Join Us for Standards-Based Learning Framework Friday on Feb. 7

Just four more EdCamp-style workshops will be held this 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.

Standards-Based Learning Framework Fridays
Next Session: Feb. 7
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Visit our website to learn more and register

Fostering Curiosity to Empower Critical Thinking with Matt Miller Starts Feb. 6

Join your colleagues in an online book study course to explore ways to integrate curiosity and critical thinking into the classroom. Participants will be using Ditch That Textbook throughout the course. Be sure to get it before the course starts.

Fostering Curiosity to Empower Critical Thinking
Course Number 181915
Webinar with Matt Miller will be held on Feb. 20 from 1 - 3 p.m.

Did you miss the webinar with Eric Curts?
No worries! Watch the recording here.

Save the Date!
Heart of Innovation Summer Summit - June 10, 2020
Recertification Credit will be an option this year!

Professional Learning Opportunities
Check out upcoming professional learning opportunities with the Heartland AEA Instructional Technology team in their Smore newsletter. Follow and share!

Iowa Department of Education Seeks Input on Draft Plan to Meet Federal Career and Technical Education Law

The Iowa Department of Education is hosting a town hall on Feb. 6 to gather public input on Iowa’s state plan to meet the requirements of the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, commonly referred to as Perkins V.

This federal law reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, which provides support for secondary and community college career and technical education (CTE) programs in all 50 states and U.S. territories. CTE programs increase student engagement through the integration of technical and academic skills in hands-on, real-world learning experiences. Perkins V represents an important opportunity to expand opportunities for every student to explore, choose and follow CTE programs of study and career pathways to earn credentials of value.

The town hall meeting is a great way for school administrators, faculty, students and the public to learn about Iowa’s state plan, get questions answered and to provide valuable feedback. Comments will be considered in the final state plan, which will be presented to Gov. Kim Reynolds for approval prior to submission to the U.S. Department of Education in April.

Information about the town hall meeting is provided below:

Date: Feb. 6
Time: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Dr., Johnston (Room 107A)

Iowans can also submit questions and feedback by completing online surveys about the draft plan and performance targets. More information on Iowa’s state plan is available on the Iowa Department of Education website.

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

Tech Directors: Come for the Learning, Stay for the Food!

At the Jan. 31 Tech Director’s meeting at Heartland AEA in Johnston, Evan Abbey, the Program Director for AEA Learning Online, will provide a learning session on ClassLink. He will stay after his presentation for a working lunch to answer questions about ClassLink and its implementation in your district. He can even assist you in getting your district connected with ClassLink if you are not currently setup (you will need the Google Administration for your district if you wish to do this).

Please contact Colleen Miller on or before Jan. 28 at Noon if you plan to attend the working lunch, so that we can get a complete order in to Panera. This is your opportunity to get your questions answered by Evan so be sure to sign up today by letting Colleen know that you will be there for the working lunch! We hope to see you next week!

There Will Be No Feb. HAA Meeting - Instead, Attend the Legislative Education Advocacy Event

It’s only three weeks until the AEA 2020 Legislative Education Advocacy Event. Have you registered? On Feb. 10-11 Iowa’s AEAs will bring together school administrators from across Iowa to learn the most up-to-date legislative insight and meet with legislators face-to-face at the Capitol. Check out the event plans and register at this link: https://www.smore.com/qe4y5.

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter

The Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue...

• New Ebooks & Digital Audiobooks
• Highlighting, Annotating, Notetaking and AEA Scout
• In the National News: Citing Your Source
• Joint IASL / IRA Conference Registration
• HS Media Literacy Lessons
• 20 New Math Flash Cards
• Civic Online Reasoning--Lessons & Assessments

Calling All Educators Who Would Like to Learn More About Iowa’s Gifted & Talented Program!

This workshop is designed for beginning gifted and talented teachers, K-12 general education teachers, instructional coaches and administrators who are interested in gaining background knowledge about Gifted and Talented (GT) programming in Iowa. Topics covered will include:

• Iowa Code requirements for GT programs
• Characteristics of gifted students
• Best practices and resources for educators, including an overview of the new MTSS Advanced Learner Facilitation Guide

Gifted & Talented 101: Gifted Students, Programming & MTSS for Advanced Learners
March 6, 2020
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2TLAmCO using Course #182218. There is no registration fee for this workshop.

Can’t Miss Opportunity: Hamish Brewer, DMACC Ankeny, March 3

When it comes to turning around high poverty, low performing schools, Hamish Brewer accepts no excuses. This unconventional visionary and nationally recognized principal utilizes his ALL IN, relentless attitude and passion to motivate his students to succeed, no matter the circumstances in their lives. Hamish will share how he improves student outcomes with innovative, out-of-the-box thinking, pushing boundaries and challenging archaic processes and practices. His personal stories and challenges will make you rethink your practices, disrupt the norm and take your school or organization to the next level.

Be Relentless
March 3, 2020
Des Moines Area Community College, Student Center, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd. Ankeny, IA

9:00-10:00 a.m. Keynote Message
10:00-10:30 a.m. Q&A
10:30-11:00 a.m. Book Signing with Hamish Brewer** (Books will not be available for purchase at the event. See note below)

Registration
Register for this event at bit.ly/2VLliHt using Course #180607

This is a no cost event! Bring your administrative team! If you missed him at IASB, see him here!

**SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT BOOK SIGNING: Mr. Brewer will be personally autographing his book, Relentless: Changing Lives by Disrupting the Educational Norm. Be sure to purchase the book in advance, bring it with you, meet the author and get your copy signed! Books will not be available for purchase at the event.

Coming in April: Transforming School Culture -- Understanding and Overcoming Resistance to Necessary Change, Featuring Dr. Anthony Muhammad

Join this special event with Anthony Muhammad, Ph.D., to explore the dynamics of school culture from a sociological, psychological, anthropological, political, historical and economic lens, using the Transforming School Culture framework. The framework helps educators and simplifies the work of transforming school culture by understanding patterns of behavior that either support or undermine the development of school culture.

Dr. Muhammad is recognized as one of the field’s leading experts in the areas of school culture and organizational climate. He has served as a middle school teacher, assistant principal, middle school principal and high school principal.

Transforming School Culture: Understanding and Overcoming Resistance to Necessary Change Featuring Anthony Muhammad, Ph.D.
April 23, 2020
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
8600 Northpark Drive Johnston, IA

Registration
Register by April 20, 2020 at this link: http://bit.ly/2MEyMyA using course #181933
$50 per person. Lunch included.
Registration is limited to 125. There is no waiting list for this event.

All educators are invited!

2020-21 STEM Scale-Up Programs Announced

The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is offering 13 exemplary STEM programs to provide high-quality STEM education offerings to schools, afterschool programs and other settings for grades pre-K through 12 throughout the state.

The 2020-21 STEM Scale-Up Programs range from building robots and coding programs to conducting agricultural field experiences and learning about STEM careers. All went through a rigorous review process at both the national and state level, demonstrating an appeal to diverse youth, success in improving academic performance, evidence of integrating STEM concepts, development of school-business-community partnerships and sustainability beyond STEM Council financial support.