Friday, December 11, 2020

Our Mission 

To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.

Our Goals
  • Increase learning growth for students
  • Decrease the gap in achievement
  • Increase annual graduation rates
  • Increase gateways to post-secondary success

growth gap graduation gateways

Register Before Winter Break for Heartland Administrators’ Association January Meeting with Wixted & Co.

Register now
The Heartland Administrator’s Association (HAA) Jan. 5, 2021 meeting will focus on media and crisis awareness training.

The Media & Crisis Awareness Training 101 with Wixted & Co. discusses the fundamentals of media and crisis communication, beginning with the definition of a crisis versus an issue or controversy. In an environment that requires frequent, layered communication to many different audiences, participants will learn guidelines for interacting with the media during a crisis and why crises gain so much attention from key stakeholders and the media. We will examine how media convergence and social media are changing news coverage and the way organizations must respond when facing a crisis.

We will explore the most effective methods of communication to key stakeholders in 2021, examine the importance of audience analysis and discuss the four phases of a crisis. The trainer will use video examples to help illustrate key points.

The training will be held virtually via Zoom and capacity will be limited. Registration is open to superintendents and any staff person managing district communications, social media and/or website. Register at this link OR by emailing participant names to Jenny Ugolini at jugolini@heartlandaea.org by Dec. 21.

Universal Protocol for Accommodations in Reading Available to Iowa Schools at No Cost

Iowa’s AEAs and the Department of Education are pleased to announce that we are providing access to uPAR, Universal Protocol for Accommodations in Reading, at no cost to schools. uPAR is an online screening tool that can be administered to groups of students to capture data showing how each student learns best.

Benefits of uPAR:
  1. Set up a group of students in minutes
  2. Administer to up to 30 students in one class period
  3. Evaluations can occur virtually or in the classroom
  4. Automatic scoring
  5. Individual and group data can easily be sorted
Getting Started
Complete this form to request implementation of uPAR at your school. Review the uPAR Implementation Guide.

For more information, contact Wendy Robinson, Director of Instructional Services, or a member of your school’s support team for further assistance.