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

  

AEA Board Elections Update

2025 marks an important election year for the boards of directors of Iowa’s AEAs. Recent legislation (HF 2612) reduces AEA director districts from nine to five beginning in December 2025, changing how board members are selected and represented.

• All five director district seats are up for election this fall. Under the new structure, AEA boards will transition from nine elected members to a combination of five director district representatives and four at-large representatives who are superintendents (or their designees).
• The four superintendent-designated at-large seats will be selected this fall through a process developed by the School Administrators of Iowa.

Elections for director district positions will take place in October and November, with all newly elected and appointed members beginning their service at AEA board meetings in December.

Call to Action: Contact Heartland AEA Chief Administrator Dr. Cindy Yelick for specific details about how the election process will work (and opportunities to participate)!

Customized Braille: AEA Supports Students in Learning Braille Contractions

Did you know Iowa's AEAs provide comprehensive Braille services to support students who are blind or visually impaired? Access to Braille materials ensures these students have equitable access to educational content, and the way those materials are prepared can make a big difference in how students learn.

Our Library of Congress-certified Braillists don’t just transcribe materials—they customize them to align with each student’s current stage in learning Braille contractions. This means students receive materials that are tailored to their individual progression, whether they are just beginning to learn uncontracted Braille or are gradually being introduced to contracted forms. This customization helps build confidence and fluency in Braille literacy.

Our services include:

• Transcription of instructional resources into Braille
• Production of tactile graphics
• Customization of Braille materials to match a student’s current understanding and use of Braille contractions

Consultation with educators to support the integration of Braille literacy in the classroom
Learn more on our webpage or place your order on Creative Services Online.

New PD Opportunity: Mentoring and Induction for Year 1 & 2 Mentors

Supporting new teachers is one of the most important ways schools can build a strong professional culture and increase teacher success and retention. Heartland AEA is excited to offer a new course designed specifically for educators who mentor beginning teachers.

Mentoring and Induction: Year 1 & 2 Mentors provides mentors with proven strategies to guide and support new teachers through their critical first two years in the classroom. Participants will:

• Learn and practice using the coaching stances of collaborating, consulting, and coaching to meet new teacher needs.
• Engage in professional development focused on refining effective teaching practices.
• Take part in ongoing peer collaboration sessions to share strategies and discuss how to best support beginning educators.

This training is ideal for educators serving as mentors within their schools who want to strengthen both their own skills and the success of the teachers they support.

Course Details
Dates: Oct. 27 & Nov. 10, 2025
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Time: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Session #55213
Register here

Spring Dates Announced for Six Shifts for Success - Improving Special Education and Other Intervention Outcomes

Educational leaders are invited to participate in Six Shifts for Success: Improving Special Education and Other Intervention Outcomes — A Leadership Course in Systems Thinking and Action. This in-person, two-day professional development opportunity will help district and school leaders strengthen student support systems using the evidence-based Six Shifts framework developed by Nathan Levenson (2020).

Who Should Attend
District and school leaders, administrators, special education directors, intervention coordinators, MTSS teams and teacher leaders.

Benefits for Participants
Attendees will leave with concrete tools to assess systems, identify challenges and implement changes that improve results for students with disabilities and those receiving interventions. The collaborative nature of this professional development fosters idea-sharing and problem-solving among leaders facing similar challenges.

Details
April 9 & 27, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA

Registration
Registration Link
Cost: $150 participant fee; $200 for license renewal credit (1 credit)
Registration Deadline: April 8

This is an evaluator approval licensure renewal option for administrators.

Virtual ESSA Support for Data Review, SAMI & Action Planning

Heartland AEA will again provide virtual sessions for school teams to support ESSA-required actions. A schedule of those sessions may be found at this link.