We are pleased to inform you that our HEART database is scheduled to be updated on Thursday, January 28. The newest version of HEART has several new features and a few features that will look and feel a little different. When the new version is updated, please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the changes. Details about enhancements are more clearly defined in a pdf available for download here. Below is a quick list of the major changes. - DIBELS data file import is implemented
- Direct upload of data files for import
- Security enhancements
- Behavior module enhancements
- Growth chart revised to resist problems with retained students, etc.
As is true whenever new features are added to HEART, there is the possibility that users will encounter bugs and other oddities. We need your help to find and fix any issues that exist with the system. If you or any of your staff encounter problems, please let us know. It is most helpful if the report includes a screenshot of the problem screen along with a description of the steps leading up to the problem. Please also include contact information so we can follow up if needed.
As always, your comments and suggestions are welcomed. We will never be able to implement all of the ideas that are shared, but we do try to add the things that our users request. Several of the enhancements in this version of HEART are the direct result of user requests. Thank you for your support!Questions about the HEART database can be directed to Connor Hood at (515) 270-9030 or chood@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Heartland AEA will be making changes to the mentoring program. Beginning Fall 2010, we will no longer support the “BEST Experience for Mentors”; and beginning Fall 2011, we will no longer support “Standards in Teaching (SIT)”.Heartland AEA will be supporting the following two new programs:
• “Mentoring Matters” (Lipton and Wellman) is designed for mentors of first-year teachers with materials focusing on enhancing the skills of the mentor.
• “Instruction for All Students” is designed for second-year teachers and their mentors to learn together about teaching and learning using a study group format.
Sites may continue to use their current mentoring program with first-year teachers. Currently, Heartland AEA plans to continue to support “BEST Beginning Teacher”.
Information will be shared about the support Heartland AEA will be providing to prepare for the changes in the Fall of 2010, as well as the commitments that will be expected from participating school districts. There are two opportunities to attend informational meetings. To register, for the informational meetings, go to the Heartland Professional Development catalog on our home page or click on the link below. Copy the appropriate activity number and paste it into the search box on the registration page in the browser.
https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH
Date & Time: February 5, 2010 from 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Location: Room 13, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Activity Number: MI0004-9211-1001
or
Date & Time: February 11, 2010 8:30-11:00 a.m.
Location: Room 18, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, JohnstonActivity Number: MI0004-9211-1002Please direct questions to Cheryl Risen at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14587.
Join us for our second annual Immigration Forum that will help participants understand the educational challenges and rewards facing immigrants, refugees and educators around the state of Iowa. The forum will be held on February 9, 2010, from 2:45-5:15 p.m. at the Polk County Convention Complex, at the conclusion of the 24th annual Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC).
The forum will include a panel of local and national experts who will share facts about immigration and implications for Iowa educators as well as individuals who have immigrated to the United States who will share their first-hand experiences. Click here to view a list of our panelists.
The information shared at the forum is appropriate and timely as Iowa's student population continues to become more diverse. The 2009 Condition of Education Report from the Iowa Department of Education indicated that the student minority population in Iowa was at 15.5% in the 2008-09 school year, which was up from 14.4% in 2008-08 and from 4.5% in 1986.
As may be expected with the increase of Hispanic and other minority enrollments, the number of English Language Learner (ELL) students has also risen in recent years. The 20,750 ELL students in Iowa schools in the 2008-09 school year was more than double the number reported 10 years earlier. In addition, African American students made up 5.8% of the student population last school year.
The increasing diversity of Iowa's families presents many new challenges as well as opportunities for schools and educators. This forum will enable today's teachers, administrators, business leaders and legislators to learn more about immigration and how to best serve students of diverse backgrounds.For more information, contact Stephaney Jones-Vo at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680 or Gilmara Mitchell at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14679
Heartland AEA will host two separate school budget workshops for area school districts on February 8 and 9. The goal of the workshops is to assist schools in completing their school budget in a single work session. Both workshops will be held at the Johnston Regional Education Center at 6500 Corporate Drive and will go from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The registration fee is $120 per person, which includes lunch.
The facilitator will be William (Bill) J. Garner, former chief administrator of AEA 8. Bill has been conducting workshops in this area for several years. Participants will be using the Department of Management’s program during the workshops. It is encouraged that both the superintendent and business manager/board secretary attends the workshop
To register, go to the Heartland Professional Development catalog on our home page or click here. Copy the appropriate activity number for the day in which you would like to attend and paste it into the search box on the registration page in the browser. If you are interested, register today because seats are going fast!February 8, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Activity Number: AD00619211100
Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate DriveFebruary 9, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Activity Number: AD006192111002Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate DriveIf you have questions, please call the Professional Development Office at 270-0405 ext. 14348.
There are two more scheduled training sessions for using the HEART database for this school year. All training sessions will take place in the Computer Lab of the Johnston Regional Education Center located at 6500 Corporate Drive. If you are interested, you may register for either one or both sessions. To register, go to the Heartland Professional Development catalog on our home page or click on the link below. Copy the appropriate activity number and paste it into the search box on the registration page in the browser.
https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH
HEART Administrator Overview class
This class is intended for school leaders new to HEART and those who want a refresher. In this training we will cover the use of HEART, security setup and cleanup, as well as a general Q&A. This class is intended for building/district leaders who will be responsible for local implementation of HEART. Among others, this may include superintendents, principals, technology and/or curriculum coordinators, but may also include building/district clerical personnel who provide major support for HEART.February 1, 2010, 8:30-11:30 a.m.Activity Number: AS003792111005Computer Lab, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive
April 8th, 2010, 8:30-11:30 a.m.Activity Number: AS003792111006
Computer Lab, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive
HEART Behavior Module class
This training will cover the setup and operation of the behavior module as well as some discussion of its use in a building/district setting. We recommend the behavior training be attended by at least one administrator and another person who will assist with technical support (primarily building data files for import). We also encourage the school to invite members of the AEA team such as the School Psychologist and/or School Social Worker, as they may be able to assist in the implementation of the behavior module in your building/district.
February 1, 2010, 1:00-4:00 p.m
Activity Number: AS003692111005
Computer Lab, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive
April 8, 2010, 1:00-4:00 p.m
Activity Number: AS003692111006
Computer Lab, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive
Questions can be directed to Connor Hood at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14506 or chood@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Registrations are still being accepted for Year Two, Day Two Leadership for the Iowa Core Curriculum to be held in January and February. The January 25 session at Zion Lutheran Church in Des Moines is closed but space remains in all of the other sessions. Registration information is available on the Heartland AEA Web site at http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/icc/.
Participants registered for Day Two will receive an email prior to their session with instructions for accessing materials for the session. The training will be paperless and Internet access will be limited, so participants will be asked to download the materials onto a laptop or print their own copies, if desired, to bring to the training session.
Contact Linda Biermann Hoobin at lhoobin@aea11.k12.ia.us for questions or further information.
The annual Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) will be held on February 9-10, 2010 at Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines, Iowa. A Pre-conference will take place on February 8. This year's theme is "Rooted to Grow: Diverse Learners in the 21st Century."
Eight speakers have been invited to speak at the conference. The mission of the annual event is to advocate for culturally and/or linguistically diverse students and their families, educators and service providers. Schools are encouraged to bring a team.
Register through the Northwest AEA Web site at http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/iowa_culture_language_conference/.
There are plenty of terrific science teachers in Iowa and the Iowa Academy of Science (IAS) wants to reward them with an Excellence in Science Teaching Award (ESTA). Each year, outstanding science teachers of all grade levels and areas of science are eligible to be recognized for their work and innovations in science education.
Nominate your outstanding science teachers by sending in a nomination letter found by clicking here. Nominations are encouraged from administrators and colleagues or a teacher may self-nominate. Two letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination. One of the two letters must be from an administrator. The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2010.
Final selections are made by the Awards and Recognition Committee. Winners are honored at a luncheon during the Iowa Academy of Science Annual Meeting and receive a plaque and $200 award.
Nominees must teach at least one of the following subjects:•Physical Science (physics, chemistry and physical science)
•Life Science (biology, anatomy/physiology, life science)
•Earth/Space Science/Environmental Science
•General/Multiple Science (integrated science, interdisciplinary courses, multiple preps)
•Middle School/Junior High Science
•Elementary Science (two awards may be given/year)
Past ESTA winners can be nominated again if they teach a different subject than when they were previously awarded. Applicants do not need to be a member of the IAS to receive the award.
Questions can be directed to Tom Ervin, ESTA Committee Chair, at tomervin@mchsi.com.
Arctic blasts from this week remind us that winter schedules are subject to change when living in Iowa! As was mentioned earlier this week, the Regional Meeting on Iowa's Race to the Top (RTTT) application has been rescheduled for Monday, January 11. As originally planned, there will be a technical assistance workshop for superintendents from 4:30-5:45 p.m. A joint meeting will follow for superintendents, school board presidents and teachers association presidents which will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m.Locations for the RTTT meeting have been changed to what was originally reserved. New locations are the following and can be verified on the Iowa DE Web site.
Origination Site:
Iowa Department of Education, 400 East 14th Street, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines
ICN Satellite Sites in our area:
Des Moines Area Community College - Newton Campus - 1600 North 2nd Avenue W
Room Number: 128Room Location: Polytechnic Campus
Newton
Guthrie Center High School
906 School Street
Room Number: 101Guthrie Center
Iowa Public Television - 1
6450 Corporate Drive
Room Location: McElroy RoomJohnston
Kuemper High School
109 S Clark
Room Number: 175CarrollMadrid High School
599 N Kennedy
Room Number: 115
Madrid
Ogden High School732 West Division Street
Room Number: 109
OgdenThere are other opportunities for superintendents, teachers’ association presidents and school board presidents to learn about Iowa's Race to the Top plans and ask questions.
Video: A regional meeting presented earlier this week by Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey was recorded and is available at www.iowa.gov/educate.
Conference Calls: Three conference calls for superintendents, teachers’ association presidents and school board presidents are scheduled for Monday, January 11. You may call in during any of the following times to ask questions: 8:30–9:30 a.m., 12:00–1:00 p.m., 4:30–5:30 p.m. You may join any of the calls by dialing 877-366-0711, and enter pass code 959 02 110#.
Two conference calls have been set up for Wednesday, January 13 for superintendents, teachers’ association presidents, and school board presidents. You may call in during any of the following times to ask questions: 9:00-10:00 a.m., 3:00-4:00 p.m. You may join any of the calls by dialing 877-366-0711, and enter pass code 959 02 110#.
Documents: The PowerPoint, State Plan Highlights and MOU for Iowa School Districts documents are also available for your review and downloading at www.iowa.gov/educate.
Questions and concerns about Iowa's Race to the Top application can be directed to RacetotheTop@iowa.gov.
Click here for the minutes from the January Heartland Administrators Association meeting. The next meeting will be February 2 at the West Des Moines Learning Center.
If your school needs textbooks and core related instructional materials in an accessible format (Braille, large print, audio or digital text) for a student at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, now is the time to make your needs known to the Iowa Department for the Blind. Please notify the department by February, 2010 so they will have plenty of time to search for the materials requested. You may search for student resources and textbooks at http://www.idbonline.org/library/student-resources or http://www.idbonline.org/form/imc. Please visit the Trueaim Web site for updated information on AIM at http://trueaim.iowa.gov/.
