It’s Time to Return ELPA21 Testing Materials to Measurement Inc.

With another successful ELPA21 assessment administration in the books, districts are reminded to return all testing materials as noted in the training and in the original shipment. Return all used and unused paper and pencil materials (e.g. Kindergarten and 1st grade online writing supplements, paper test booklets, braille kits) using the prepaid return shipping label for return to Measurement Inc. as soon as possible. If you have any questions, contact the Iowa Department of Education Help Desk at iowaelpa21helpdesk@air.org or (855) 873-5710.

Heartland AEA is Piloting an Additional Course Option for Iowa Evaluator License Renewal - Save the Dates!

Heartland AEA with support from the Iowa Department of Education is pleased to pilot an additional course option for administrators and/or evaluators who want to renew their evaluator license. The Collaborative Leadership Institute is a two credit hour course that will be held on June 19-20, Oct. 3 and Dec. 5, 2017 at the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center in Johnston.

Heartland AEA and Corwin partnered in the design of the Evaluator Approval Training pilot with the assistance of Peter Dewitt, Ed.D., and his work on Collaborative Leadership, which is grounded in the Visible Learning research of education expert John Hattie, on the most influential and impactful leadership practices shown to accelerate student learning.

In the Institute, Dr. Dewitt will unpack six leadership factors of Collaborative Leadership, painting a powerful scheme to meet stakeholders where they are, motivate stakeholders to strive for improvement and model how to do it. Participants will learn:

• The definition and complexities of collaborative leadership

• The 6 influences from Hattie’s research where they should focus

• How to redesign structures they have in place to help them have deeper and more impactful conversations with teachers, students and parents

• How to increase their ability to identify effective strategies for improvement

• How to build consistency in providing feedback to teachers based on a common set of agreed upon effective components of teaching

• Several activities to use with their staff to elicit the teachers’ voice and input into coaching, thus increasing teachers’ investment

• A deeper understanding of the Claims, Evidence, Impact, Judgment model for providing feedback to teachers

• To share best practices and be a resource

The pilot is open to anyone in the state. Seating is limited to 50 people. Registration information is coming soon!

Learn more about the Institute in a live webinar!
If you’d like to learn more about Collaborative Leadership and the course content, join Dr. Dewitt in a live webinar on May 9, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. Register for the webinar at this link.

For any other questions, contact Jim Verlengia, Ed.D., Director of Leadership Supports with Heartland AEA at jverlengia@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14388.

Online Learning Opportunity Coming in June: Effective Programming for Integrated Students on the Autism Spectrum

Are you an AEA or district staff member serving students with autism in less restrictive environments? Then the web-based course “Online Effective Programming for Integrated Students on the Autism Spectrum” may be for you!

This self-paced course will cover a variety of topics, including:

• Characteristics of autism
• Effective classroom supports
• Evidence-based strategies for addressing concerns in the areas of communication, behavior and social skills
• Professional collaboration as a vital component to serving students on the autism spectrum

Effective Programming for Integrated Students on the Autism Spectrum

Dates: June 12 - Aug. 11, 2017
Location: Online
Registration: Register at this link

*Graduate and license renewal credit are available.