May 2016 Each and Every Child Newsletter

From the Iowa Department of Education: You have worked your miracles again, and now the school year is on the verge of wrapping up. Welcome to Each and Every Child, the last issue of this school year. In this issue, we have a smorgasbord of stories, from gardening to summer reading to sports.

Additional Resources:

• ASK Resource Centers has compiled a comprehensive list of summer camps in Iowa that are focused on children with special needs. Click here to read.
• Read Educator Jane Schmidt’s most recent blog on the Iowa Core.

Finally, we at the Iowa Department of Education thank you for your dedication. Make no mistake, you are creating all of our tomorrows. May you have a wonderful summer.

Complete TLC and Teacher Support Survey - You Might Win an iPad Mini 2 or $50 Amazon Gift Card

The Iowa Department of Education and the American Institutes for Research invites Iowa teachers and school and district leaders to complete the Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) and Teacher Support Survey by May 6.

Take the survey now

Share the survey with teachers, teacher leaders, principals and assistant principals in your school and encourage them to take the survey. A survey participation tip sheet and FAQ flyer are provided.

Findings from the survey will be used to determine supports for districts, recommendations for the system as a whole, and to communicate the impact TLC is having across the state.

If you have any questions or technical issues with this survey, contact the survey coordinator, Melissa Yisak at (800) 634-0766 or Iowa_survey@air.org.

"Impacting Literacy Leadership for Administrators" Professional Learning Sessions Coming Soon

Iowa administrators and teacher leaders are invited to three professional learning events on the components and interconnectedness of Chapter 62/Early Literacy Initiative, Teacher Leadership Compensation, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Differentiated Accountability, Collaborating for Kids and Standards and Curriculum.

Impacting Literacy Leadership - Making the Connections
This one-day training provides an overview of the components of Multi Tiered Systems of Support while connecting this learning to Early Literacy Implementation and Differentiated Accountability. Members from the Iowa Department of Education and state AEAs will lead collaborative learning around the continuous improvement tools that have been developed through the Collaborating for Iowa's Kids (C4K) and the Teacher Leadership Structure. Action planning for implementation will also be integrated throughout the day so administrators can think about how to leverage their teacher leader resources back in their buildings.

Date: June 20, 2016
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Iowa Events Center, 730 Third Street, Des Moines
Cost: $25
Register by June 15
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Tools to Support MTSS Implementation
Save the date for this follow-up event to the June training. Administrators AND their teachers/teacher leaders and training cadre are invited.

Date: Aug. 1, 2016
Location: Iowa Events Center, 730 Third Street, Des Moines
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Keeping School Improvement Practical, Reasonable, and Doable for PK - 6 Leadership Teams

PreK - 6 Elementary Building Leadership Teams across Heartland AEA will come together to deepen their understanding in:

• Effective leadership team traits
• The interconnectedness of Chapter 62/Early Literacy Initiative, Teacher Leadership Compensation (TLC), Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Differentiated Accountability, Collaborating for Kids (C4K) and Standards and Curriculum
• Building consensus with staff and constituents and the use of C4K school improvement tools

This opportunity will assist teams in moving forward from the summer TLC-C4K (June 20 and Aug. 1, 2016), however attendance at those leadership sessions is not required for this day.

Date: Sept. 29, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register here. There is no cost to attend.