Heartland AEA ESOL Network Meetings Dates 2020-21

All public and non-public school districts in the Heartland AEA service area are encouraged to send a representative(s) the ESOL network meetings to share their voices, receive updates and network with colleagues around topics related to English Learners and their families. All meetings are from 4 - 5 p.m. and will be held virtually until further notice. Zoom links will be emailed to participants as the dates approach.

2020-21 schedule:
Sept. 8, 2020
Dec. 7, 2020
Feb. 22, 2021
May 3, 2021

MIDTESOL Conference 2020 Moves to Online Format

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MIDTESOL 2020 Conference will now be held online on Oct. 3, 2020.

Community at a Crossroads: The Right to Education
Oct. 3, 2020
Virtual Conference

Hear keynotes from renowned lexicographer and senior Cambridge ELL dictionary editor Kory Stamper, as well as Dr. Christel Broady, director of the ESL Teacher Education Program at Georgetown College, current member of the TESOL International Board of Directors, specialist in K-12 biliteracy, and fierce advocate for immigrants and their teachers.

Fees (paid by registrant):

• MIDTESOL Members - $25
• TESOL Affiliate Members - $35
• Students and Paraprofessionals - $10
• Non-members - $45

Honorarium: $135 for full-day attendance (for schools and districts served by Heartland Title III)

• Individuals register on their own
• Following the conference, participants submit proof of registration and documentation of key learnings to their assigned ESL/Diversity Consultant (form posted soon)
• Once received, individuals will be sent an electronic Claim form to submit for an honorarium

More Information: MIDTESOL Conference Site
Registration: At the MIDTESOL 2020 Registration Site

CPI Training: Requesting Certification Extensions

As a follow-up to our communication last month about CPI training adjustments, in an effort to maintain the highest level of safety, and to reduce physical contact, we are asking districts to prioritize those staff with the highest level of risk (staff with the highest likelihood of needing to be involved with physical restraint and/or seclusion) to attend the training.

Due to COVID-19, we are going to grant up to a 1-year extension to staff who do not fall within the “high-risk” category (staff with the highest likelihood of needing to be involved with physical restraint and/or seclusion) and whose current Blue Card Certification expires during the 2020-21 school year.

Our CPI trainers have been working with districts and schools to grant these extensions. If you still have staff members who need to request an extension, please contact your Heartland AEA Regional Director or CPI Trainers.

CPI Trainers by Region:
Region 1 - Becky Tigges, Lauren Vanderhorst, Jenny Henscheid
Region 2 - Sue Klein and Angela Dvorak
Region 3 - Aimee Schuppe and Stacey Warren
Region 5 - Todd York and Amanda Khader
Region 6 - Gina Koehler
Region 7 - Chris Rial and Dawn Grimes
Region 8 - Brenda Gerdes and Shaylinn Crone

IMPORTANT: Alternate Assessment 2020-21 Updates

For Teachers: If you are teaching students who are on the alternate assessment, you must complete student profiles and certification training. This document contains the deadlines, new information and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.


For Administrators: All teachers who have students on the alternate assessment must be certified as strategist II ID and complete certification training. Administrators are responsible for creating teacher accounts for the ELAA system, as well as creating rosters for DLM. This document contains deadlines, new information, and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.

Instructional Coaching Network Meetings 2020-21

The purpose of the Instructional Coaching Network is to provide support for instructional coaches in the areas of partnership principles, components of instructional coaching, content planning, instruction, formative assessment and community building. Support for implementation of MTSS, universal screening, Iowa Core and technology integration will be areas of focus as well Participants will have an opportunity to network and share resources. Differentiation based on knowledge and experience will be provided. We are aware that teacher leaders will have other professional development opportunities and meetings and may not be able to attend all the sessions.

2020-21 Network Dates
Our Instructional Coaching Network will continue to be held virtually for the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. Each network will run approximately 90 minutes and will be offered twice a month. The second monthly session will be a repeat of content from the first monthly session. The goal is to provide support for distance or virtual coaching, time to talk with colleagues and share ideas, and to continue to ensure self-care and support for our coaching community. To help us plan for each opportunity, RSVP for networking sessions by completing the form linked to each date. A Zoom link will be emailed out to each participant prior to the network session. Stay informed with network meeting dates and other important information at the Instructional Coaching Network site.

Sept. Network (RSVP here)
Sept. 15 - 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 - 8:30-10:00 a.m.

Heartland AEA Technology Coordinator Meeting Dates and Resources 2020-21

Heartland AEA organizes meetings for technology coordinators in the Agency's service area so area technology staff members can come together to discuss current technology topics and to learn from one another. These meetings are held approximately six times a year. The agenda for each meeting, as well as exact times and locations, is distributed via email to the tech coordinator listserv in advance of the meeting.

Tech Coordinators are meeting virtually every Friday through the coronavirus pandemic to collaborate and support one another. The following dates reflect the anticipated regular meeting schedule for the 2020-21 school year.

2020-21 Schedule:
Sept. 25, 2020
Oct. 30, 2020
Jan. 29, 2021
Feb. 26, 2021
April 8, 2021
April 30, 2021

For more information, contact Heartland AEA Director of Technology Jeff S. Weinberg.

Tech Coordinator Listserv
Technology directors/coordinators from the districts/schools in Heartland AEA's service area belong to a listserv that is focused on questions, problems, policies, products and solutions related to educational technology at the PK-12 level. To become a member of the listserv, contact Heartland AEA Director of Technology Jeff S. Weinberg at 800) 255-0405 ext. 14324 or Network Administrator Tuan Dao at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14413.

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

Agency Announces Change of Official Name – to Heartland Area Education Agency from Area Education Agency 11

A resolution was passed at the Aug. 11, 2020, Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting to change the official name of the Agency to Heartland Area Education Agency from Area Education Agency 11. The Agency has been operating as Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA) for decades, but our official name has remained Area Education Agency 11. This change will help clarify any confusion and create continuity regarding the Agency’s business dealings.

2020-21 Heartland AEA Superintendent Directory Available

The 2020-21 Heartland AEA Superintendent Directory is now available. A limited supply of these directories will be distributed by van mail to superintendents. If you didn’t receive a copy, please contact Jenny Ugolini, Board Secretary/Executive Assistant, at jugolini@heartlandaea.org.

FREE Cognitive Coaching Session Available Through Thinking Collaborative

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary responses. In light of the current situation, Thinking Collaborative will offer a brief, pro bono Cognitive CoachingSM opportunity for educators in stress over the opening of school, a “Cognitive CoachingSM Lifeline.”

Go to the Thinking Collaborative website for more detailed information. The free Lifeline will conclude in October, and the regular “for pay” coaching service will continue on the website.

ICAP Virtual Training Coming in Sept.: Diving Deeper with Individual Career & Academic Planning

Join this virtual training led by Lauren Jones to:

• Explore the foundational facets of career development and successful ICAP implementation
• Uncover the expectations and competencies that Iowa wants as a picture of your high school graduates (Career and College Readiness/Postsecondary Workforce Readiness) and how this fits into Iowa’s economic future (Future Ready Iowa)
• Discover CTE and Career Pathway development connections - School Counselors as CTE Champions
• Practice and emulate Meaningful Career Conversation Training
• Address opportunities for Work-based Learning and experiential opportunities where Career Conversations exist naturally
• Apply an equity and inclusion lens to this work
• Facilitate a 'Yes, and....' mindset when conversing about barriers, strengths, challenges and celebrations

Two-Part Virtual Training Sessions (Choose 1 date from each session)
Session 1: Sept. 9 or 10 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Session 2: Sept. 16 or 17 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. **Prerequisite- Session 1
Register by going to: https://forms.gle/yaYWPAPeV6TZbFco9 or contacting Dr. Katy Blatnick-Gagne for more information at katy.blatnick-gagne@iowa.gov.

Districts/Schools are encouraged to register as a team (Administrator, CTE Educator, Counselors, Special Education teacher, etc.).