Register by Dec. 21 for Heartland Administrators’ Association January Meeting with Wixted & Co.

The Heartland Administrator’s Association (HAA) Jan. 5, 2021 meeting will focus on media and crisis awareness training.

The Media & Crisis Awareness Training 101 with Wixted & Co. discusses the fundamentals of media and crisis communication, beginning with the definition of a crisis versus an issue or controversy. In an environment that requires frequent, layered communication to many different audiences, participants will learn guidelines for interacting with the media during a crisis and why crises gain so much attention from key stakeholders and the media. We will examine how media convergence and social media are changing news coverage and the way organizations must respond when facing a crisis.

We will explore the most effective methods of communication to key stakeholders in 2021, examine the importance of audience analysis and discuss the four phases of a crisis. The trainer will use video examples to help illustrate key points.

The training will be held virtually via Zoom and capacity will be limited.

Registration is open to superintendents and any staff person managing district communications, social media and/or website. Register at this link OR by emailing participant names to Jenny Ugolini at jugolini@heartlandaea.org by Dec. 21.

Reminder: HEART Database to Sunset This Month

Heartland AEA has been proud to provide the HEART Database to districts and schools for many years. Times and technology have changed significantly since we initially developed this resource. New tools are available to districts/schools, and the software used to build the database is now outdated and has become incompatible with some common computer operating systems.

Given the progress the state of Iowa has made in making other data systems available to districts/schools and the significant resources it would take to rebuild it, Heartland AEA will sunset the HEART Database on Dec. 31, 2020. If your district chooses to use HEART until Dec. 31, 2020, you can continue the import procedures you’ve been using to date.

Thank you for allowing Heartland AEA to partner with you. If you have any questions, contact Sheila King, Chief Information Officer, at sking@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14386.

Heartland AEA Holiday Office Closing & Van Delivery Schedule

In celebration of Winter Break, Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public Dec. 24, 2020 - Jan. 4, 2021. Van delivery schedule will be as follows:

• Regular van delivery: Dec. 21-22
• No van delivery: Dec. 23 -Jan. 3
• Regular van delivery resumes: Jan. 4

Check Out Our Wellness Inspiration Site: Shareable Resource For Educators, Families and Students

In an effort to support the well-being of districts, students, educators and families, we're pleased to bring you "Wellness Inspiration," a resource dedicated to well-being. Check out the Wellness Inspiration site for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families! This week features:

• Resource Guide Provides Tips on How to Celebrate Safely This Holiday Season
• Yale Offering Another Free Course on Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty
• Funnies

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

Register Before Winter Break for Heartland Administrators’ Association January Meeting with Wixted & Co.

The Heartland Administrator’s Association (HAA) Jan. 5, 2021 meeting will focus on media and crisis awareness training.

The Media & Crisis Awareness Training 101 with Wixted & Co. discusses the fundamentals of media and crisis communication, beginning with the definition of a crisis versus an issue or controversy. In an environment that requires frequent, layered communication to many different audiences, participants will learn guidelines for interacting with the media during a crisis and why crises gain so much attention from key stakeholders and the media. We will examine how media convergence and social media are changing news coverage and the way organizations must respond when facing a crisis.

We will explore the most effective methods of communication to key stakeholders in 2021, examine the importance of audience analysis and discuss the four phases of a crisis. The trainer will use video examples to help illustrate key points.

The training will be held virtually via Zoom and capacity will be limited. Registration is open to superintendents and any staff person managing district communications, social media and/or website. Register at this link OR by emailing participant names to Jenny Ugolini at jugolini@heartlandaea.org by Dec. 21.

Universal Protocol for Accommodations in Reading Available to Iowa Schools at No Cost

Iowa’s AEAs and the Department of Education are pleased to announce that we are providing access to uPAR, Universal Protocol for Accommodations in Reading, at no cost to schools. uPAR is an online screening tool that can be administered to groups of students to capture data showing how each student learns best.

Benefits of uPAR:

1. Set up a group of students in minutes
2. Administer to up to 30 students in one class period
3. Evaluations can occur virtually or in the classroom
4. Automatic scoring
5. Individual and group data can easily be sorted

Getting Started
Complete this form to request implementation of uPAR at your school. Review the uPAR Implementation Guide.

For more information, contact Wendy Robinson, Director of Instructional Services, or a member of your school’s support team for further assistance.

Heartland AEA Literacy News and Notes is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue we've included some short videos to assist with your virtual instruction as well as some new information around Dyslexia. Reach out to your Heartland AEA Literacy Consultant if you need any support.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Offers Training in Blended, In-Person & Virtual Formats

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce we are now offering Youth Mental Health First Aid in a blended format. Read more about YMHFA and options available to districts, including YMHFA in blended, virtual and in-person formats.

**Child Mental Health First Aid also now available!

New, Free Course for Educator Well-being from Yale

The Yale online course, Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty and Stress, is available to educators and school staff for FREE on Coursera.

The Yale team has spent months bringing the latest science and practice together into this 10-hour course that dives deeply into healthy emotion regulation for educators, the intersection of race, bias and identity in educating students, and practical strategies to support students in managing their difficult emotions.

Please share as widely as possible in your networks. Here’s the link to enroll. https://www.coursera.org/learn/managing-emotions-uncertainty-stress

Coming Soon: Professional Learning for Staff Associated with Safe Classroom Environments and Seclusion and Restraint

Asynchronous professional learning opportunities in 15, 30 and 60-minute sessions, to support the training requirements for staff associated with Senate File 2360 - Guidance for Safe Classroom Environments and the revised Chapter 103 rules. Professional learning will address the following topics: foundational behavior principles; de-escalation, prevention strategies, supporting communication and response strategies.

Free Online Access to Education Leadership's December issue on Mental Health for Educators

Education Leadership is providing the December/January issue on educator mental health free and open to all users through December. You can access the free online issue here.

Heart Of Innovation 2021 Date Set + Pear Deck Takeaway Intro

Check out our latest Instructional Technology newsletter:

• Teaching Tools: Active Learning while Physically Distancing
• 6 Googley Wintertime Activities for Kids
• New courses starting in January!

Join our new HAEA Innovative Educator Group on Facebook and look for daily ideas, inspiration, and fun!

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

Register Before Winter Break for Heartland Administrators’ Association January Meeting with Wixted & Co.

The Heartland Administrator’s Association (HAA) Jan. 5, 2021 meeting will focus on media and crisis awareness training.

The Media & Crisis Awareness Training 101 with Wixted & Co. discusses the fundamentals of media and crisis communication, beginning with the definition of a crisis versus an issue or controversy. In an environment that requires frequent, layered communication to many different audiences, participants will learn guidelines for interacting with the media during a crisis and why crises gain so much attention from key stakeholders and the media. We will examine how media convergence and social media are changing news coverage and the way organizations must respond when facing a crisis.

We will explore the most effective methods of communication to key stakeholders in 2021, examine the importance of audience analysis and discuss the four phases of a crisis. The trainer will use video examples to help illustrate key points.

The training will be held virtually via Zoom and capacity will be limited.

Registration is open to superintendents and any staff person managing district communications, social media and/or website. Register at this link OR by emailing participant names to Jenny Ugolini at jugolini@heartlandaea.org by Dec. 21.

Announcing the Launch of a New and Improved Heartland AEA Website

We are very excited to announce the launch of the Agency’s redesigned website. The new site will be easier to navigate, more user-friendly and quite graphically pleasing!

As a partner in education, it’s important for us to make information regarding our services and supports easily accessible for educators, students and families. We strive to provide our partners with the most accurate, up-to-date information and share our knowledge and expertise in education. Our goal with the redesigned website is to provide visitors an easier way to learn about Heartland AEA’s services and to browse information based on their own choices.

The new website gives better access to:

• Professional Learning opportunities

• Library & Digital resources 

• Creative Services materials and online ordering

• Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment supports

• Special Education services

• Family supports
 

The website also features:

• Enhanced web accessibility for those who use screen readers
• A responsive design that allows the site to be accessible on mobile devices
• Integrated social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Seasonal Note Cards: We design it. You write it. We print it.

Administrators can keep in touch and reach out to staff, students and families with seasonal note cards. You can order blank cards or type in your own message when you place your order. Go to csonline.heartlandaea.org. Log in with single sign-on (SSO)—the username/password used for Mandatory Reporter or Bloodborne Pathogens. Enter note cards in the search box.

Blank card: $0.06 each
Personalized card: $0.08 each
Blank A2 envelope: $0.04 each
Folded size: 5.5”x4.25”

English Learners Nov./Dec. Newsletter is Now Available

We are approaching the end of the calendar year and our winter EL Smore newsletter (part 1) is now published. You may reach the newsletter at the following link: https://www.smore.com/atksn. The topic of the current newsletter is SEL (Social Emotional Learning) with Students Learning English.

We hope this message finds you doing well, and we wish you a peaceful December and before long, a new calendar year! Best wishes to all of you as you work to support our students and families learning English!

The EL/Diversity Consultants of Heartland AEA

Copyright BriefNotes: Everything Students and Teachers Need to Know

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies have created an extensive, easy-to-use resource to help students and teachers understand copyright laws and the associated rights and responsibilities as users of copyrighted information.

Two versions of Copyright BriefNotes are available to support students and teachers in virtual and physical classrooms: Copyright BriefNotes for Students and Copyright BriefNotes for Students and Teachers. Both are available as a flipbook, PDF and printed version. You are welcome to link the flipbooks and PDFs to your school website or LMS. Visit our website to learn more.

Join Us for the December Science Networking Session that Focuses on NGSS Instructional Routines

Join us Dec. 7 at 3:45 p.m. as Iowa’s AEAs across the state begin networking sessions to support science instruction during face-to-face, blended and distance learning. The Zoom networking sessions will be facilitated by AEA Science Consultants and are being held to provide networking opportunities for science teachers across the state. This session will focus on NGSS Instructional Routines. Join by Zoom at this link: https://gpaea.zoom.us/j/95605588969.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Offers Training in Blended, In-Person & Virtual Formats

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce we are now offering Youth Mental Health First Aid in a blended format. Read more about YMHFA and options available to districts, including YMHFA in blended, virtual and in-person formats. 

**Child Mental Health First Aid also now available!

To request a YMHFA Training Email the Heartland AEA Regional Director assigned to your district and Jadie Boens, Heartland AEA Director of Special Programs, who will coordinate scheduling the YMHFA training.

Check Out Our Wellness Inspiration Site: Shareable Resource For Educators, Families and Students

In an effort to support the well-being of districts, students, educators and families, we're pleased to bring you "Wellness Inspiration," a resource dedicated to well-being. Check out the Wellness Inspiration site for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families! This week features:

• Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education workshops
• Down Dog Fitness App
• Funnies

Dec. 2020 School Leader Update

The Dec. 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available.

State Education Board Adopts Revisions to Seclusion and Restraint Rules

The State Board of Education recently adopted revisions to Iowa administrative rules on seclusion and restraint (Chapter 103). The revised rules will go into effect on Jan. 20, 2021. In the December 2020 SAI Report, Matt Carver addresses the seclusion and restraint rules change on pages 4-5 (the revised Chapter 103 rules are linked in the first line of his article).

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

Thanksgiving Office Hours and Van Delivery

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, all Heartland AEA offices will be closed Nov. 26-27. Our van delivery schedule will be as follows:

• Regular delivery Nov. 23-24
• No delivery Nov. 25-27
• Regular delivery resumes Nov. 30

Heartland Administrators’ Association Dec. Meeting

The next Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) meeting is Dec. 1. The agenda and meeting materials can be found here. This meeting will be held via Zoom and have an in-person option. As a reminder, for those wishing to attend in-person, you will need to RSVP by Nov. 25 to Jenny Ugolini. Room capacity will be capped at 32 people, and mitigation efforts will be in place.

Heartland Administrators' Assoc. (HAA) Meeting
Dec. 1, 2020
9 - 11:30 a.m.
Via Zoom at this link: https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/708115455 OR
In-person Location: 6500 Corporate Dr., Johnston

Agenda

Have You Signed Up for the CARE Workshop?

Through the use of COVID-19 Relief Funds, made available by the State of Iowa and our partners at Polk County Health Services, Heartland AEA is offering an exciting opportunity to support educator well-being and resiliency building. 

As a result of the current pandemic, the stressors placed upon educators have been further magnified, with many lives significantly disrupted due to millions of students now at home, thousands of educators teaching from home, and entire families and communities living in isolation. ALL educational staff are facing a plethora of challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Schools may be shifting between online learning and in-person learning; educators are adapting to new schedules and different ways of teaching; and trying to meet the needs of their students, while also meeting the needs of their own family and friends.

CARE (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education) workshops are unique, evidence-based professional development programs that help educators handle the stresses and rediscover the jobs of teaching. 

The goal of CARE is to: 

• Offer educators tools and resources for reducing stress, preventing burnout, enlivening teaching, and helping students thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

CARE introduces tools such as:

• Mindful awareness practices
• Caring and emotion skills training

Research shows that such practices are helpful for developing awareness, openness, emotional responsiveness and sensitivity - all essential qualities for modeling healthy behavior in the classroom and optimizing teaching and learning. By practicing the skills learned in the program, educators learn to cultivate calmness, awareness, presence, compassion, empathy and ability to listen. In the classroom these qualities improve teachers’ classroom management, curricular implementation and relationships with their students.

REGISTRATION
We will be offering separate sessions to meet the unique needs of administrators, educators and Heartland AEA staff. Registration is limited to 35 participants per session.

Administrator Session
Dec. 7 and 14; Jan. 14, 22, 27 and 29
8:30 - 10:30 a.m. 
Via Zoom 
Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

Educator Session
Dec. 9 and 14; Jan. 13, 22, 27 and 29
8:30 - 10:30 a.m. 
Via Zoom 
Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

AEA Staff Session
Dec. 9 and 14; Jan. 13, 22, 27, and 29
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Via Zoom 

Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

Heartland AEA Innovative Educators Facebook Group

The Heartland AEA Instructional Technology Consultants have created a new Facebook group to advance authentic technology integration and to inspire adult and student learners to innovate. You don't have to be working in technology to be a member of the group. All are welcome!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/heartlandaeainnovativeeducators


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

HEART Database to Sunset in Dec. 2020

Heartland AEA has been proud to provide the HEART Database to districts and schools for many years. Times and technology have changed significantly since we initially developed this resource. New tools are available to districts/schools, and the software used to build the database is now outdated and has become incompatible with some common computer operating systems.

Given the progress the state of Iowa has made in making other data systems available to districts/schools and the significant resources it would take to rebuild it, Heartland AEA will sunset the HEART Database on Dec. 31, 2020. If your district chooses to use HEART until Dec. 31, 2020, you can continue the import procedures you’ve been using to date.

School/District Decision Needed by Dec. 1, 2020
Heartland AEA will provide you with an export of up to the last seven years of the data you have in HEART, which you can use to import into a different system. If you would like a data export, contact Truong Dao anytime before Dec. 1, 2020, and you will be provided with the data in Jan. 2021.

Thank you for allowing Heartland AEA to partner with you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at sking@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14386.

Asking for Your Cooperation: Heartland AEA Mitigation Measures During Increasing COVID Numbers

As COVID case numbers are rising in Iowa, our agency leaders have been reviewing the mitigation measures our staff are expected to follow when working in school buildings and common settings. Our staff are routinely in and out of many locations and like you, we’re concerned about not only their safety, but the safety of your staff, students, and families as well. For that reason we are asking for your cooperation in helping us to prevent the spread of this virus and to keep everyone safer and in school.

Our staff members may begin to request that those children who can, wear a face covering while receiving services. If students are unable to wear a mask or face covering, we are also giving our staff permission to seek out ways to temporarily move to virtual service delivery in order to maintain safe social distancing. We do not intend to pressure or coerce students into wearing masks and we understand that IEPs need to be followed and that some students simply cannot wear a mask for a variety of reasons. However, because we are seeing an increase in cases in the larger community and in our staff, we want to make sure that as many people as possible involved in service delivery are safely masked. This will help us to prevent the spread of the virus and limit the number of adults and students needing to quarantine under current state guidance.

During this spike in quarantines and positive cases, we also continue to expect that adults wear masks when working with our staff. If this isn’t possible, we may in some cases request to temporarily meet virtually with administrators, teachers and parents as well.

As a reminder, below are the expectations we hold for Heartland AEA staff as they work in your buildings. Heartland AEA staff should be wearing a mask in the following situations:

• Upon entering a district building or community setting
• While in a building and moving through the building and/or
• When unable to maintain at least a 6-foot physical distance between themselves and others and
• Whenever required by districts, families and other partners
• While working directly with children and/or adults in close proximity

We understand that we are a service agency and not in the ultimatum business. We greatly desire to cooperate in a way that allows us to deliver the best possible service while keeping the maximum number of students and educators safe and in school. I only hope we can put this difficult time behind us as soon as possible. Thank you for any cooperation you can extend in helping us work to that end.

FREE Cognitive Coaching Session Available Through December with Thinking Collaborative

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary responses. Thinking Collaborative is extending its offer to provide educators with a coaching session at no cost with one of the training associates in the Cognitive CoachingSM Lifeline. Go to the Thinking Collaborative website for more information.

Heartland AEA Literacy News and Notes is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue…

• Decodable Text
• Adolescent Fluency
• Phonemic Awareness Resources
• Student Writing Samples
• Sight Words and How to Teach Them
• Professional Learning Opportunity: Comprehension Strategies for Grades 4-8

Looking for holiday gifts? How about books?Here are some gift ideas on books to put on your gift giving list this year.

Heartland AEA Math Minutes Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Math Minutes Newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue…

• Follow our Math Consultants on Twitter
• Achieve the Core Family Guides
• Mental Health and Well-being Matters
• Addressing Unfinished Teaching and Learning
• Creative Services at Heartland AEA

Heartland AEA is Offering Professional Learning to Support Educator Well-being and Resiliency Building

Through the use of COVID-19 Relief Funds, made available by the State of Iowa and our partners at Polk County Health Services, Heartland AEA is offering an exciting opportunity to support educator well-being and resiliency building. 

As a result of the current pandemic, the stressors placed upon educators have been further magnified, with many lives significantly disrupted due to millions of students now at home, thousands of educators teaching from home, and entire families and communities living in isolation. ALL educational staff are facing a plethora of challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Schools may be shifting between online learning and in-person learning; educators are adapting to new schedules and different ways of teaching; and trying to meet the needs of their students, while also meeting the needs of their own family and friends.

CARE (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education) workshops are unique, evidence-based professional development programs that help educators handle the stresses and rediscover the jobs of teaching.

The goal of CARE is to:

• Offer educators tools and resources for reducing stress, preventing burnout, enlivening teaching, and helping students thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

CARE introduces tools such as:

• Mindful awareness practices
• Caring and emotion skills training

Research shows that such practices are helpful for developing awareness, openness, emotional responsiveness and sensitivity - all essential qualities for modeling healthy behavior in the classroom and optimizing teaching and learning. By practicing the skills learned in the program, educators learn to cultivate calmness, awareness, presence, compassion, empathy and ability to listen. In the classroom these qualities improve teachers’ classroom management, curricular implementation and relationships with their students.

REGISTRATION
We will be offering separate sessions to meet the unique needs of administrators, educators and Heartland AEA staff. Registration is limited to 35 participants per session.

Administrator Session
Dec. 7 and 14; Jan. 14, 22, 27 and 29
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Via Zoom
Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

Educator Session
Dec. 9 and 14; Jan. 13, 22, 27 and 29
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Via Zoom
Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

AEA Staff Session
Dec. 9 and 14; Jan. 13, 22, 27, and 29
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Via Zoom 

Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

Our Wellness Resource Has Great Information For Educators, Families and Students

In an effort to support the well-being of districts, students, educators and families, we're pleased to bring you "Wellness Inspiration," a resource dedicated to well-being. Check out the Wellness Inspiration site for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families! This week features:

• Professional Learning to Support Educator and AEA Staff Well-being and Resiliency Building
• Continuing the Conversation: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• DIY Face Mask Parody

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

Heartland AEA Mitigation Measures During Increasing COVID Numbers

As COVID case numbers are rising in Iowa, our agency leaders have been reviewing the mitigation measures our staff are expected to follow when working in school buildings and common settings. Our staff are routinely in and out of many locations and like you, we’re concerned about not only their safety, but the safety of your staff, students, and families as well. For that reason we are asking for your cooperation in helping us to prevent the spread of this virus and to keep everyone safer and in school.

Our staff members may begin to request that those children who can, wear a face covering while receiving services. If students are unable to wear a mask or face covering, we are also giving our staff permission to seek out ways to temporarily move to virtual service delivery in order to maintain safe social distancing. We do not intend to pressure or coerce students into wearing masks and we understand that IEPs need to be followed and that some students simply cannot wear a mask for a variety of reasons. However, because we are seeing an increase in cases in the larger community and in our staff, we want to make sure that as many people as possible involved in service delivery are safely masked. This will help us to prevent the spread of the virus and limit the number of adults and students needing to quarantine under current state guidance.

During this spike in quarantines and positive cases, we also continue to expect that adults wear masks when working with our staff. If this isn’t possible, we may in some cases request to temporarily meet virtually with administrators, teachers and parents as well.

As a reminder, below are the expectations we hold for Heartland AEA staff as they work in your buildings. Heartland AEA staff should be wearing a mask in the following situations:

• Upon entering a district building or community setting
• While in a building and moving through the building and/or
• When unable to maintain at least a 6-foot physical distance between themselves and others and
• Whenever required by districts, families and other partners
• While working directly with children and/or adults in close proximity

We understand that we are a service agency and not in the ultimatum business. We greatly desire to cooperate in a way that allows us to deliver the best possible service while keeping the maximum number of students and educators safe and in school. I only hope we can put this difficult time behind us as soon as possible. Thank you for any cooperation you can extend in helping us work to that end.

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues!

Knocking on doors is the theme for this issue. There are lots of resources to share with teachers.

• DVD, Books/Cassette Kits, and LeapFrog Give-away
• Publisher Read-Alouds Extended to March 31, 2021
• Book Rotation
• Ebooks Added in October
• New Collection: Picture Books with Built-In Audio
• U.S. History--Primary Source Posters

We’re Giving Away DVDs and Other Digital Treasures!

Welcome to our first digital give-away! Heartland AEA usually has a used materials give-away each summer. Well, that plan changed this year! That’s OK because it gave us the opportunity to think about the giveaway in a different way.

We have about 2,800 DVDs, books/cassette kits, or LeapFrog titles that have been weeded from the collection (mainly duplicate copies). If you’re interested in grabbing up some of these items, follow these directions:

Go to this special Medianet site and log in as you usually do with the “regular” Medianet.

Materials are yours to keep and will be sent to the school on the Heartland AEA van. 

“Pick” the titles of interest to add to your cart. You'll then be prompted for your username/password. Then click Test Availability.

Following the instructions in red led you here to Submit your request.

New Awesome Ebooks Added to MackinVia

Heartland AEA added 190 ebook titles to MackinVia in October. Thanks to the teachers who recommended titles--mainly fiction! This spreadsheet includes titles and annotations and you can easily sort and share titles with teachers and students. Remember that we have also purchased many titles to support social justice and equity--representation matters. These links will help you access www.mackinvia.com or https://scout.iowaaea.org. For more information, contact the Heartland AEA Library on our website or email library@heartlandaea.org.

Heartland AEA is Offering Professional Learning to Support Educator Well-being and Resiliency Building

Through the use of COVID-19 Relief Funds, made available by the State of Iowa and our partners at Polk County Health Services, Heartland AEA is offering an exciting opportunity to support educator well-being and resiliency building.

As a result of the current pandemic, the stressors placed upon educators have been further magnified, with many lives significantly disrupted due to millions of students now at home, thousands of educators teaching from home, and entire families and communities living in isolation. ALL educational staff are facing a plethora of challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Schools may be shifting between online learning and in-person learning; educators are adapting to new schedules and different ways of teaching; and trying to meet the needs of their students, while also meeting the needs of their own family and friends.

CARE (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education) workshops are unique, evidence-based professional development programs that help educators handle the stresses and rediscover the jobs of teaching.

The goal of CARE is to:

• Offer educators tools and resources for reducing stress, preventing burnout, enlivening teaching, and helping students thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

CARE introduces tools such as:

• Mindful awareness practices
• Caring and emotion skills training

Research shows that such practices are helpful for developing awareness, openness, emotional responsiveness and sensitivity - all essential qualities for modeling healthy behavior in the classroom and optimizing teaching and learning. By practicing the skills learned in the program, educators learn to cultivate calmness, awareness, presence, compassion, empathy and ability to listen. In the classroom these qualities improve teachers’ classroom management, curricular implementation and relationships with their students.

REGISTRATION
We will be offering separate sessions to meet the unique needs of administrators, educators and Heartland AEA staff. Registration is limited to 35 participants per session.

Administrator Session
Dec. 7 and 14; Jan. 14, 22, 27 and 29
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Via Zoom
Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

Educator Session
Dec. 9 and 14; Jan. 13, 22, 27 and 29
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Via Zoom
Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

AEA Staff Session
Dec. 9 and 14; Jan. 13, 22, 27, and 29
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Via Zoom Registration information is located at this link: https://bit.ly/3etfhFr Course 190771

 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

HAA November Meeting Cancelled

The regular Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) and Superintendents' Advisory Council (SAC) meeting on Nov. 3 has been cancelled. The HAA will meet via Zoom on Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. as scheduled. Calendar invitations have already been sent.

Join Our New Facebook Group: Heartland AEA Innovative Educators

The Heartland AEA instructional technology consultants' have created the new Heartland AEA Innovative Educators Facebook Group to advance authentic technology integration and to inspire adult and student learners to innovate. You don't have to be working in technology to be a member of the group. All are welcome! Become a member on Facebook if interested!

Take the Next Steps in Supporting Postsecondary Transition for the 2021 Graduating Class

AEA PREP is providing the additional resources for supporting the successful postsecondary transition for the class of 2021. You may recall, the first step provided direction on developing your Postsecondary Response Team. Steps two and three will center around collecting and analyzing data, step four will provide potential resources, and the last step is to provide ongoing follow-up. Visit the AEA PREP Supporting the Class of 2021 for more information.

Our Wellness Resource Has Great Information For Educators, Families and Students

In an effort to support the well-being of districts, students, educators and families, we're pleased to bring you "Wellness Inspiration," a resource dedicated to well-being.

Check out the Wellness Inspiration site for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families! This week features:

• 5 Ways to be Kinder to Yourself
• Halloween Funnies
• 8 Steps to Combat Video Conference Fatigue