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

 

Plan to Attend: Heartland Administrators' Association March 5

The next Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting will be held on March 5 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston. This will be an in-person meeting with lunch provided. The agenda features Session 2 of INspired Leadership Overview with guest speakers Tamara Lindholm and Kelly Turcotte, from ESSDACK, and partnership updates.

Future Ready Network's March Event to Elevate Meaningful Career Conversations

The March 21 Future Ready Network will focus on Taking Future Ready to the Next Level - Meaningful Career Conversations for Elementary. During our time together we will explore career conversations and activities for elementary students and hear from districts about how they are implementing career exploration at the elementary grade levels. Participants can join in person at Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston or via Zoom.

Heartland AEA Library Digital Resources Newsletter is Here

In this issue:

• Accessibility Features in Digital Resources
• Simulate EPIC Conversations with Historical Figures With AI
• New Videos in Learn360
• New Features in PebbleGo
• Professional Reading

Calling all Principals! Join Our Principal Alliance Networking Group

Principal Alliance Meeting: Feb. 29, 2024

The Principal Alliance Lasting Leadership Series will focus on current practices in the field of leadership and principalship. Join your colleagues on the last weekday of the month from 9-10 a.m. for thematic whole group and small group discussions centered on current problems of practice. Additional resources will be shared to support the topics. Visit the Iowa’s AEAs website for meeting dates.

Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines Training Opportunity for Buildings and/or District Teams Coming June 12

Heartland AEA is pleased to offer the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines workshop on June 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (location TBD). CSTAG is an evidence-based model for schools to use in conducting threat assessments of students. School threat assessment is a proactive and flexible violence prevention practice that is used when an individual threatens to commit a violent act or engages in threatening behavior. The CSTAG school threat assessment model allows school‐based teams to follow a decision‐tree process to resolve less serious, transient threats quickly while focusing greater attention on more serious, substantive threats.

This is a team training opportunity and each participating school/district is asked to identify a threat assessment team to attend the workshop. Heartland AEA will cover the cost of the workshop; schools/districts will just need to purchase the CSTAG manual (the manual cost ranges from $45-$50, depending on the total quantity purchased). It is recommended that each participant have their own copy of the manual. The use of the manual is critical to achieving fidelity of implementation.

If you have a threat assessment team that would like to attend, please register via this link: HL - The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) (Course # 216129), Section 318967.

** Please note: Each individual team member will need to register.

** If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Director, and/or Jadie Boens, Director of Social, Emotional, Behavior, & Mental Health Services.

An Easier Way to Register for AEA Courses is on the Horizon!

Iowa’s AEAs are collaborating to move to a new registration system for our professional learning courses. We’ve heard your feedback — you need an easier way to find, register and pay for courses. Stay tuned as we work to bring you a new system!

What does this mean for me?
A new and improved interface and experience! It will be easier to navigate and locate learning opportunities.

What about my course history and transcripts?
We are working with our current vendor to import each person’s course history into the new system. There’s nothing you need to do at this time!

In the coming months, there will be ongoing communication about the new system. If you have any questions, contact your AEA’s Professional Learning Office.

What does this mean for courses ending by July 31, 2024?
Tentatively, courses that end by July 31 will continue to be housed on our current registration system.

What does this mean for courses going into the new professional learning system?
Participants will still be able to easily access our catalog/registration system from our agency website. Training and support will be provided for instructors.

Instructors
What does this mean for courses an instructor has created in the past?
We are working to identify a process to export course data so you can easily access and re-enter course information as you teach them.

What about my instructor credentials (vita)?
Instructors’ credentials (vita) will need to be re-entered into the new system. There will be an opportunity to copy/paste and download/upload data into the new system. More information for instructors will be coming soon.

Strengthen Your School Counselor Relationship at Counselor Connection on March 7

Are you confused about the role of the school counselor? As an administrator, do you want to strengthen the relationship with your school counselor? If so, Counselor Connection on March 7 is for you! The morning will cover the counselor/administrator relationship and teams of school counselors and their admin are suggested. Lunch is on your own, then in the afternoon, the school counselors come back for some directed professional learning. Register here! for this fantastic day! For questions, contact Sue Schirmer, Heartland AEA Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant.

Counselor Connection
March 7
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Register at this link

Behavior Support Community of Practice Continues on April 9

The intention for the Behavior Support Community of Practice (CoP) is to engage in common learning, network, and collaborate to build community among individuals who hold similar roles. This CoP is designed for staff who serve in the role of a Behavior Interventionist, Behavior Coach, Behavior Strategist, etc.

Attendance at last year’s CoP is not necessary to join us this year! If you did not attend last year, and are interested in attending this year, please complete this Google Form to ensure you are added to the distribution list.

We will be facilitating the CoP on the following dates and times for the 2023-2024 school year:

• April 9, 2024 - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Johnston Regional Education Center, Room 141
• May 14, 2024 - 12:00 - 3:00 p.m - Johnston Regional Education Center, Room 101

**To facilitate a meaningful CoP, in person attendance is recommended. However, we do recognize that your responsibilities may not allow you to attend in person; thus a zoom option will be offered, upon request. Please contact Jadie Boens, Heartland AEA Director of Social Emotional Behavior Mental Health (SEBMH) Services, to request a zoom link and/or for any further questions.

Reiman Gardens Celebrates Teachers with Free Admission & Giveaways on June 7

Calling all educators! Reiman Gardens wants to shower you with appreciation this summer. Mark your calendars for Teacher Appreciation Day on June 7, 2024, where you'll enjoy free admission.

This is our heartfelt THANK YOU for nurturing young minds and inspiring the future. While free admission extends to dedicated teachers (excluding families), we've got even more in store to brighten your day.

• Grand Prize: Free Class Field Trip to Reiman Gardens
• Gift Card Bonanza
• Surprise Goodies & More

Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to celebrate YOU! Visit the Reiman Gardens website for more information and share the news with your fellow educators.