Check Out Our Wellness Inspiration Site: Shareable Resource For Educators, Families and Students

In an effort to support the well-being of districts, students, educators and families, we're pleased to bring you "Wellness Inspiration," a resource dedicated to well-being. Check out the Wellness Inspiration site for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families! This issue features:

• New Website Designed to Help Iowans with Mental Health Needs
• Self-Care Coloring & Activity Books Available for Students

NEW! Resource for Special Education Practitioners for Writing Quality Prior Written Notices

Parents are afforded procedural protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), one of which is the right to "Prior Written Notice." Heartland has recently created a resource document to support special education practitioners with tips and recommendations for writing quality Prior Written Notices. We hope both AEA and LEA practitioners find this resource helpful in documenting IEP team discussions and decisions through the writing of the PWN.

Join Us for the “Digital Equity Cycle: Anti-Racist, Diverse and Inclusive Digital Education” Webinar on April 8

Featuring Desiree Alexander, Ed.S.

In education, we love hot new buzz words. And recently, digital equity has become very popular with not many understanding what it entails or how to unpack it. In this session, let’s start an authentic conversation on how to unpack anti-racist, anti-bias, diverse and inclusive digital education.

Desiree Alexander, Ed.S., is an award-winning, multi-degreed educator. Dr. Alexander is Founder CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC. She holds various teaching, administrative and technology certifications, including IC3 certification, Google Certified Trainer and Innovator, Apple Teacher, and a Microsoft Innovative Educator Trainer and Expert.

Register at no cost at this link: 

bit.ly/31mQptq

Heart of Innovation Summer Summit is Back and it’s Going to be Totally Rad!

Heartland AEA Presents: Saved by the Summer Summit

June 15-16, 2021
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Click here to register for your free access to the Summer Summit! The first 50 people will receive Summit Swag mailed to them!

Join us for two mornings of free, virtual learning featuring John Spencer, Ed.D. and Nadine Gilkison

Call for presenters!
Submit a session proposal

We are also excited to offer graduate credit this year! Click here for more information.

Iowa State University Wants to Hear from You! Please Complete Their Survey By April 23

Iowa State University is surveying superintendents and teachers to understand the current use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in K-12 classrooms. This confidential survey will provide a snapshot of GIS in K-12 public education in Iowa as well as identify barriers and opportunities for the use of GIS technology among non-users. ISU will use the information collected to create new resources for promoting future K-12 education throughout the state. This survey is a small – but very significant way – to make a difference in your community!

Superintendent Survey: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0jQblWlFieMMubj

K-12 Teacher Survey: tinyurl.com/IAK12GIS

Survey deadline is April 23, 2021.

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

Winterset CSD Casework for Sale

Winterset CSD recently completed a renovation project where the contractor ordered substantially too much casework for the project. Due to the sale of a building within the district, Winterset no longer has the ability to store these items. They are selling them (brand new still in the packaging material) on a first-come, first-served basis. Prices are negotiable. Anyone interested please contact Superintendent Justin Gross jgross@winterset.k12.ia.us or Director of Operations Ray Dawson rdawson@winterset.k12.ia.us.

7 of these items 36” Wide

32 of these items 42” wide

Self-Care Coloring & Activity Books Available for Students

Iowa’s AEA Well-being Team has created calming coloring books for middle school-aged children. This effort is part of a campaign to promote a new well-being and mental health website for Iowans created by the AEAs at www.IowaAEAMentalHealth.org.

If you would like to order some for your school or classroom, click on the links below.

IMPORTANT ORDER INFORMATION:

1. Before adding these items to your cart, you must log in using the same username and password you use to login to the AEA Learning System (system for Mandatory Reporter and Bloodborne Pathogens training).
2. Enter the school name in the PO field.

Self-Care Coloring & Activity Book

Iowa AEA Mental Health Bookmark

The website came from a request by the state legislature to help educators, parents, and students navigate resources related to mental health and well-being in Iowa. In addition to AEA mental health contacts for the schools, the site provides contacts for the home setting from Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS).

The website features vetted sources to educate visitors about addiction and substance abuse; anxiety and stress disorders; attention deficit disorder; depression; eating disorders; and self-harm.

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

Erin Rush Selected as New Regional Director in Region 6

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce the hiring of Erin Rush as a regional director for Region 6. Erin, who has been a Heartland AEA staff member for almost 10 years, will replace Karla Jones who will be retiring on July 1, 2021.

As a regional director, Erin will provide coordination and leadership for the provision of AEA services to Ankeny Community School District, Ankeny Christian and St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School.

Erin’s career has centered on serving students and educators in the Heartland AEA service area. Since 2011, she has served in the following positions:

• School Psychologist, 2011 - present
• Social Emotional Behavior Mental Health (SEBMH) Regional Lead, 2017 - present

Erin brings extensive knowledge and experience in supporting the educational systems at all levels to continually improve in meeting the individual social/emotional/behavior/ and mental health needs of our students.

In August, Erin will complete her Educational Leadership program through VITERBO University. Prior to coming to Heartland AEA, Erin graduated with a Ed.S. in school psychology from Oklahoma State University.

Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue:

• Enhance Universal Instruction Through Accelerating Learning
• Intensifying Literacy Instruction: Essential Practices
• Science of Reading
• Repeated Reading with Goal Setting for Reading Fluency: Focusing on Reading Quality Rather Than Reading Speed
• Even Older Kids Should Have Time to Read in Class
• Comprehension Strategies in Grades 4-8 Course

Reach out to your Heartland AEA Literacy Consultant if you need any support.