Heartland AEA Library Connection: Your Winter Educator Update!

Heartland AEA’s Library Connection brings you fresh resources and inspiration to support literacy, learning, and classroom engagement this season. From newly honored books to Olympic-themed teaching tools and upcoming professional opportunities, dive into what’s new for you and your learners!

New Iowa DE-Approved AEA Professional Development—Available Now

The Iowa Department of Education has approved a new list of AEA Professional Development, which is now available to districts and schools in our service area.

These DE-approved courses are designed to support Iowa’s strategic priorities and provide consistent, high-quality professional learning for educators—whether your focus is literacy, math, special education, English learners, leadership, mental health or preparing students for the future.

We invite you to connect with your AEA regional director to get started. Your AEA team can help you explore options, customize learning for your staff, and plan next steps that fit your goals.

We look forward to partnering with you to support your educators and students through these learning opportunities.

For more information, see the 2026-27 List of Approved AEA Professional Development.

Heartland AEA Now Part of UNI’s Grow Your Own School Psychologist Program

Spread the word to potential school psychologists!

About the Program
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI), in partnership with seven of Iowa’s AEAs, is offering a collaborative “grow your own” program to train new school psychologists to increase access to mental health services in high-need rural Iowa schools. Participants earn an Ed.S. in school psychology through UNI while continuing to work full-time. Upon graduation, students commit to serving as AEA school psychologists in rural areas to help address critical local needs.

Two pathways are available:

• Bachelor’s track: For educators currently working in schools (teachers, paraprofessionals, etc.); Ed.S. in 4 years
• Master’s track: For professionals in education and related fields; Ed.S. in 3 years
• Two cohorts of ~12 students each

Cohort 1 begins in June 2026, Cohort 2 begins in Summer 2027

Why It Matters
Iowa faces a critical shortage of school psychologists. While NASP recommends 1 psychologist per 500 students, current ratios in Iowa range from 1:1,657 to 1:7,857, limiting student access to mental health supports.

Program Benefits

• Financial support: books provided each semester, travel costs covered for instructional sessions, 90% of tuition and fees covered through grants, internship licensure and national exam fees paid
• Part-time study while working full-time
• Strong professional engagement

Service Commitment

• Graduates commit to 3 years of service in their AEA after completion
• Early departure may require repayment of some program costs

Informational Flyer