Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

How Are We Doing? Take Our Survey!

As you reflect back on the 2014-15 school year, and specifically on the Heartland AEA services you used last year, you’re invited to participate in the annual statewide AEA/DE Customer Survey. It only takes a few minutes!

Take the Survey!

Thank you in advance for your participation! Your feedback helps us to evaluate and improve upon our services to you.
The survey is open until Nov. 25, 2015. If you have any issues accessing the survey, contact Dr. Gary Dennenbring.  

AEA Purchasing Foodservice Newsletter

The Nov. 2015 AEA Purchasing Foodservice Newsletter includes topics such as professional standards requirements for school nutrition staff, cafeteria functionality and ServSafe® certification.

Nominations Sought for I.O.W.A STEM Teacher Award

Administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, students and other STEM advocates are invited to nominate an inspirational science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the 2016 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries and the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

Formally known as The STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching, this award is dedicated to honoring one teacher from each of the six STEM regions for their contributions and dedication to STEM education in Iowa. Each winner will receive $1,500, as well as another $1,500 to be used in their classroom.

For more information or to make a nomination, visit the 2016 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award website or contact Taylor Rookaird or Carrie Rankin.

BoEE Newsletter

The Iowa BOEE's Nov. 2015 newsletter includes topics such as the Teach Iowa recruitment website, coaching endorsement, cooperating teacher renewal unit, STEM teacher award and more!

Superintendent of Schools Search – Kearney, Nebraska

Kearney Public Schools is conducting a search for Superintendent of Schools. Questions can be directed to Ed Rastovski at (402) 430-5837, Dr. Roy Baker at (402) 470-1321 or Craig Pease at (402) 610-0702.

Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

TIME CHANGE: Heartland AEA Administrators Association (HAA) Meeting – Nov. 3

The HAA meeting on Nov. 3 will start at 8:45 a.m. instead of 9:00 a.m. and lunch will be provided.

For up-to-date meeting information, please refer to the HAA Google Site or agenda. 



Heartland AEA Administrators Association Meeting
Nov. 3, 2015
Regional Education Center
6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
8:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Literacy Intervention Event Scheduled Jan. 13

Iowa's schools are implementing successful reading interventions every day! What better way to learn and share effective practices in reading intervention than by attending “Celebrating Iowa’s Success,” a one-day literacy event sponsored by the Collaborating for Iowa’s Kids (C4K), a collaborative comprised of the Iowa Department of Education, Area Education Agencies, and Iowa districts.

This event is designed for district and building administrators, reading specialists, classroom teachers and instructional coaches. Participants will hear:

• Keynote speaker Amanda VanDerHeyden discuss Return On Investment in education
• Schools from across the state share successful literacy interventions

Registration is due Dec. 18 and schools with successful literacy interventions are encouraged to apply and share successes with others across the state. Applications are due Nov. 20.

If you have questions, contact Mary Jane Stites or Mark Crady, coordinators of C4K Training Cadre, at (515) 270-0405.

DMACC Surplus Available

The DMACC Ankeny campus has the following surplus supplies available:

• 30 sled base desks

If interested, please contact Julie Klocke, DMACC Purchasing, at (515) 964-6386 or jaklocke1@dmacc.edu.

Task Force Releases Recommendations to Redesign Career and Technical Education in Iowa

Members of the Secondary Career and Technical Education Task Force released their final recommendations, which set a new vision for career and technical education that is in line with the needs of students, employers and the state’s economy. The task force’s recommendations for high-quality career and technical education (CTE) programs are as follows:

• Promote career and college readiness through thoughtful career guidance and purposeful academic and technical planning practices.
• Provide high-quality, integrated CTE programming comprised of secondary exploratory and transitory coursework to prepare students for higher-level, specialized academic and technical training.
• Afford students the opportunity to access a spectrum of high-quality work-based learning experiences through a coherent delivery system that streamlines and leverages existing initiatives.
• Address the shortage of qualified career and technical instructors by expanding opportunities to obtain academic and technical training in licensure areas and examining pre-service preparation and licensure practices to remove barriers for horizontal and vertical career advancement for individuals within the profession.
• Through collaboration and regional partnerships, provide for increased and equitable access to high-quality CTE through a statewide system of regional centers.

The full report is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.