Join Us for Standards-Based Learning “Framework Fridays”

Nine EdCamp-style workshops will be held throughout the 2018-19 school year to provide additional learning, collaboration and conversation for those interested in Standards-Based Learning (SBL) Including Grading and Reporting. The workshops coincide with specific strands of the Standards-Based Learning Framework developed by Heartland AEA. You can attend whatever sessions are of interest to you; you do not need to attend all nine. Come learn with us!

Standards-Based Learning Framework Fridays
First Friday of the month from October 2018 to May 2019

Next Session: Oct. 5
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Visit our website to learn more and register

Share This Networking and Support Opportunity with Your Parents and Caregivers of Students with Special Needs

Parents and caregivers of students with special needs: join us for “Conversation & Coffee,” our monthly morning coffee group! Learn about community resources and upcoming events and network with parents who have similar experiences and challenges.

Mark your calendar for these 2018-19 meeting dates!

• Sept. 20, 2018
• Oct. 18, 2018
• Nov. 15, 2018
• Dec. 20, 2018
• Jan. 17, 2019
• Feb. 21, 2019
• March 14, 2019 (due to Spring Break)
• April 18, 2019
• May 16, 2019

Conversation & Coffee meets the third Thursday of each month from 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the 100th Street Corner Café in Urbandale.

RSVP appreciated but not necessary: Kari Paulsen, Family & Educator Coordinator, Heartland AEA, at kpaulsen@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 ext. 14493.

Drake University’s Continual Improvement Network Enters Year 3 and You’re Invited to Participate

The vision of the Drake University Continual Improvement Network is to transform education in Iowa in order to restore joy in learning, teaching and leading in Iowa’s schools. The network provides opportunities to learn and work together to solve real problems of practice through the process of systemic continual improvement.

The network will meet four times throughout the school year and for one full day in the summer, providing opportunities to learn and work together to solve real “Problems of Practice” (POP) through the process of systemic continual improvement. Collegial relationships will be forged as the network brings leaders together from across the state to learn and work interdependently. License renewal credit is available (Course Title: Profound Learning and Improvement II Activity #: AD023799961901)

Network Dates
Sept. 19 & Nov. 14, 2018; Feb. 20 & April 24, 2019 
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Levitt Hall, Drake University

and
June 12, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Levitt Hall, Drake University

Interested? Contact:

Dr. Doug Stilwell
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership
Drake University
doug.stilwell@drake.edu
515-271-1993 (Office)
515-418-5363 (Cell)

Who is a school leader?
Anyone who leads a system (classroom, program, department, school, district, etc).

*These experiences can count toward clinical hours for Drake EDL students.

Registration is Open for Emergency Operations Planning Workshop at Heartland AEA on Sept. 24

The Iowa Department of Education is offering training on creating high quality Emergency Operations Plans for public and non-public school districts at Heartland AEA on Sept. 24. Also titled, “School Active Shooter Plan Workshop,” this all-day workshop is designed to help schools develop high quality plans that cover active shooter and natural disaster events. This was passed into law in Senate File 2364 requiring all K-12 schools in Iowa to write plans that help prepare for these events. This workshop will cover the following:

• The new legislation, what it requires, when it is due
• Schools will identify who at each school is going to develop these plans
• The specific planning elements required
• How to form a planning team, inviting stakeholders to help
• REMS/TA: Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools/Technical Assistance: plan format, resources for schools, Run/Hide/Fight
• Explore the PTER Preparedness Cycle: Plan, Train, Exercise, Repeat
• Share the monthly follow-on schedule to help attendees stay on track and have a plan by June 30, 2019

Register at this link for the Sept. 24 training at Heartland AEA: https://goo.gl/NnnTT4

For questions, contact David Johnston, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, at (515) 725-3295 or david.johnston@iowa.gov.

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

2018-19 Heartland AEA Superintendent Directory Available

Click here to download the 2018-19 Heartland AEA Superintendent Directory. A limited supply of these directories were printed and distributed at Tuesday’s HAA meeting. If you weren’t able to attend the meeting and would like a copy, please contact Jenny Ugolini, Board Secretary/Executive Assistant, at jugolini@heartlandaea.org.

Do You Have Teams Registered for Brad Waid’s Presentation on Oct. 2?

Brad Waid kicks off the new Heartland AEA Leadership Series on Oct. 2 with workshops for superintendents in the morning and all educators in the afternoon. Brad will speak about emerging technology and the impact it is having now in our schools, the impact it will have in the future and questions we need to be asking ourselves now.

Transforming the Classroom through Augmented Reality
With Brad Waid
Oct. 2, 2018
DMACC, Student Center, Bldg 5
2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny

Registration:

Superintendent Session
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Register at this link

All Educators Session
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Register at this link

The Heartland AEA Leadership Series is presented by some of today’s most intriguing, innovative and influential leaders from around the country who will share their background, insight and knowledge with you. Speakers will candidly share their experiences, discuss challenges that have impacted their work and provide a unique opportunity for you to learn from their hands-on experiences. Check out the complete series information and register yourself, your admin teams and your teachers at this link: http://ow.ly/GmuC30lpQba.

The District K-12 Online Learning Needs Survey Closes Today!

The Iowa legislature has tasked the AEAs to convene a work group that is made up of representation from the Iowa Department of Education, Community Colleges and school districts. This group is examining K-12 online learning opportunities to make recommendations to the legislature on Oct. 15 for:

• Identifying the current offerings for and needs of districts
• Identifying areas for efficiencies via partnerships between the aforementioned stakeholder groups
• Identifying measures for quality assurance

To take advantage of this opportunity, the work group has created a short needs-assessment survey about the current needs districts have regarding K-12 online learning opportunities. We encourage anyone involved with programmatic decisions regarding online learning to complete the survey. This might include superintendents, building principals, curriculum and technology directors, school counselors, and many other staff members. Each district is different.

The survey can be found at http://survey.aealearningonline.org and will be open until the end of day TODAY! Please forward this information to other individuals within the district so that we may hear from everyone.

Your input will have a direct effect on legislative recommendations, as well as future actions from the statewide system. For questions about the survey or the current work group, contact Evan Abbey, Program Director for AEA Learning Online, at eabbey@aealearningonline.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14511.

Get to Know: AEA Purchasing

Want to learn more about AEA Purchasing? Need help navigating our website? Join our “Get to Know Us!” webinar on Oct. 2 from 10-11:00 a.m. via Zoom. RSVP to laurie@aeapurchasing.org.

Coming in October: An Academy for Middle Schools and High Schools: Multi-Tiered System of Supports

Are you seeking clarity on how to be more efficient and effective in building a system of supports for all students and staff? The Academy is designed to provide leadership teams with the knowledge and resources to improve academic and behavior outcomes for ALL students. You will develop a common understanding of the Five Essential Components of a Multi-tiered System of Supports. In an era of accountability, Iowa schools need a school improvement framework to guide this work. Teams will focus on developing action plans to fully implement MTSS at the building level. Ongoing supports will be provided.

An Academy for Middle Schools and High Schools: Multi-Tiered System of Supports

Dates: Oct. 9 and Oct. 22, 2018

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location: Grand View University Student Center, 2811 East 14th Street, Des Moines

Registration: Register at this link

Target Audience: middle and high school leadership teams to include administrators, content teachers, teachers who support systems work (TLC, Counselor, At-Risk, ALT)

Registration is Open for Iowa Science Standards Module 4 Workshops

These two-day sessions are a continuation of the work done the last three years with the Iowa Core Science Standards Overview (Module 1), the Classroom Transitions, Shifts and Practices (Module 2) and Gathering & Using Evidence of Student Learning (Module 3). Participation in Modules 1-3 or equivalent online participation in Modules 1-3 is recommended but not a prerequisite for Module 4. The Module 4 focus will be on “Science and Literacy.” All workshops are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration for each of the Module 4 sessions is found on the Science Standards Professional Development page of our website.