Apply Now for STEM Scale-Up Programs

What do designing robots, solar cars, aircrafts, wind turbines, creating with Legos, performing experiments on earth materials and diagnosing diseases have in common? Answer: They have the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) focus of the educational curriculum/training available for FREE implementation by LEAs or after-school organizations!

Iowa has selected 12 STEM programs to coordinate with and to enhance your current curriculum. These programs are designed to increase students’ interest and achievement in STEM fields through a focus on students use of problem solving and creative, collaborative and critical thinking skills.

For this program, the applying organization can be an entire district, a single school, a grade-band, an individual classroom, a PTA, 4H or Girl Scout group or an after-school program. In order to implement one (or more) of these programs, schools/organizations apply to the Regional Hub. Click here for the Regional Hub Map. Regional Managers for the Heartland AEA area are the following:

Jay Staker, North Central Regional STEM Manager
jstaker@iastate.edu
(515) 294-8417

Beth Kulow, Southwest STEM Regional Manager
Kulow@bvu.edu
(641) 782-1520

Kari Webb, Northwest STEM Regional Manager
kwebb@ilcc.cc.ia.us
(712) 3620-8341

If the LEA/organization is awarded program implementation, all aspects of the program (including professional development and curricular materials) will be provided FREE to you and your school/organization. All funding will be coordinated between your Regional STEM manager and the program provider.

A brief description (including the website) of each program can be found at http://www.iowastem.gov/.

Benefits of the programs:

• There are different programs available for elementary, middle and high school students
• Many of the programs can be implemented during the school day and some are best suited for before or after-school programs
• The programs all provide either stipends for teachers/coaches or curriculum materials or both
• Many of the programs also provide a level of training related to the provided materials

It is an exciting time for math and science in Iowa. The application is relatively simple and can be found online at http://www.iowastem.gov/educators-stem-scale-application#overlay-context=node.

The application deadline is September 14, 2012. Those educators selected to receive programming will be notified by October 1, 2012 and can implement the programming immediately this fall.

CWRA Representative to be at First HAA Meeting Sept. 4

The first Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) meeting for superintendents will be held on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. At this meeting Chris Jackson, representative from the College and Work Readiness Assessment (CWRA), will present from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. This is an assessment that is intended to help a school learn how well students are learning how to think critically, reason analytically, solve problems and write well. While superintendents are welcome to invite other leaders from their district to attend the meeting with them, there will also be an option to listen to the session via webinar. Watch next week's Administrator Connection for the full agenda for the meeting and the link to tune into the CWRA session.

Reminder: Continuing Education for New School Nurses

Heartland AEA is offering an exciting online learning experience for new school nurses. Beginning September 3, the Moodle-based class will be open to all school nurses hired August 2011 or later. Registration is mandatory but the class is free. Credit toward nurse license renewal is optional for a flat fee of $15 dollars. Topics to be covered include:

• Nursing delegation of health procedures to paraprofessionals
• Instruction on how to write an individual health plan (IHP)
• Instructions on how to conduct health evaluations and screenings for special education
• Understanding special health services and the IEP
• Medicaid billing and the role of the school nurse
• Section 504 and the nurse as a team member
• Heartland AEA resources available to assist nurses

Please pass on this opportunity to new school nurses. They may register here or go through our Professional Development catalog and enter activity number DR346899991301 in the correct field.