Our Mission
To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.
Our Goals
- Increase learning growth for students
- Decrease the gap in achievement
- Increase annual graduation rates
- Increase gateways to post-secondary success
The 2019-20 Heartland AEA Superintendent Directory is now available. A limited supply of these directories were distributed by van mail to superintendents. If you didn’t receive a copy, please contact Jenny Ugolini, Board Secretary/Executive Assistant, at jugolini@heartlandaea.org.
EdCamp-style workshops will be held throughout the 2019-20 school year to provide additional learning, collaboration and conversation for those interested in Standards-Based Learning (SBL) including Grading and Reporting. The workshops coincide with specific strands of the Standards-Based Learning Framework developed by Heartland AEA. These workshops will be participatory, hands-on, collaborative sessions. Participants will walk away with ideas, information, articles, activities and videos that can be used immediately with an SBL guiding team or building team. You can attend whatever sessions are of interest to you; you do not need to attend all sessions. Curriculum directors, principals, TLC leaders, Professional Learning leaders and members of SBL guiding teams can benefit from attending these sessions.
Framework Friday Dates
(All sessions 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
- Oct. 4, 2019
- Nov. 1, 2019
- Dec. 6, 2019
- Jan. 3, 2020
- Feb. 7, 2020
- March 6, 2020
- April 3, 2020
- May 1, 2020
Learn more about the learning opportunities and register at Heartland AEA Framework Fridays.
All AEAs, districts, preschool programs and nonpublic schools will submit initial universal desk audit information for compliance with state and federal legal requirements. If needed, further compliance review through more detailed desk audit, remote interview, or onsite will be conducted at a targeted or intensive level. AEA, Preschool and K-12 desk audit information will be submitted through Consolidated Accountability and Support Application (CASA) that is available through the education portal. Reference the 2019-20 Universal Preschool Desk Audit: Evidence of IQPPS Implementation here. Desk audits opened on Sept. 15 and will close on Dec 15. More information about the Universal Desk Audit is available on the Iowa Department of Education website.
Oct. 7-8, 2019
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Goodwill of Central Iowa, 5355 NW 86th St. Johnston, Iowa
This training will expand on strategies that help improve social-emotional outcomes, reduce challenging behaviors, and encourage intentional participation for all young children, including children at risk, or children with delays or disabilities.
Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2P2RK1o Course #180244. License Renewal credit available for additional cost.
Target Audience: PK, kindergarten and 1st grade teachers, administrators, AEA support staff
Presenter Ron Roybal is a research associate with the University of Denver Morgridge College of Education and the PELE Center. Roybal was a teacher in an early childhood inclusive classroom for students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and typically developing students. His extensive experience in inclusive classroom settings as a teacher and coach for children with special needs and children at risk or with challenging behaviors brings a unique perspective as a trainer and coach.
Clayton Cook, Ph.D., consults with school systems on designing, implementing and sustaining MTSS frameworks that target promoting children’s mental health, and his research focuses on school-based mental health according to a multitiered system of support.
Nurturing and Responsive Environments that Promote Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Dr. Cook will support participants in understanding the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practices to improve youth access to needed social, emotional and behavioral supports in schools within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). The session will also focus specifically on implementation science and the understanding of factors and strategies that impact the successful development, delivery and sustainment of evidence-based practices as part of service delivery within schools. This work is intended to address the longstanding science-to-practice gap.
AGENDA
9 - 10 a.m. Regular Heartland Administrators' Association Business Meeting and Partner Updates
10 - 11:30 a.m. Superintendent Session with Clayton Cook, Ph.D.
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch on your own
12:30 - 4 p.m. Afternoon Session for all Educators
REGISTRATION - Closes end of business day on Sept. 27, 2019
Register at no cost at this link with course #180604. Select a section to attend.
LOCATION
Des Moines Area Community College Student Center, Bldg 5 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny
*Allow extra time for parking on the DMACC campus
Our Mission
To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.
Our Goals
- Increase learning growth for students
- Decrease the gap in achievement
- Increase annual graduation rates
- Increase gateways to post-secondary success
Busy, on-the-go educators need an easy way to order materials. Now that school is back in session, be sure to check out our ready-to-order Featured Products. Find materials for your classroom or building by searching subject, grade level or theme. Check back often for seasonally promoted items!
Log on to Creative Services Online using the same username and password you use for AEA Learning Online training, such as Mandatory Reporter and Bloodborne Pathogens.
Items will be sent via Heartland AEA van mail to the building address you choose in the Creative Services Online address book unless you choose the option of picking your items up at our Johnston Regional Education Center. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. Please note that materials are for school and classroom use only -- no personal requests.
The Heartland AEA Instructional Technology consultants have a ton of great stuff planned for you this school year! Webinars, networking, coaching, collaboration and learning opportunities galore! The primary role of the tech team is to provide consultative services to the schools served by Heartland AEA related to planning, professional development and integration of appropriate instructional technologies to improve instruction and outcomes for students. The Instructional Technology newsletter is a good starting point to see what’s available, view past training and plan for the school year!
The following changes took effect for courses offering graduate credit through the statewide AEA Professional Learning Registration system starting Sept. 1, 2019, or after:
- All courses with graduate credit will be offered for Drake, Grand View and Morningside credit. The 30 hours of outside work per credit will still be required. As before, all participants in the course must do the outside work no matter what type of credit they choose.
- Instructor stipends will not be paid by any of the colleges.
- The cost for graduate credit from all three colleges will be $90 per credit.
- For courses with a paid instructor, the registration fees per credit are as follows:
- Participant Only = $85
- License Renewal Credit = $85
- Graduate Credit = $85 + $90 or $175
- For courses with no instructor pay, the registration fees per credit are as follows:
- Participant Only = $0
- License Renewal Credit = $35
- Graduate Credit = $35 + $90 or $125
Instructors are not required to offer courses for graduate credit. They can be offered for License Renewal Credit only. If a class is not offered for graduate credit, the 30 hours of outside work are not required.
If you have any questions, please contact the Heartland AEA Professional Learning team at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14701.
A new flowchart from the Iowa Department of Education is now available to help you with questions you may have when you’re unclear about students’ resident districts. The chart helps make clear the guidelines in the Iowa Administrative Code regarding students’ resident districts.
This is the second presentation in our 3-part SEBMH Leadership Series
Clayton Cook, Ph.D., will support participants in understanding the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practices to improve youth access to needed social, emotional and behavioral supports in schools within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). The session will also focus specifically on implementation science and the understanding of factors and strategies that impact the successful development, delivery and sustainment of evidence-based practices as part of service delivery within schools. This work is intended to address the longstanding science-to-practice gap.
Oct. 1, 2019
AGENDA
9 - 10 a.m. Regular Heartland Administrators' Association Business Meeting and Partner Updates
10 - 11:30 a.m. Superintendent Session with Clayton Cook, Ph.D.
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch on your own
12:30 - 4 p.m. Afternoon Session for all Educators
REGISTRATION
Register at no cost at this link with course #180604. Select a section to attend.
LOCATION
Des Moines Area Community College Student Center, Bldg 5 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny
*Allow extra time for parking on the DMACC campus
Oct. 7-8, 2019
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Goodwill of Central Iowa, 5355 NW 86th St. Johnston, Iowa
This training will expand on strategies that help improve social-emotional outcomes, reduce challenging behaviors, and encourage intentional participation for all young children, including children at risk, or children with delays or disabilities.
Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2P2RK1o Course #180244. License Renewal credit available for additional cost.
Target Audience: PK, kindergarten and 1st grade teachers, administrators, AEA support staff
Presenter Ron Roybal is a research associate with the University of Denver Morgridge College of Education and the PELE Center. Roybal was a teacher in an early childhood inclusive classroom for students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and typically developing students. His extensive experience in inclusive classroom settings as a teacher and coach for children with special needs and children at risk or with challenging behaviors brings a unique perspective as a trainer and coach.
In the coming weeks, districts will be getting the results of the first ISASP. The new state assessment results will provide the opportunity for reflecting how well instruction is aligned to the Iowa Core and for identifying changes that will ensure instruction is aligned. At the MISIC: Members Impacting Students; Improving Curriculum Conference, attendees will learn how to move to a more tightly aligned system of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
Shifting Classroom Practice for the ISASP and Beyond Conference
Oct. 1, 2019
Courtyard by Marriott, 2405 SE Creekview Dr, Ankeny
Learn more about the conference and register at http://misiciowa.org/.
The following is a copy of the email sent from the Iowa Department of Education to Iowa principals.
Statewide access to the new MTSS Data System, Panorama Student Success is quickly approaching. As a reminder, Student Success will support K-6 literacy this school year and will expand to additional grade-levels and content areas (math, behavior, attendance, etc.) in the future.
School/District Access to Student Success
The DE plans to begin to allow school and district staff to access the system on approximately Sept. 23. Student Success has user roles at the teacher, building or district levels. Access roles must be assigned locally in your student information system (SIS) and the data will be transferred into the Iowa Education Portal nightly to allow access. The decision about who should access the system is a local decision. When staff receive access to the system, they will receive an email from the portal notifying them.
In the next several weeks, make sure that your staff who will access Student Success have an Iowa Education Portal account that they have successfully logged into. If you need support in using the Portal, contact ed.portal@iowa.gov. Also, you may start assigning Student Success roles in your SIS. You may add, change and remove roles throughout the school year as needed so this is a task that you can work on over time. If you need assistance with assigning roles, please contact your SIS vendor.
Learning Opportunities for Student Success
Panorama will hold several 1-hour overview webinars the weeks of Sept. 23 and 30 to provide high level support for using the system. These webinars will also be recorded and posted in the Student Success Resource Library. More information about the dates and times of the webinars will be sent out soon.
The Collaborating for Iowa's Kids (C4K) Training Cadre/Statewide School Improvement Team and Panorama will co-lead in-depth regional training sessions during the weeks of Oct. 7 and 14. The DE recommends that districts and schools send teams of 3-5 people to regional training. The teams should consist of school and district leadership as well as staff that will be responsible for taking the training content back to train others. This may include curriculum directors, teacher leaders, literacy specialists, data specialists, professional learning staff, etc.
Registration is required for the regional training sessions and registration links can be found on the ESSA Regional Training Registration for 2019-20 tab in the linked spreadsheet.
If you have any questions about the upcoming access or training opportunities for Student Success, please contact janell.brandhorst@iowa.gov, connor.hood@iowa.gov, or kfangman@heartlandaea.org.
Our Mission
To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.
Our Goals
- Increase learning growth for students
- Decrease the gap in achievement
- Increase annual graduation rates
- Increase gateways to post-secondary success
The Heartland AEA Instructional Technology consultants have a ton of great stuff planned for you this school year! Webinars, networking, coaching, collaboration and learning opportunities galore! The primary role of the tech team is to provide consultative services to the schools served by Heartland AEA related to planning, professional development and integration of appropriate instructional technologies to improve instruction and outcomes for students. The Instructional Technology newsletter is a good starting point to see what’s available, view past training and plan for the school year!
EdCamp-style workshops will be held throughout the 2019-20 school year to provide additional learning, collaboration and conversation for those interested in Standards-Based Learning (SBL) including Grading and Reporting. The workshops coincide with specific strands of the Standards-Based Learning Framework developed by Heartland AEA. These workshops will be participatory, hands-on, collaborative sessions. Participants will walk away with ideas, information, articles, activities and videos that can be used immediately with an SBL guiding team or building team. You can attend whatever sessions are of interest to you; you do not need to attend all sessions. Curriculum directors, principals, TLC leaders, Professional Learning leaders and members of SBL guiding teams can benefit from attending these sessions.
Framework Friday Dates
(All sessions 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
- Oct. 4, 2019
- Nov. 1, 2019
- Dec. 6, 2019
- Jan. 3, 2020
- Feb. 7, 2020
- March 6, 2020
- April 3, 2020
- May 1, 2020
Learn more about the learning opportunities and register at Heartland AEA Framework Fridays.
Parents and caregivers of students with special needs: join us for “Conversation & Coffee,” our monthly morning coffee group! Learn about community resources and upcoming events and network with parents who have similar experiences and challenges.
Mark your calendar for these 2019-20 meeting dates!
- Sept. 19, 2019
- Oct. 17, 2019
- Nov. 21, 2019
- Dec. 19, 2019
- Jan. 16, 2020
- Feb. 20, 2020
- March 12, 2020 (due to Spring Break)
- April 16, 2020
- May 21, 2020
Conversation & Coffee meets the third Thursday of each month from 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the 100th Street Corner Café in Urbandale.
RSVP appreciated but not necessary: Kari Paulsen, Family & Educator Coordinator, Heartland AEA, at kpaulsen@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 ext. 14493.
Heartland AEA is pleased to announce Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing is now available for infants at each of the Agency’s hearing testing locations.
ABR is an objective test that allows an audiologist to get information about a baby’s hearing without needing a response from the child. This testing is typically done when a child has not passed their hearing screening test at birth or at their two-week follow-up screening. A parent, primary care physician or ENT specialist can contact Heartland AEA to make an appointment to have ABR testing done.
The test is done by sending a sound into the child’s ear and measuring whether or not the cochlea, or hearing organ, passes the sound to the baby’s brain. Typically, a child is sleeping during the test and does not feel anything. The audiologist will put a few pads on the child’s forehead and near their ears to make the measurements while the sound goes into the child’s ears with soft earphones. After the testing is complete, the audiologist will talk through the results with parents/caregivers.
Heartland AEA is happy to partner with the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Office of the Iowa Department of Public Health and the University of Iowa’s Center for Development and Disabilities to bring this new tool to infants and families to detect hearing issues as soon as possible.
- For infants birth to 7 months of age
- No cost to parents/caregivers
- Testing available at Heartland AEA offices in Ames, Carroll, Indianola, Johnston and Knoxville
- Call (515) 289-2611 or (800) 362-2720 to schedule an appointment
In the coming weeks, districts will be getting the results of the first ISASP. The new state assessment results will provide the opportunity for reflecting how well instruction is aligned to the Iowa Core and for identifying changes that will ensure instruction is aligned. At the MISIC: Members Impacting Students; Improving Curriculum Conference, attendees will learn how to move to a more tightly aligned system of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
Shifting Classroom Practice for the ISASP and Beyond Conference
Oct. 1, 2019
Courtyard by Marriott, 2405 SE Creekview Dr, Ankeny
Learn more about the conference and register at http://misiciowa.org/.
Joe Sanfelippo, Ph.D., will headline the Iowa School Public Relations Association 2019 Fall Conference on Oct. 25, 2019, at Central Rivers AEA in Cedar Falls, IA. Register now for this great opportunity to learn, grow and walk away with tools to engage parents and staff in a way that will improve support for your district and your mission!
Superintendent Dr. Joe Sanfelippo started the #1minwalk2work Leadership Challenge, and co-authored The Power of Branding-Telling Your School's Story. Sanfelippo was named one of five K-12 administrators to watch in 2018 by Education Dive. He has been a featured speaker in multiple states in the areas of Advancing the Use of Social Media for School Leaders, Telling Your School Story, Creating a Culture of Yes, and Personalized Professional Growth for Staff. Sanfelippo is the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI.
Featured Speakers
- Jane Colacecchi is a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contractor and Iowa School Safety Alliance Board member who has smart ways to share your school's safety plan with parents and the community without compromising student and staff safety. She will also provide a foundation for helping your families prepare for any school emergency.
- Ahlers and Cooney, P.C., the law firm representing many of Iowa's largest school districts, will offer copyright law basics every school employee should know to avoid annoying demand letters and costly lawsuits.
Registration
Continental breakfast and lunch are included in the conference fee. Registration must be completed by Oct. 18. Due to scheduling of space and resources, no refunds will be offered.
For more information, contact Amanda Lewis, Des Moines Public Schools Communications Officer and ISPRA Vice President, at (515) 242-8162 or amanda.lewis@dmschools.org.
The Iowa Department of Education provided an ESSA update at the Heartland AEA Curriculum Network meeting on Sept. 6. The following documents were shared:
Public ESSA School Improvement Training Calendar
ESSA Regional Training Sessions
ESSA School Improvement Timeline
*Note: The first ESSA Regional Training Sessions are on the new MTSS Data System (Panorama Student Success) and they will be held in October.
Our Mission
To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.
Our Goals
- Increase learning growth for students
- Decrease the gap in achievement
- Increase annual graduation rates
- Increase gateways to post-secondary success
The Heartland AEA Instructional Technology consultants have a ton of great stuff planned for you this school year! Webinars, networking, coaching, collaboration, learning opportunities galore! The primary role of this tech team is to provide consultative services to the schools served by Heartland AEA related to planning, professional development and integration of appropriate instructional technologies to improve instruction and outcomes for students. The Instructional Technology newsletter is a good starting point to see what’s available, view past training and plan for the school year!
The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Program, developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), is a one-day training that provides the opportunity for educators to obtain initial certification in CPI's "Nonviolent Crisis Intervention" program or renewal certification for individuals who are not eligible for the recertification training (e.g., expired certification). Participants will receive an introduction to crisis prevention focusing on non-physical strategies, including non-verbal, para-verbal and verbal techniques that can be used to assist in de-escalating behavior.
Participants will receive instruction, role-playing, practice and feedback in using personal safety techniques, such as blocking, moving and releasing to avoid or minimize injury when interacting with an individual who is escalated. This training also includes instruction, role-playing, practice and feedback in the use of physical restraint strategies, transport techniques and team strategies to maintain safety when an individual engages in escalated behavior that is dangerous to self or others.
Please note:
- The strategies taught in this training are not intended to replace behavior intervention plans (BIP) for individual students, but rather to provide strategies for school staff to use to maintain safety during unusual situations or circumstances not addressed in a BIP.
- To maintain certification, individuals are required to participate in the CPI's "Nonviolent Crisis Intervention" re-certification training at least annually.
- Trainees must be employed by a school district in Heartland AEA’s service area.
Registration:
Initial Training
Registration Link
Use course #180648 and select a section
Intended Audience: District staff who work with individuals 3-21 years who engage in problem behaviors that have the potential to result in injury to self or others.
Refresher Training
Registration Link
Use course #180315 and select a section
Intended Audience: District staff who have been through the CPI: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention 1-day-training within the past year and who need to receive recertification.
For more information or questions, contact the Heartland AEA Regional Director who serves your district or one of the CPI trainers at Heartland AEA:
Region 1: Lauren Vanderhorst, Jenny Henscheid
Region 2: Becky Tigges, Sue Klein
Region 3: Aimee Schuppe, Stacey Warren
Region 5: Todd York
Region 6: Gina Koehler
Region 7: Chris Rial, Amanda Jefferson
Region 8: Brenda Gerdes, Amanda Khader
This is the second presentation in our 3-part SEBMH Leadership Series
Clayton Cook, Ph.D., will support participants in understanding the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practices to improve youth access to needed social, emotional and behavioral supports in schools within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). The session will also focus specifically on implementation science and the understanding of factors and strategies that impact the successful development, delivery and sustainment of evidence-based practices as part of service delivery within schools. This work is intended to address the longstanding science-to-practice gap.
Oct. 1, 2019
AGENDA
9 - 10 a.m. Regular Heartland Administrators' Association Business Meeting and Partner Updates
10 - 11:30 a.m. Superintendent Session with Clayton Cook, Ph.D.
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch on your own
12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Afternoon Session for all Educators
REGISTRATION
Register at no cost at this link with course #180604. Select a section to attend.
LOCATION
Des Moines Area Community College Student Center, Bldg 5 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny
*Allow extra time for parking on the DMACC campus
Please spread the word within your networks about new opportunities for K-12 students, employers and teachers through the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning.
Work-based learning empowers students to apply what they are learning in the classroom to high-quality, real-world professional experiences. The clearinghouse is a virtual space that connects students and schools with employers statewide through shared work-based learning projects.
The clearinghouse has two key features:
- A project board in which Iowa employers post real-world tasks that students complete under the supervision of their teachers.
- A business partner directory for teachers to find other kinds of work-based learning opportunities, such as internships, that employers have expressed interest in.
High-quality work-based learning helps students prepare for future careers, helps employers grow a skilled workforce, and helps teachers make coursework come alive. The clearinghouse will make these opportunities more readily accessible to K-12 students statewide, especially in rural communities.
Resources
About the ClearinghouseThe Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning was established by Gov. Reynolds through an executive order as part of the Future Ready Iowa initiative, which is about closing the state’s skilled worker gap by connecting Iowans to the training and education required for rewarding careers. The clearinghouse is run by the Iowa Department of Education in partnership with Iowa’s Area Education Agencies, Iowa Workforce Development, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
The Sept. issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.
