Before the first Heartland Administrator Association Meeting next Tuesday, September 7, we thought that we would introduce you to some new faces. Below are the new superintendents starting this year in Heartland AEA's area who have submitted self profiles at this time.
Shane Ehresman, Lynnville-Sully
Educat
ion
Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from Western Illinois University Specialist in Education in Educational Administration from the University of Iowa
Master of Arts in Educational Administration, Principal License (5 - 12) from the University of Iowa
Master of Arts in Teaching from Coe College
Bachelor of Special Studies in Secondary Education and History from Cornell College
Past Work Experience
Administrative Experience:Principal, Washington High School, Washington, Iowa, July 2005 – July 2010 Associate Principal, Marion High School, Marion, Iowa, July 2000 – May 2005
Iowa Assistant Principal of the Year, School Administrators of Iowa, 2005
Classroom Experience:
Social Studies Teacher, Marion High School, Marion, Iowa, August 1995 - May 2000
Social Studies Teacher, Forreston High School, Forreston, Illinois, August 1994 - May 1995
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
Lynnville-Sully has a reputation of strong academic achievement. With five school-aged children, I am confident they will receive a well-balanced education. Also, I was very impressed with the high level of community support of the school district.What is your vision for your district?
My vision as an educator is for schools to be positive places for students and adults. I value a supportive environment in a school setting. Students, staff, administration, and community members should embrace the idea of supporting one another. A supportive environment focuses more on cooperation and places less emphasis on competition. Competition in an environment can create an atmosphere of individuality and selfishness. Defining attainable goals include the involvement of the community (staff, faculty, students, parents, administration, businesses) as an active partner and participant in any major change or decision. The community or stakeholders should help develop the school’s mission, vision, and goals. If the community has a share in the development of school’s purpose, then they become lifelong learners who take pride in their work and service to others. As the new superintendent in the Lynnville-Sully School District, collecting data and understanding the culture will be essential to maintaining/developing a shared vision.
At the beginning of the school year, my role would be to gather information regarding past changes and talk to stakeholders about the upcoming school initiatives. Examples of data collection: Student standardized test scores, CSIP, student attendance, staff attendance, discipline referrals, suspensions, district policy manual, participation in school activities, district student learning goals, staff development training, technology goals and community expectations. After evaluating the school environment and analyzing the current educational programming, my task will be to summarize the data and then work with various stakeholders to achieve our shared vision.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy reading, lawn work, playing basketball, and spending time with my wife, Tashia, and our five children: Three boys: Sage (13), Drake (10), Kale (6) & Two girls: Kasiah (11) and Kaleah (7)
Tina Ross, Colfax-Mingo
Education
BA from Buena Vista College in English/Spanish
M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Curriculum & Instruction
Ed. S., from Drake University in Educational Leadership
Past work experience
5 1/2 years: Spanish/English at Chadwick-Milledgeville HS, MIlledgeville, IL
2 1/2 years: Spanish, Grinnell HS
2 years: Special Education, Baxter9 years: Colfax-Mingo, Spanish, Curriculum Director, Special Education Director
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district? Providing for the best possible education for Tigerhawks is at the top of my list! What a better way to give back to the community who gave me so much as a youth.
What is your vision for your district?
We are building a STRONG community, with an opportunity for all kids to achieve his/her greatest potential.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
Deciding which ball field/gym to get to on any given night, following my kids. I enjoy reading and going to plays when we aren't at a ball field.
Dean Schnoes, Exira
Education
1980 Grad of Northwester College
1994 Grad of Drake University
2007 Grad of UNI
Past work experience
Administrative Experience:
Panorama CSD - 8 years Orient-Macksburg - 3 years Emmetsburg, River Valley Classroom Experience: Estherville, Albia and Sheldon
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
The challenge bringing two schools together as one and so students in each district would still have a district to attend school. (He is also theh superintendent of the Elk Horn-Kimballton School District.)
What is your vision for your district?
Provide the best possible education to all students so they can become life-long learners.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
Fishing, hunting, golfing and traveling
I am also a USA and College Volleyball Official.
Doug Stilwell, Urbandale
Education
BA from Buena Vista University
M.S. from Northwest Missouri State University
Ed.S. from Drake University
Ed.D. from Drake University
Past work experience
Elementary teacher - 13 years
Building principal - 12 years
Director of Human Resources - 3 years
Associate Superintendent - 2 years
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
I am very familiar with the Urbandale Community School district, having served here for five years, and have found it to be an excellent district. Urbandale is a community that values and supports education and its schools. We have dedicated members of the school board who are committed to and support our mission of "teaching all and reaching all." The district is filled with quality professionals who are committed to providing an outstanding educational experience for their students. The district's size (3,800 students) provides us the advantages of a larger school district while also allowing us the ability to meet individual needs of children and their families.
What is your vision for your district?My vision is to create a learning organization focused on continual improvement in everything we do. An environment of continual improvement applies to everyone, staff and students alike, and will result in increased effectiveness of our district and improved student achievement.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my dog, reading, and being an active member of my church.
Eric Sundermeyer, Interstate 35
Education
B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa
M.A from the University of Iowa
Ed.S. from Drake University
Past work experience
Louisa-Muscatine Junior High School – 8th grade language arts and reading teacher
West Liberty Community Schools – Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Perry Community Schools – Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?
We loved the location of being close to the Metro in a smaller school setting and are excited about the district’s emphasis on technology and the amount of school and community pride.
What is your vision for your district?To help the students, staff, and community attain what’s possible and make it a place where people want to move and enroll their friends and family.What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?I enjoy reading, surfing the Internet, playing games, spending time with family and friends, and watching movies and sporting events.
Tim Taylor, Ames
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Social Studies Education (emphasis in political science and economics) from the University of Northern Iowa
Master of Science in Educational Administration from Iowa State University
Doctorate in Educational Administration from Iowa State University
Past Work Experience
Served as High School Social Studies Teacher and athletic coach for 16 years in the Janesville, Iowa and Winterset, Iowa Community Schools
Two years as a graduate assistant at ISU while working on my Ph.D
Two years with the Iowa Department of Education as a consultant in Administrative Professional Development
Have served the last 18 years as Associate Supt. in Human Resources for the Ames Community Schools.
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at your district?I pursued the Superintendency as a matter of timing and opportunity; the mid-year resignation of the former Superintendent, the service as the interim, and the appointment at the request of the current Board of Education.What is your vision for your district?We will be working extremely hard to ensure a student-centered learning environment where our building principals are experts in data, assessment and differentiated instructional strategies. Through the development of professional learning communities, principals and teachers will then collaborate to review building, grade level, and individual classroom achievement data to make informed instructional decisions such that all kids are able to reach their potential.What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?Golf is my passion.... someone once wrote, "Lucky is the man that finds his passion.... unlucky the man if it is golf."
Sign up today for one of these sessions which provide teachers and administrators with a brief overview of the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards. Any state voluntary grant recipients (teachers and administrators) who have not yet received the basic overview training of the IQPPS should consider taking the course. Register through the Heartland Professional Development Catalog.
Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards Overview
Time: Friday, September 3 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Location: Adel Public Library
Activity Number: EC007999991101or
Time: Wednesday, September 8 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Location: Room 11 of the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Activity Number: EC007992111101
Iowa Core training is just around the corner. Click here for a flyer that contains the registration information for Leadership for the Iowa Core, Year Three, Day One. The Iowa Core team looks forward to our continued partnership with you and your leadership team.
Is your K-12 School Counseling Program ready for a site visit? Join Julie Melcher, School Improvement Consultant from the Department of Education, and Susen Schirmer, PLLC from Heartland AEA, for a morning workshop in preparing your K-12 School Counseling program for your DE Site Visit for 2010-11. The workshop will be held on September 1, 2010 in the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive).
To register, go to the Professional development course catalog on the Heartland AEA website at https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/CN005292111101INV.
While you are in the mindset for improving your counseling programs, make sure to check out other professional learning opportunities listed below.
Counselor Academy II is a four-day training that will help individual counselors focus on the use of data to drive their school counseling program. For registration, see the Heartland Professional Development Catalog.
Counselor Academy III is a four-day training that will help individual counselors write, revise or refine school counseling curriculum. For registration, see the Heartland Professional Development Catalog.
The Iowa National Guard Youth Program is happy to offer a two-day training for educators titled, Living in the New Normal. This training is conducted by the Military Child Education Coalition and provides those working with military children a wealth of information and resources (those attending will leave with a tote bag filled with resources). All materials, the training, as well as breakfast and lunch both days are provided at no cost to the attendee. Additionally, those completing the training may choose to pay for either one graduate credit or a CEU. The training will take place on September 28 and 29 at Camp Dodge in Johnston. For more information and registration, please go to www.MilitaryChild.org.
IHaveAPlan Iowa training is available to districts and individual educators free of charge. The trainings for individual educators at Heartland AEA are on the Heartland Professional Development Catalog. To arrange training in your district (minimum participation applies) please contact Tracy Havener from the Iowa College Student Aid Commission at Tracy.Havener@iowa.gov.
Join Joellen Killion, Deputy Executive Director of the National Staff Development Council and author of Becoming a Learning School, for this exciting professional development opportunity on October 14 and 15, 2010 at Adventureland Inn, Altoona. In the professional learning community of a school, an effective collaborative team is necessary to improve learning for each and every student.
This collaborative process, referenced multiple times in the outcomes of the Iowa Core, is foundational to the successful implementation of any school reform effort. The Becoming a Learning School Conference will provide strategies and tools to: - Strengthen school and district culture
- Establish a focus on common goals
- Clarify roles of the stakeholders in the school
- Troubleshoot issues that are perceived as barriers to professional learning
- Build a strong evaluation system that ensures revisions are based on student needs
Collaborative Teams: If you don't have one, this is how to get it started. If you have one, this is how to measure against standards to improve! To register, go to the Heartland Professional Development Catalog at https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH
The activity number is SI012099991101.
Heartland AEA will be hosting three online Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) seminars that we are happy to bring to you at no cost to you or your district. We encourage you and your staff to come and enjoy the seminars, taking and using the information that is beneficial to you and your students.
To register for any of these seminars, please go to the Heartland Professional Development Catalog located on the front page of our website or at https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH
Why Are We Still Teaching the Wrong Grammar the Wrong Way?
Time: Wednesday, October 6, 2010 from 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Location: Room 13 of the Johnston Regional Education Center (REC) at 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Activity Number: ES005692111101
In this seminar the presenter critiques the standard pedagogical model then attempts to simplify it to a more elegant system that might be applied in practice. Alternative approaches might require viewing grammar, not as a discrete, sentence-level system but as both big lexis and small text. Likewise, teachers might be better off aiming to inculcate, not rules, but a “feel” for the way that the systems interrelate.
The Multilevel ESOL Class: A Multitude of Opportunities for Language Development
Time: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 from 2:00-3:30 p.mLocation: The Learning Center at the Johnston REC
Activity Number: ES0056-92111102
In this seminar, participants examine ways to organize multilevel classrooms, consider the principles of effective multilevel instruction and work with specific presentation and group management strategies that address the challenges of multilevel instruction and enhance its benefits.
A Focus on Academic Oral Language and Vocabulary Instruction in Language Learning
Time: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 from 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Location: Lower Level of Zion Lutheran Church (4300 Beaver Ave., Des Moines) Activity Number: ES005699991101
This seminar will address the role of oral language and vocabulary development in K-12 students’ school success. It will then explore a number of effective and practical ways to teach academic language and the vocabulary of the content areas of math, science and social studies.
The Iowa Department of Education has partnered with TransACT to provide basic user-training sessions designed specifically for Iowa school districts. Click here to download an informational flyer.
The first Curriculum Network Meeting for the 2010-2011 year will be held on Friday, September 3, 2010. The meeting will go from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and will be held in Rooms 3, 4 & the ICN of the Johnston Regional Education Center. The agenda is available at http://curriculumnet.pbworks.com/September-3%2C-2010-Agenda.
Topics for this meeting include a district perspective of instructional rounds and the latest on the inclusion of the Common Core in the Iowa Core.
To our superintendent colleagues, we invite you to join us for our monthly Heartland Administrator Association (HAA) meetings. The meetings are a time to come together, collaborate and discuss educational laws and standards and district-wide issues.
All monthly meetings, with the exception of the May, will be held at the West Des Moines Learning Resource Center. The May meeting will take place in the Johnston Regional Education Center. Meetings are always the first Tuesday of every month and begin at 9:00 a.m. This year’s first HAA meeting will be on September 7, 2010 (the Tuesday after Labor Day).
Agendas will always be available for download in the Administrator Connection on Fridays prior to the meetings. Be sure to check next week's update for the September agenda!
Dates for the 2010-2011 year are the following:
September 7
October 5
November 2
December 7January 4
February 1
March 1
April 5
May 3
If you have suggestions for agenda items please contact your representative on the Superintendent's Advisory Council (listed below) or Sharon Kurns at skurns@aea11.k12.ia.us.Area 1: John Kinley, Gilbert
Area 2: Brian Horn, Madrid
Area 3: Steve Smith, Guthrie Center
Area 4: Randy Flack, Knoxville
Area 5: Mark Wittmer, Pella
Areas 6 & 7: Tom Narak, West Des Moines
Chairperson: Tom Downs, Southeast Polk
Area 8: Nancy Sebring, Des Moines
Area 9: Luvern Gubbels, Des Moines Diocese
Area 10: Doug Williams, DMACC
We’d like to provide you with an update on changes to our agency’s leadership team and to our facilities.Three partnership directors have left the Agency. We have absorbed two of the partership director vacancies, and in those regions, districts have been assigned to other partnership directors. Our third and most recent vacancy has been filled with an interim partnership director serving in Regions 6 & 7. The Agency has chosen Dr. Kristi Flugum Upah to fill that role for 2010-2011. Dr. Upah has been with the Agency for 17 years, and she will serve the Ames, Ballard, Colo-Nesco, Gilbert and Roland Story school districts.Heartland AEA closed two offices during the summer, Woodside (Ankeny) and Newton. Woodside staff were relocated to the Johnston Regional Education Center at 6500 Corporate Drive. The sound booth formerly in the Woodside office was also relocated to the Johnston REC. Newton office staff were relocated to the former Emerson Hough Elementary School building at 700 North 4th Avenue East in Newton. The relocation of the office to Emerson Hough allows Heartland a great opportunity to partner with the Newton Schools. Future plans for the new Newton office will include the creation of classroom space that can be used for professional development classes and agency meetings.
Please consider using the Administrator Connection as a means of exchanging ideas, offering feedback and sharing information. You may post a comment by clicking on an article title, scrolling to the bottom of the page and leaving a comment in the field. A more direct route to leaving a comment is to click “Comments” under the article (shown below) and the Comment field will appear. Note: Posts are moderated by the Heartland Communications Department.
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