, Urbandale
 Education
- BA      K-12 Phys. Educ/Health  UNI  1986
- MA     Educational Administration  Drake University  1997
- Ed.S  Educational Administration  Drake University  2001

Past work experience
- Superintendent: Osage CSD  2009-2015
- Elementary School Principal: Southeast Polk CSD  1998-2009
- School Improvement Consultant: AEA 2  1997-1998
- Teacher/Coach: Mason City CSD  1991-1997
- Teacher/Coach: Pinellas Co. School District (Clearwater, FL)  1986-1991

Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
The Urbandale CSD is a very progressive, student-focused school district served by incredible staff members and a very supportive community base. The beliefs and commitment to continuous improvement in a systemic manner fit perfectly with my own personal beliefs. Having previously lived in the metro area, I was aware of the great things happening in the Urbandale schools and greater community. Great educational system. Incredible students. Supportive parents and community members. Strong leadership. All of these reasons make for a wonderful place to work, learn, and live.

What is your vision for your district?
My vision is to keep us moving forward with our work with David Langford, Jim Shipley & Associates, and the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. Urbandale will be a school district that brings learning to life for everyone.

What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I like to do things with my wife, Karla, play golf, weight train, read books, and take walks.

Interested in DreamBox? Statewide Pricing Now Available!

At the request of many Iowa schools, AEA Purchasing (formerly the IEC) has partnered with DreamBox Learning to provide statewide discounted pricing.

Not familiar with DreamBox? DreamBox provides online elementary and middle school math instruction that empowers students to master key concepts and increase achievement through personalized instruction and engaging interactive lessons. Several Iowa schools piloted DreamBox last year with great success.

Statewide pricing is now available! If you are considering implementing this product into your curriculum, now is the time to do so!

For pricing and contact information, go to http://www.aeapurchasing.org/vendor_partners/dreambox/.
For product information, go to www.dreambox.com.

New FAST Benchmarks and TIER Updates

New Updated FAST benchmarks were released through the TIER notification system on Aug. 24. These have changed since the DRAFT release earlier in the month on Aug. 11. The revised Early Literacy Universal Screening Benchmarks are dated Aug. 24.

To address some of the recent questions regarding the changes, we are providing the quotes from TIER as to "why" the benchmarks have changed. 

"Early literacy benchmarks (a.k.a. cutpoints) for the FASTBridge screening tools have been updated for the 2015-2016 year. This update is a result of the research and development team having an additional year of screening data on hand, therefore, a larger sample with which to identify target performance levels. These updates should lead to greater consistency between grade levels (e.g., 3rd to 4th, 4th to 5th, etc.) and between measures (i.e., CBMR and aReading). In general, aReading benchmarks are somewhat higher. "

The TIER knowledge base provides access to the most up-to-date information, benchmark scores, etc.

If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Robinson at wrobinson@heartlandaea.org.
 
TIER Slowdowns
The Iowa TIER site has been experiencing some slowdowns and other issues/bugs. Please remember to submit any issues TIER ticketing system.

If you want to do a quick status check on any of the TIER systems, this link provides that information.

ESL Advisory Dates for 2015-16

All school districts are encouraged to send a representative/team to the quarterly ESL Advisory meetings held at the Heartland AEA Johnston REC in Room 129 from 4-5 p.m. These meetings provide networking, latest Title III and assessment updates, resources and opportunities for districts to apply for Title III mini-grants to support English Learners.

Meetings for the 2015-16 school year are the following:
*Sept. 29
Dec. 1
Feb. 16
May 3

*The first ESL Advisory meeting of the 2015-16 school year will be postponed until Sept. 29. The meeting was originally scheduled for the 8th. On Sept. 29, the Title III Materials mini-grants will be available for application. These grants are focused on supporting ELs through access to Core instruction. This year we will be awarding up to seven mini-grants for $3,500 each.

Contact an ESL/Diversity Consultant if you have questions: Stephaney Jones-Vo, sjonesvo@heartlandaea.org or Janet Hiatt, jhiatt@heartlandaea.org.

Final Reminder: Lau Plan Workshop Scheduled for Sept. 3

Administrative teams with questions remaining about  your district's Lau Plan for meeting needs of English Learners (available for upload this year with your district C-Plan), are invited join us for this workshop for additional support prior to the upload. Remember that this year, the C-Plan approval is contingent upon the Lau Plan approval.

Lau Plan Support
Date: Sept. 3, 2015
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Register by Activity Number: ES009292111601

Please email your current Lau Plan by Aug. 26 to allow Title III consultants time to review your plan with meaningful feedback, to: sjonesvo@heartlandaea.org and jhiatt@heartlandaea.org

Arrive promptly at 8:30 a.m. for announcements and coffee, with feedback and individual consultation provided as needed.

Title III consultants Stephaney Jones-Vo and Janet Hiatt will be available for consultation and guidance to ensure a smooth approval process when you upload your plan with your district's C-Plan. Remember, this 2015-16 school year will be the first year that C-Plan approval can be stalled pending the approval of your Lau Plan.

Two Lau Plan Tips for Administrators prior to upload on Sept. 15
1.  Encourage districts to PDF the files to ensure they can upload a single document.
2.  Be sure that your districts are aware that their CSIP won't be approved until the LAU Plan is approved this year. That includes using the required template in order to be approved this year.

Save the Date: Iowa Culture & Language Conference

Iowa Culture & Language Conference
Nov. 9-11, 2015
Coralville-Marriott Hotel and Conference Center

Visit the Iowa Culture & Language Conference website or see the attached flyer for more information information about keynote speakers and pre-conference presenters.

Save the Date: STEM Education Equity Symposium

STEM Education Equity: Policies to Create Opportunities in Rural Iowa is a day-long symposium on the opportunities and challenges of strengthening STEM education in Iowa.  The University of Iowa Public Policy Center, as part of its “Run Up to the 2016 Caucus” series, is planning the event in collaboration with the University of Iowa College of Education, and with the support of Iowa NSF EPSCoR*. The event will be held Oct. 19 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

National and state experts will present an overview of STEM in Iowa, as well as innovations in rural areas across the country; examine STEM equity needs of disadvantaged students in rural areas; and discuss next generation science standards, school business partnerships, diversity in the STEM pipeline, and legislative perspectives.

For more information, please visit the Public Policy Center's event page.

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.

We Hope You’ll Join Us! Heartland AEA Leadership Networks

Most of this information can be found on our website under Instructional Services > Leadership Development & Supports > Leadership Networks.

Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA)
The Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) meets from 9:00 to 11:50 a.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, September through May, in Rooms 107A & B of the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive). The agenda items are both informational and professional learning driven for superintendents. The meetings are jointly planned by the Superintendent Advisory Committee and Heartland AEA personnel, including the chief administrator. The meeting dates for 2015-16 are the following:

Sept. 1, 2015
Oct. 6, 2015
Nov. 3, 2015
Dec. 1, 2015
Jan. 5, 2016
Feb. 2, 2016
March 1, 2016
April 5, 2016
May 3, 2016

HAA Chair        Deron Durflinger, Van Meter

Go to the HAA Google Site for meeting agendas, handouts and other important documents.

For more information about HAA meetings, contact your regional director or Paula Vincent, Chief Administrator, at pvincent@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14314.

Superintendent Advisory Council (SAC)
The Superintendent Advisory Council (SAC) members help advise agenda items for HAA meetings and serve as a liaison for Heartland AEA regions. SAC meets quarterly from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. in Room 109 of the Johnston REC. The meeting dates for 2015-16 are the following:

SAC Members
Region 1 & 2        Deron Durflinger, Van Meter, Chair
Region 1 & 2        Lynn Ubben, Perry
Region 3              Delane Galvin, Southeast Warren
Region 4              Thomas Ahart, Des Moines
Region 5              Lisa Remy, West Des Moines
Region 6              Bruce Kimpston, Ankeny
Region 7              Ottie Maxey, Ballard
Region 8              Shane Ehresman, Lynnville-Sully
Non-Public Schools     Glenn Vos, Des Moines Christian
Community Colleges     Rob Denson, DMACC

Meeting Dates    
Sept. 1, 2015
Dec. 1, 2015
Feb. 2, 2016
April 5, 2016
 
Curriculum Network
The Curriculum Network meets from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the first Friday of every month, September through June. Meetings are held in Room 13A & B at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive).

The meeting dates for 2015-16 are the following:
Sept. 4, 2015
Oct. 2, 2015
Nov. 6, 2015
Dec. 4, 2015   
Jan. 8, 2016
Feb. 5, 2016
March 4, 2016   
April 1, 2016
May 6, 2016

Go to the Curriculum Network Google Site for meeting agendas, handouts and other important documents.

For more information about the Curriculum Network, contact your regional director or Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of Learning & Leadership, at kfangman@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14374.

You're Invited: TIC (Technology Integration & Collaboration)

Heartland AEA would like to invite you to the first TIC (Technology Integration and Collaboration) session of the 2015-2016 school year! 

What is TIC: TIC is a series of professional learning sessions where area educators come to Johnston for a FREE morning of learning from exemplar area educators who share how they're successfully transforming learning through technology integration.  An updated list of all sessions being offered this year can be found on the image below.

Topic: K-12 Foreign Language: Quality Instruction Using Technology
Date: September 29, 2015
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Location: Johnston AEA
To Register: TE104892111601

We are also excited to announce that all TIC sessions for the 2015-2016 school year will be streamed live.  If you can't join us in person, join us online!

Find the Live Stream Link for 9/29/15 Session

Please pass this information on to all Foreign Language teachers in your district or others in your building that might be interested in attending.  More information about this and upcoming sessions can be found on the TIC website.