Thursday, September 5, 2019

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
growth gap graduation gateways

Would You Like Resources to Support Technology Integration in the Classroom? Yes? Click Here!

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!

Heartland AEA Offers Professional Learning to Educators Around the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Program

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

Clayton Cook Presents: Nurturing and Responsive Environments that Promote Social and Emotional Wellbeing, Oct. 1

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

New Opportunities for Students, Employers and Teachers Through Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-based Learning

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.

Sept. 2019 School Leader Update

The Sept. issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.