Adobe is ending the K-12 student licensing program that allows teachers and students to buy Adobe software at very low prices. Orders can be placed until October 28, 2010 at the IEC software store managed by Journey Education. To order, follow the directions at http://www.journeyed.com/select.
Sample prices --
Creative Suites 5 Design Standard
Retail: $1,299
EC Student/Teacher price: $209.95
Creative Suite 5 Production Premium
Retail: $1,699
IEC Student/Teacher price: $369.95
Please share this information with students and staff that may be interested in purchasing Adobe software.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Student Opportunity: National History Day in Iowa
National History Day (NHD) in Iowa has undergone many changes to comply with state budget restrictions, but thanks to all of the hard-working students, teachers, parents and volunteers, NHD in Iowa is still afloat and is planning for the upcoming contest season. State contests will be held on Monday, April 25, 2011, for the senior division and Monday, May 2 for the junior division. Youth division showcase will also be held on Monday, April 25, in conjunction with the senior division contest.
Instead of physical mailings, information will be distributed primarily via e-mail this year. The 2010-2011 contest theme is Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences.
Click here to download the updated 2010-2011 rulebook to review with students before starting projects. One of the most notable changes, the website category, will be split into individual and group categories this year, rather than all websites competing together. That should garner applause from many of the web site participants! Student entries MUST be created through the Weebly portal located on the NHD website at http://nhd.org/CategoryWebsite.htm. Websites created with other programs or on other sites (including the public access to Weebly) will not be eligible for judging at the district and state levels of NHD in Iowa contests.
The “Iowa Sample Topics List” is posted at www.iowahistory.org along with other useful information about entering district and state contests. To find Iowa NHD information, go to the State Historical Society of Iowa webpage, click on “Education and Outreach” at the top of the page and then look for the “NHD in Iowa” tab on the left side of the page.
Questions can be directed to Millie Frese in the NHD office at the State Historical Society of Iowa. She can be contacted via email, millie.frese@iowa.gov; phone, (515) 281-6860; or cell, (515) 868-7248.
For program-related updates throughout the year, join the NHD in Iowa listserv by sending a blank e-mail to join-teacherupdate@lists.ia.gov.
Instead of physical mailings, information will be distributed primarily via e-mail this year. The 2010-2011 contest theme is Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences.
Click here to download the updated 2010-2011 rulebook to review with students before starting projects. One of the most notable changes, the website category, will be split into individual and group categories this year, rather than all websites competing together. That should garner applause from many of the web site participants! Student entries MUST be created through the Weebly portal located on the NHD website at http://nhd.org/CategoryWebsite.htm. Websites created with other programs or on other sites (including the public access to Weebly) will not be eligible for judging at the district and state levels of NHD in Iowa contests.
The “Iowa Sample Topics List” is posted at www.iowahistory.org along with other useful information about entering district and state contests. To find Iowa NHD information, go to the State Historical Society of Iowa webpage, click on “Education and Outreach” at the top of the page and then look for the “NHD in Iowa” tab on the left side of the page.
Questions can be directed to Millie Frese in the NHD office at the State Historical Society of Iowa. She can be contacted via email, millie.frese@iowa.gov; phone, (515) 281-6860; or cell, (515) 868-7248.
For program-related updates throughout the year, join the NHD in Iowa listserv by sending a blank e-mail to join-teacherupdate@lists.ia.gov.
Internet Service Interruption Saturday, October 9
Heartland AEA is transitioning our ICN equipment, routers and servers from a data center with overhead sprinklers and cooling problems to a secure data bunker with dry fire suppression, conditioned power and controlled temperature. We will need to disconnect the power to the current server room between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. this Saturday, October 9. During this maintenance window, you will not be able to access the Internet from your school district for approximately one hour between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Heartland's email, web and phone services may be down for the entire four hours.
There will be another period of down time on October 23. Additional information will be provided closer to that date. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
There will be another period of down time on October 23. Additional information will be provided closer to that date. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Superintendents: October HAA Minutes
Click here to download the minutes from the October HAA meeting. The minutes and handouts are also posted on Heartland's Web site in the Heartland Networks link under the Leaders tab, http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/leaders/ldr/admin.html.
During the learning portion of the meeting the use of online tools to increase engagement of stakeholders was investigated. Links to all of the resources including articles, examples of acceptable use policies, and online Google resources are available at the Superintendent Academy Google site at https://sites.google.com/site/superintendentacademy/ (Clicking on the link will take you directly to the site.)
Please contact Sharon Kurns at skurns@aea11.k12.ia.us if you have any questions or suggestions for future sessions.
During the learning portion of the meeting the use of online tools to increase engagement of stakeholders was investigated. Links to all of the resources including articles, examples of acceptable use policies, and online Google resources are available at the Superintendent Academy Google site at https://sites.google.com/site/superintendentacademy/ (Clicking on the link will take you directly to the site.)
Please contact Sharon Kurns at skurns@aea11.k12.ia.us if you have any questions or suggestions for future sessions.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Superintendents: October HAA Meeting
Download a Word Doc or PDF version of the of the October Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 5 at the West Des Moines Learning Resource Center from 9:00-11:50 a.m.
We are trying something new this year with our HAA meetings. The first hour of each meeting (from 9:00-10:00) will be devoted to professional learning. We are calling it, “Superintendent Academy”. The theme for this year is Linking Leadership to Student Achievement.
At our first session we introduced the research findings from the Learning Project: Investigating Links to Improved Student Learning. The executive summary for this study can be downloaded here. More information and resources about the study can be found here.
At the upcoming session next week, we will be exploring one of the major concepts of the study. Engagement of stakeholders is a key leadership activity linked to student achievement. We will be investigating ways that Google Apps can be used to collaborate and gather input from a wide variety of stakeholders. We will also be reviewing an article from District Administration (available here) during the session. Please bring a laptop to the meeting if you have one available. If not, we will have laptops available for use.
A Google Site has been developed to make all of the materials and resources from this professional learning very accessible to participants. Please visit https://sites.google.com/site/superintendentacademy/.
We are trying something new this year with our HAA meetings. The first hour of each meeting (from 9:00-10:00) will be devoted to professional learning. We are calling it, “Superintendent Academy”. The theme for this year is Linking Leadership to Student Achievement.
At our first session we introduced the research findings from the Learning Project: Investigating Links to Improved Student Learning. The executive summary for this study can be downloaded here. More information and resources about the study can be found here.
At the upcoming session next week, we will be exploring one of the major concepts of the study. Engagement of stakeholders is a key leadership activity linked to student achievement. We will be investigating ways that Google Apps can be used to collaborate and gather input from a wide variety of stakeholders. We will also be reviewing an article from District Administration (available here) during the session. Please bring a laptop to the meeting if you have one available. If not, we will have laptops available for use.
A Google Site has been developed to make all of the materials and resources from this professional learning very accessible to participants. Please visit https://sites.google.com/site/superintendentacademy/.
School Counseling Program Refinement
Does your district K-12 school counseling program need a little polish? If so, this two-day "mini-academy" is for you! We will review the state required components of a K-12 articulated, sequential school counseling program, identify gaps and work on closing those gaps. Participants are encouraged to come in K-12 teams with representation from each level. Ideally, all counselors in the district would participate. Please register through the Heartland Professional Development Catalog at https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH. The activity number is CN005392111101.
Contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us if you have any questions.
Contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us if you have any questions.
ESL Learning Opportunity Reminders
Pearson’s SIOP for Teachers Virtual Institute
Application for the $450 mini grant to use towards participation in Pearson’s SIOP for Teachers Virtual Institute is due October 8, 2010. Click here for more information and here for the participation application.
TESOL Virtual Seminar
The first TESOL Virtual Seminar will be held October 6. If you haven’t registered, please do so ASAP via the Heartland Professional Development Catalog at https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH. We hope you can take advantage of these free seminars.
Even though the Early Bird rate for ICLC has passed districts can still take advantage of the Title III funding opportunity. Title III will still pay the early bird registration rate of $125, sub pay, and the travel mini-grant if your school district will pick up the difference.
ESL Family Literacy, Parent Involvement and Adult Early Literacy Grant
Don’t forget the opportunity to apply for the ESL Family Literacy/Parent Involvement or the ESL Adult Early Literacy grant. Click here for more information on these grants. Click here for the ESL Family Literacy/Parent Involvement grant and here for the Adult Early Literacy grant. Both applications are due November 30.
If you questions about any of these opportunities, contact Stephaney Jones-Vo at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680 or Pat Latham at (515) 270-04405 ext. 14681.
Application for the $450 mini grant to use towards participation in Pearson’s SIOP for Teachers Virtual Institute is due October 8, 2010. Click here for more information and here for the participation application.
TESOL Virtual Seminar
The first TESOL Virtual Seminar will be held October 6. If you haven’t registered, please do so ASAP via the Heartland Professional Development Catalog at https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH. We hope you can take advantage of these free seminars.
Why Are We Still Teaching the Wrong Grammar the Wrong Way?Title III and ICLC
October 6, 2010 from 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Activity Number: ES005692111101
The Multilevel ESOL Class: A Multitude of Opportunities for Language Development
October 27, 2010 from 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: ES005692111102
A Focus on Academic Oral Language and Vocabulary Instruction in Language Learning
November 10, 2010 from 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Activity Number: ES005699991101
Even though the Early Bird rate for ICLC has passed districts can still take advantage of the Title III funding opportunity. Title III will still pay the early bird registration rate of $125, sub pay, and the travel mini-grant if your school district will pick up the difference.
ESL Family Literacy, Parent Involvement and Adult Early Literacy Grant
Don’t forget the opportunity to apply for the ESL Family Literacy/Parent Involvement or the ESL Adult Early Literacy grant. Click here for more information on these grants. Click here for the ESL Family Literacy/Parent Involvement grant and here for the Adult Early Literacy grant. Both applications are due November 30.
If you questions about any of these opportunities, contact Stephaney Jones-Vo at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680 or Pat Latham at (515) 270-04405 ext. 14681.
Reminder: Heartland AEA & DMACC Hosting Immigration Forum Oct. 5
You and all of your staff members are cordially invited to our Third Annual DMACC & Heartland AEA co-sponsored Immigration Forum on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 from 2:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the DMACC Urban Campus. There is no cost or registration required to attend the Immigration Forum. All are welcome to come and learn.
For more information, contact Stephaney Jones-Vo at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680, Gilmara Mitchell at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14679.
For more information, contact Stephaney Jones-Vo at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680, Gilmara Mitchell at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14679.
Kirkwood Community College to host Distance Credentialed Counselor Training, Nov. 5-6
As distance methods have grown in popularity, the need for standards of practice and specialized counselor training has also grown. To address these issues, Kirkwood Community College will host a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC) Training Workshop on November 5-6, 2010. ReadyMinds and the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) will facilitate the training.
Please encourage your district/school counselors to attend. Click here for an informative flyer about the training. Learn more about ReadyMinds and the DCC program at can be found at http://www.readyminds.com/training/dcc_cert.asp.
Please encourage your district/school counselors to attend. Click here for an informative flyer about the training. Learn more about ReadyMinds and the DCC program at can be found at http://www.readyminds.com/training/dcc_cert.asp.
Heartland Earns Full Accreditation From State Board of Education
Heartland AEA is pleased to announce that it has earned continued full accreditation from the Iowa State Board of Education. The State Board met on September 16, 2010, and unanimously approved the Iowa Department of Education’s recommendation for full accreditation.
The Department conducted a site visit at the Agency earlier this year, analyzing programs and services data in the Agency's new online Service Tracker database and interviewing dozens of Heartland staff members and local educators for feedback about the Agency. Iowa’s nine AEAs receive accreditation site visits every five years; Heartland AEA’s next visit will be in 2015.
The Department’s report states, “The central purpose of the accreditation visit is to help AEAs improve the quality and focus of their services, which will in turn assist schools and school districts to improve learning for students. Iowa’s AEAs are a critical part of the support structure for schools and ultimately for children. With so much at stake, maintaining high standards or quality in programs and services is a top priority.”
Heartland was assessed on the following AEA standards for service:
1) School-Community Planning
2) Professional Development
3) Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
4) Diverse Learner Needs
5) Media
6) School Technology
7) Multicultural, Gender Fair
8) Leadership
Areas of strength that the Agency was praised for included the following:
• Incorporating technology into professional development
• Heartland Educational Assessment Resource Toolbox (HEART) database
• Content Area Capacity Building (CAB) projects
• Model of delivering services closer to districts/schools
The Department noted that no recommended areas for improvement were found in the Agency’s Media and School Technology service areas.
Areas identified for improvement included the following:
• Communication to districts/schools about survey data the Agency gathers
• Clarification and communication of the partnership director role to all district/school staff
• Communication with parents of children with special needs
• Establishing more support for “at-risk” students
The Agency will incorporate these and other recommendations into its Comprehensive Improvement Plan, which will be submitted to the Department by April 1, 2011.
A thank-you goes out to our district/school staff who provided feedback to the Department about our programs and services. We appreciate the time they took out of their busy schedules to assist us in our accreditation process.
Click here to download the entire accreditation report.
The Department conducted a site visit at the Agency earlier this year, analyzing programs and services data in the Agency's new online Service Tracker database and interviewing dozens of Heartland staff members and local educators for feedback about the Agency. Iowa’s nine AEAs receive accreditation site visits every five years; Heartland AEA’s next visit will be in 2015.
The Department’s report states, “The central purpose of the accreditation visit is to help AEAs improve the quality and focus of their services, which will in turn assist schools and school districts to improve learning for students. Iowa’s AEAs are a critical part of the support structure for schools and ultimately for children. With so much at stake, maintaining high standards or quality in programs and services is a top priority.”
Heartland was assessed on the following AEA standards for service:
1) School-Community Planning
2) Professional Development
3) Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
4) Diverse Learner Needs
5) Media
6) School Technology
7) Multicultural, Gender Fair
8) Leadership
Areas of strength that the Agency was praised for included the following:
• Incorporating technology into professional development
• Heartland Educational Assessment Resource Toolbox (HEART) database
• Content Area Capacity Building (CAB) projects
• Model of delivering services closer to districts/schools
The Department noted that no recommended areas for improvement were found in the Agency’s Media and School Technology service areas.
Areas identified for improvement included the following:
• Communication to districts/schools about survey data the Agency gathers
• Clarification and communication of the partnership director role to all district/school staff
• Communication with parents of children with special needs
• Establishing more support for “at-risk” students
The Agency will incorporate these and other recommendations into its Comprehensive Improvement Plan, which will be submitted to the Department by April 1, 2011.
A thank-you goes out to our district/school staff who provided feedback to the Department about our programs and services. We appreciate the time they took out of their busy schedules to assist us in our accreditation process.
Click here to download the entire accreditation report.
Iowa School Counselor Association Counselor of the Year Nominations
At the annual ISCA conference, elected counselors are recognized with Counselor of the Year awards at each of four levels – elementary, middle school/Jr. high, high school and multilevel. Counselors are typically nominated by their peers or administrators. If you work with a counselor who you feel is exemplary and deserving of this recognition, please consider nominating him/her for this honor.
To nominate a school counselor, write a letter of recommendation and include the award category (elementary; middle school/junior high; high school or multilevel). Also include a statement describing the program, activity and/or contribution demonstrating the individual‘s worthiness to receive this award.
Nominations can be mailed to:
Sue Farran
Prairie Point Middle School and 9th Grade Academy
401 76th Ave. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
You could also fax your nomination to Sue Farran at (319) 848-5515.
The deadline for all nominations is October 18, 2010
To nominate a school counselor, write a letter of recommendation and include the award category (elementary; middle school/junior high; high school or multilevel). Also include a statement describing the program, activity and/or contribution demonstrating the individual‘s worthiness to receive this award.
Nominations can be mailed to:
Sue Farran
Prairie Point Middle School and 9th Grade Academy
401 76th Ave. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
You could also fax your nomination to Sue Farran at (319) 848-5515.
The deadline for all nominations is October 18, 2010
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