Transitional Life Skills Training Coming in April

Sign up now to attend Transitional Life Skills training that will be held April 7, 2011 in the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive). During this session teachers and staff will focus on functional programming in the area of transition planning for students with disabilities. This learning opportunity will provide Level II and Level III teachers information about resources, curriculum and units of study to help successfully incorporate transition activities to enhance post-secondary living, learning and working. Learn more by clicking here.

NOTE: Heartland AEA will reimburse schools the substitution pay for teachers to attend.

Attention: ESL Teachers and Administrators

I-ELDA Training
If you not have already taken advantage of available I-ELDA trainings, go to the link below to register for the I-ELDA training in Marshalltown, Iowa on January 18, 2011.
Go to http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvphttp://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvp

Title III-Funded Workshops for ELL Teachers
Title III funds are providing two workshop opportunities that will benefit classroom teachers who have ESL students. We encourage you to send teams of classroom teachers or ESL and classroom teams to these workshops. For a complete description, go to the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog.

Introduction to Sheltered Instruction for Teachers of ELLs
Dates: January 29 & February 19, 2011
Instructors: Stephaney Jones-Vo & Shelley Fairbairn
Activity Number: ES004292111101
This workshop is not for teachers who have previously attended unless they come with a team of at least four other classroom teachers. A $200 stipend will be given for full attendance and completion of the assignment. Graduate credit is available.

Empowering ELLs in the Mathematics Classroom
Dates: February 5 & 26, 2011
Instructor: Judy Kinley
Activity Number: ES006192111101
Participants will receive the book Supporting English Language Learners in Math Class and a $200 stipend upon completing the attendance and assignment requirements. Graduate credit is available.

Heartland AEA setting the Agency’s Direction

We have had the opportunity this fall to establish our goals based on current achievement outcomes. It is our hope to work in partnership with families and local districts to accomplish these goals. The goals are as follows:

Goal 1: By 2015, Heartland AEA will enhance student learning.
Indicators:

• Increase learning growth as measured by the number of districts/schools demonstrating growth in student performance
• Increase in core preparation rate of high school graduates by minimum of 5 percent per year until all students meet criteria for post-secondary education/career success
• Decrease the gap in achievement for students with disabilities, English Language Learners, students living in poverty and all racial/ethnic groups to proficiency within three years using standardized measures

Goal 2: By 2015, Heartland AEA will cultivate a high performance workplace.

• Indicators (development in progress)

Goal 3: By 2015, Heartland AEA will increase operational efficiency and effectiveness.

• Indicators (development in progress)

Based on these goals, the plan for our regional structure is to reflect better focus our efforts on student achievement. Click here to download the Agency’s new regional structure. We have established regional meeting dates where leaders in Heartland AEA will share these changes and gather input from District Leadership.