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 Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) will meet Feb. 2 from 9:00 a.m. - Noon at the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center in Johnston.
In the event of inclement weather, you may participate in the meeting virtually using Zoom: Feb. 2, 2016 ZOOM Meeting. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.
HAA Meeting
Date: Feb. 2, 2015
Time: 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Location: Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
In an effort to provide tech integration courses this summer that fit the needs of educators from across Heartland, we would like to gather information from you and and your district's teachers. We are using BrightBytes data (where applicable) and a survey to support targeted and purposeful professional learning this summer. The survey will be open until Feb. 5.
Take the survey and share it with educators in your district. Thank you for your participation!
Online communities and learning networks are helping educators create innovative solutions to age-old problems and fulfill the promise of today and tomorrow’s educational landscape. Because online learning is evolving quickly it is especially important for online teachers to connect and collaborate.
The 28 days of OLLIE (+ 1 bonus day) through AEA PD Online is an excellent opportunity for online teachers to benefit from each other’s ideas and experiences, as well as gain some insight into the newest innovations in online learning.
It is our hope that at the end of this month (Feb. 1-29) the connections that are formed among and between the community members will extend beyond the 28 days and lead to community of online teachers that can support each other in future work.
What to Expect During 28 Days of OLLIE
28 days of OLLIE is meant to provide online teachers with learning opportunities focused on critical areas related to online teaching and learning. The community facilitators will be hosting a variety of learning opportunities or events for educators.
This year’s 28 Days of OLLIE format will be focused on scenarios that come from Iowa educators. Participants will read about a question or challenge faced by an online/blended teacher. Community members can then participate in activities and discussions and access expert resources that are focused on resolving the issue or challenge identified in the scenario.
Join the Community
We welcome educators at all levels and those who support them to participate. The first step is to join the community, which can be done in seconds at http://bit.ly/1wWps6k. Once you’re signed up, you’ll get regular announcements about:
- Webinars
- Forums on topics related to teaching and learning online
- Activities to join
- Resources that are available
- Badges you can earn
- And much, much more!
Heartland AEA is offering the second FREE support day for PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports) for this school year on Feb. 8, 2016. License renewal credit will not be available for participants as we will not be able to offer the required 15 hours. The complete description of the day can be found here.
Date: Feb. 8, 2016
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA
Register: Here
For more information, contact Rebecca Carver at (515) 270-0405 ext. 16294.
Save the date for the annual Our Kids Summer Institute on June 16-17. This institute provides participants with the opportunity to network with other educational professionals and to discover new strategies for working with English Language Learners throughout Iowa.
Remember that districts writing Corrective Action Plans are required to send a team, so early registration is recommended. Registration for this outstanding professional development opportunity will be capped at 400. Keep watching for more information!
The Feb. 2016 issue of Each and Every Child is available from the Iowa Department of Education. In this month’s issue, read about how two different schools are tackling the Iowa Core through a special education lens.
In an effort to head off hunger, the Iowa Department of Education is seeking sponsors for a federally funded program that provides nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner or snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.
Typical sponsors include public and private nonprofit schools, local government agencies, and private nonprofit organizations with serving sites located in schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries, housing complexes or camps.
For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Education’s website. A free informational webinar will be held on Thursday, Feb. 18, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Webinar registration is available here.
The Iowa Department of Education presented to members of the State Board of Education a comprehensive plan to implement Iowa’s science standards over the next few years, starting with the 2016-17 school year.
The Department is providing a fact sheet for teachers, a fact sheet for parents and a frequently asked questions document, each of which may be customized to fit individual district needs. Share this information with your staff, especially those involved in science instruction. For more information, contact Kris Kilibarda, Iowa Department of Education science consultant, at Kris.Kilibarda@iowa.gov.
