Monday, January 12, 2009
Out-of-State Travel Freeze Clarification
The freeze on out-of-state travel is for those individuals who have not already had their travel plans approved. If your travel request has has been approved, employees will still be able to travel.
New Meeting Rooms in 6500 Building Ready to Go
Vacated office space in the 6500 Corporate Drive building in Johnston is now ready to be used as meeting space. All the new rooms have been put on the 4D Resource Scheduler and are ready to be reserved.
New meeting spaces include the prior office space of Sharon Kurns, Cindy Yelick, Sheila King, Arletta Dawson, Dave King, Chris Pierson, Laura Gillon, Jenny Ugolini & Terri Barnes, Maxine Kilcrease and Randy Allison. Arletta Dawson has moved into the office vacated by Brenda Gustafson, and Dave Tilly’s old office will now be used as an audio/video suite. Conference Room 6 has now been opened back up as meeting space. Each new meeting room has been assigned a number which you can see on a map by clicking here. Randy Allison’s office is not seen on the map, but is Room 7. Room 14, which is the old Business Office, will be ready to reserve in the near future.
A great deal of hard work has been done to get all the rooms furnished and ready to use. Please use these new meeting spaces if possible, as it will save the Agency costs on booking outside meeting space.
New meeting spaces include the prior office space of Sharon Kurns, Cindy Yelick, Sheila King, Arletta Dawson, Dave King, Chris Pierson, Laura Gillon, Jenny Ugolini & Terri Barnes, Maxine Kilcrease and Randy Allison. Arletta Dawson has moved into the office vacated by Brenda Gustafson, and Dave Tilly’s old office will now be used as an audio/video suite. Conference Room 6 has now been opened back up as meeting space. Each new meeting room has been assigned a number which you can see on a map by clicking here. Randy Allison’s office is not seen on the map, but is Room 7. Room 14, which is the old Business Office, will be ready to reserve in the near future.
A great deal of hard work has been done to get all the rooms furnished and ready to use. Please use these new meeting spaces if possible, as it will save the Agency costs on booking outside meeting space.
North Star Project Update: District Services
Name of Project: District Services
Name of Initiative: Initiative Two: Partnerships and Stakeholder Loyalty
Team members:
Greg Carenza
Connor Hood
Dee Horning
Mary Montgomery
Berrett Rice
Nikki Roorda
Steve Smith
Maureen Taylor
Give the gist of what your project is about including the long-term goal.
The District Services Project is developing a consistent planning process for districts to determine their professional development and resource needs. The planning process will include screening level and diagnostic data analysis, joint planning between the AEA and LEA, with a long-term goal of proactively meeting districts’ data-based needs.
What are the things that your team has been working on?
The team has been working on creating a vision of the short-, mid- and long-term goals for district services. In the short-term, we have created documents that Partnership Directors will use when having data conversations with districts, including a district profile that will accessible to both AEA and LEA staff. The profile will outline student achievement trends, district administration, information on professional development foci and information on curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The group has also developed a protocol for tiered district service conversations based on district need. For example, if a district is out-of-compliance with regard to AYP or State Performance Plan indicators, there is now a common set of tools that AEA staff and LEA staff can work through to ensure that services provided by the AEA are correlated to the area(s) of discrepancy or need. These conversations will help the AEA determine district needs and impact staffing allocations.
The group is also working on a service report that districts will receive at the end of the school year outlining the services/resources they partnered with Heartland to receive over the course of the year. The long-term goal for this project is to have a Web-based interface where continuous improvement planning tools and templates will be available for both AEA and LEA staffs to use.
What has your team accomplished?
Our team has developed prototypes of a district profile, planning conversations tool, a planning conversation protocol with coaching questions and a district services report. We have conducted trainings with the Partnership Directors on the analysis of AYP and State Performance Plan data, as well as a future planning on using the HEART database.
Why are these important to the Agency’s goal of increasing student achievement?
Through the development of a consistent planning process with districts that includes data-based decision making, we should be able to better align the services we provide to increase student achievement.
What can the staff expect in the future?
As the Partnership Directors begin to implement the consistent data conversations, staff will have the opportunity to be involved in the districts’ planning processes at an early stage, thereby giving them opportunity to explore how they can support the districts’ needs.
Name of Initiative: Initiative Two: Partnerships and Stakeholder Loyalty
Team members:
Greg Carenza
Connor Hood
Dee Horning
Mary Montgomery
Berrett Rice
Nikki Roorda
Steve Smith
Maureen Taylor
Give the gist of what your project is about including the long-term goal.
The District Services Project is developing a consistent planning process for districts to determine their professional development and resource needs. The planning process will include screening level and diagnostic data analysis, joint planning between the AEA and LEA, with a long-term goal of proactively meeting districts’ data-based needs.
What are the things that your team has been working on?
The team has been working on creating a vision of the short-, mid- and long-term goals for district services. In the short-term, we have created documents that Partnership Directors will use when having data conversations with districts, including a district profile that will accessible to both AEA and LEA staff. The profile will outline student achievement trends, district administration, information on professional development foci and information on curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The group has also developed a protocol for tiered district service conversations based on district need. For example, if a district is out-of-compliance with regard to AYP or State Performance Plan indicators, there is now a common set of tools that AEA staff and LEA staff can work through to ensure that services provided by the AEA are correlated to the area(s) of discrepancy or need. These conversations will help the AEA determine district needs and impact staffing allocations.
The group is also working on a service report that districts will receive at the end of the school year outlining the services/resources they partnered with Heartland to receive over the course of the year. The long-term goal for this project is to have a Web-based interface where continuous improvement planning tools and templates will be available for both AEA and LEA staffs to use.
What has your team accomplished?
Our team has developed prototypes of a district profile, planning conversations tool, a planning conversation protocol with coaching questions and a district services report. We have conducted trainings with the Partnership Directors on the analysis of AYP and State Performance Plan data, as well as a future planning on using the HEART database.
Why are these important to the Agency’s goal of increasing student achievement?
Through the development of a consistent planning process with districts that includes data-based decision making, we should be able to better align the services we provide to increase student achievement.
What can the staff expect in the future?
As the Partnership Directors begin to implement the consistent data conversations, staff will have the opportunity to be involved in the districts’ planning processes at an early stage, thereby giving them opportunity to explore how they can support the districts’ needs.
January 23 Polishing Our Practice Meeting
January 23 is the next Polishing Our Practice meeting. These meetings are held opposite office meetings and are required for all staff serving in the area of special education, as well as some other groups. Locations for the meetings are below. Please contact Sarah Brown with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Regions 1 and 2
Annunciation Parish Hall, 723 Elm Street, Coon Rapids
Regions 3 and 4
Grace Lutheran Church, 23932 Meadow Road, Adel
Regions 5 and 7
Ames AEA Office
Region 6
Best Western, 2500 University Blvd., Ames
Region 8
Woodside AEA Office
Region 9
St. Mary Church
Region 10
Zion Lutheran Church
Region 11
First United Methodist Church (Hospitality Room), 307 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola
Regions 12 and 14
DMACC/Newton, Rooms 251 and 258
Region 13
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona
Regions 1 and 2
Annunciation Parish Hall, 723 Elm Street, Coon Rapids
Regions 3 and 4
Grace Lutheran Church, 23932 Meadow Road, Adel
Regions 5 and 7
Ames AEA Office
Region 6
Best Western, 2500 University Blvd., Ames
Region 8
Woodside AEA Office
Region 9
St. Mary Church
Region 10
Zion Lutheran Church
Region 11
First United Methodist Church (Hospitality Room), 307 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola
Regions 12 and 14
DMACC/Newton, Rooms 251 and 258
Region 13
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona
Supporting Mandt at Heartland
Heartland continues to provide Mandt training to district personnel within Heartland. The Mandt trainers present gradual and graded alternatives for managing challenging behaviors, using a combination of non-physical and physical techniques. The main goal is to learn how to effectively manage two people, yourself and the other person whom you deal with every day. Aggression can be dealt with more effectively, by learning to manage yourself first and by using a system of gradual alternatives.
Recommendation for Who Should Be Trained
The most beneficial way to implement Mandt is through a systemic team approach, training a small team of staff (minimum of five) who are available to assist when needed. Recommended team membership consists of the building administrator, nurse, counselor, interventionist, special and general education teachers and program associates (any staff with flexibility to respond to student need). Although student specific associates are not recommended members of the team, they may be appropriate participants due to their in-depth involvement with some students across an entire school day. More specifically, student specific associates should be trained in individual student specific positive behavior support plans. Training all building staff in Mandt would not be recommended.
Types of Training
Mandt System for Managing People: initial two-day training (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Recertification Training: designed for individuals currently certified in Mandt. • Annual recertification is required. • A one-day recertification class (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) must be attended prior to the expiration date on the Certificate of Completion. • If certification expires, the two-day training must be attended.
Training Delivery Options
In Heartland’s effort to build partnerships with our districts, there are various methods available to obtain the initial two-day or the one-day recertification Mandt System Training.
Within District Training
This option may be used when there is a group of 20 staff who need training. The request for training should be directed to the Partnership Director within your region. As a result of the request, the district may be asked to host a training and open registration to other schools within the region.
Regional Training
The Partnership Director may organize a regional training for groups of 15-20 participants. School districts may be requested to host a training and open registration to other schools within the region.
Catalog course open to all
Heartland will continue to offer initial and recertification training. The schedule is available on Heartland’s Web site.
Physical Requirements
To be fully certified in Mandt, participants must be able to get up off the floor from a kneeling position.
Training Fees
There is a registration fee of $150 for the initial two day training and $75 for recertification.
Please direct questions about Mandt training to Cheryl Risen in the Johnston Office.
Recommendation for Who Should Be Trained
The most beneficial way to implement Mandt is through a systemic team approach, training a small team of staff (minimum of five) who are available to assist when needed. Recommended team membership consists of the building administrator, nurse, counselor, interventionist, special and general education teachers and program associates (any staff with flexibility to respond to student need). Although student specific associates are not recommended members of the team, they may be appropriate participants due to their in-depth involvement with some students across an entire school day. More specifically, student specific associates should be trained in individual student specific positive behavior support plans. Training all building staff in Mandt would not be recommended.
Types of Training
Mandt System for Managing People: initial two-day training (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Recertification Training: designed for individuals currently certified in Mandt. • Annual recertification is required. • A one-day recertification class (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) must be attended prior to the expiration date on the Certificate of Completion. • If certification expires, the two-day training must be attended.
Training Delivery Options
In Heartland’s effort to build partnerships with our districts, there are various methods available to obtain the initial two-day or the one-day recertification Mandt System Training.
Within District Training
This option may be used when there is a group of 20 staff who need training. The request for training should be directed to the Partnership Director within your region. As a result of the request, the district may be asked to host a training and open registration to other schools within the region.
Regional Training
The Partnership Director may organize a regional training for groups of 15-20 participants. School districts may be requested to host a training and open registration to other schools within the region.
Catalog course open to all
Heartland will continue to offer initial and recertification training. The schedule is available on Heartland’s Web site.
Physical Requirements
To be fully certified in Mandt, participants must be able to get up off the floor from a kneeling position.
Training Fees
There is a registration fee of $150 for the initial two day training and $75 for recertification.
Please direct questions about Mandt training to Cheryl Risen in the Johnston Office.
January SAI Leadership Link
Click here for the January Leadership Link newsletter from School Administrators of Iowa.
Heartland United Way Contribution Total
Heartland staff members contributed $3,749 to this year’s United Way campaign. While the Agency didn’t meet its goal of raising as many funds as last year, we appreciate what employees were able to contribute in these economic times. Thanks for making a difference for those agencies who receive United Way funds.
Technology Update
Apple Tips and Tricks
If you ever dreamed of becoming a real “Power User” on your computer, you may want to take a look at Apple’s Pro Tips Web site. It is loaded with fantastic pro level tips and tricks for Mac OS X and Apple applications. You can visit the site at: http://www.apple.com/pro/tips.
Training to Use Heartland's Content Management System to Develop Web Pages
Weekly training sessions are being offered for Heartland staff who are, or would like to be, responsible for content development on Heartland's Web site. These sessions are designed to be training sessions and support sessions for Heartland staff. Staff can utilize the sessions to work on Web pages in a supported environment or to receive personal training on how to get started with a Web initiative. Joshua Burke, Web Manager, and Julie Sypersma, PLL Technology Support Specialist, will be conducting the training.
Some of the things you can learn include...
• How to create and publish pages within the Heartland Content Management System
• How to add graphics, tables and links to external content
• How to upload larger files to the Heartland Web Server
• How to use Heartland's Content Management System to integrate Web content with Web 2.0 tools such as blogs
The focus of the trainings will be to cover the basics of page creation, editing and publishing but more advanced topics will be covered on request. Click here for training dates and activity numbers.
If you ever dreamed of becoming a real “Power User” on your computer, you may want to take a look at Apple’s Pro Tips Web site. It is loaded with fantastic pro level tips and tricks for Mac OS X and Apple applications. You can visit the site at: http://www.apple.com/pro/tips.
Training to Use Heartland's Content Management System to Develop Web Pages
Weekly training sessions are being offered for Heartland staff who are, or would like to be, responsible for content development on Heartland's Web site. These sessions are designed to be training sessions and support sessions for Heartland staff. Staff can utilize the sessions to work on Web pages in a supported environment or to receive personal training on how to get started with a Web initiative. Joshua Burke, Web Manager, and Julie Sypersma, PLL Technology Support Specialist, will be conducting the training.
Some of the things you can learn include...
• How to create and publish pages within the Heartland Content Management System
• How to add graphics, tables and links to external content
• How to upload larger files to the Heartland Web Server
• How to use Heartland's Content Management System to integrate Web content with Web 2.0 tools such as blogs
The focus of the trainings will be to cover the basics of page creation, editing and publishing but more advanced topics will be covered on request. Click here for training dates and activity numbers.
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