In order to best plan for future agency meetings, we need your feedback from the regional meetings on January 23. Please use the link below to complete a short evaluation. Thank you for your input.
http://tp2.aea11.k12.ia.us/018/OfficeMtg_PolishingPractice.tp4
Monday, January 26, 2009
Required Action: Heartland Employees Asked to Conserve Where They Can
In response to the current economic situation, Heartland employees are asked to take some small money-saving actions in their offices. Small changes can make a difference.
- Don't mail documents, etc. that can be e-mailed instead. Our copy machines can turn documents into PDFs that can easily be e-mailed.
- Shut off office and cubicle lights when not at your desk.
- Shut off computers, printers and copiers at the end of the day.
- Curb excess printing.
- Curb coffee use at internal meetings.
- Don't mail documents, etc. that can be e-mailed instead. Our copy machines can turn documents into PDFs that can easily be e-mailed.
- Shut off office and cubicle lights when not at your desk.
- Shut off computers, printers and copiers at the end of the day.
- Curb excess printing.
- Curb coffee use at internal meetings.
Required Action: Guidelines for Sending Surveys and/or Collecting Data
As a part of our North Star efforts at Heartland, we are working hard to coordinate all data collection activities across the Agency. We are doing this to both minimize the number of times staff and schools are asked to complete surveys and to ensure that the data collected will be used in decision making.
Recently, some Heartland staff have reported being asked to complete an excessive number of surveys over a short period of time. It was found that some of the surveys involved were not a part of the Agency’s coordinated data collection efforts. As a reminder, it is the Agency’s expectation that any survey sent out by a Heartland employee to Heartland staff, school staff or parents must be developed in consultation with and approved by the Innovation and Accountability team. A request form for development of electronic surveys will be available on the Intranet next week. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact Dave Tilly at ext. 14339.
Recently, some Heartland staff have reported being asked to complete an excessive number of surveys over a short period of time. It was found that some of the surveys involved were not a part of the Agency’s coordinated data collection efforts. As a reminder, it is the Agency’s expectation that any survey sent out by a Heartland employee to Heartland staff, school staff or parents must be developed in consultation with and approved by the Innovation and Accountability team. A request form for development of electronic surveys will be available on the Intranet next week. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact Dave Tilly at ext. 14339.
Required Action: Guidelines for the Use of Space Heaters at Heartland
Due to the recent record-low winter temperatures, some Heartland employees are using space heaters to keep their workspaces warm. Space heaters can be a workplace fire hazard if they are improperly used or maintained. We want to ensure that all space heaters at Heartland are used in a safe manner. If you use a heater in your workspace, please follow these safety precautions:
• Only electric heaters with approval from an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories, may be used. Look for the sticker on your heater.
• Non-electric space heaters are not allowed.
• Do not use heaters that have damaged or missing parts. Broken or frayed electrical cords can be especially dangerous.
• Do not leave an electric heater unattended. Turn the heater off if you are leaving your work area.
• Never place heaters on furniture, since they may fall which could dislodge or break parts in the heater, which could result in a fire or shock hazard.
• Keep combustible materials (coats, papers, boxes, furniture, etc.) at a safe distance from the heater. The National Fire Protection Association recommends at least 36 inches of clearance.
• Keep liquids (beverages, water for plants, etc.) at a safe distance from the heater.
• Never use a heater to dry damp items, such as gloves or shoes.
• Do not hide cords under rugs or carpets. Placing anything on top of the cord could cause the cord to overheat and can cause a fire.
• Do not use an extension cord or a power strip with a space heater. Using a light-duty, household extension cord with high-wattage appliances can start a fire.
• Broken heaters should be checked and repaired by a qualified appliance service center. Do not attempt to repair, adjust or replace parts in the heater yourself.
• Keep heaters away from high-traffic areas.
Following these simple precautions will help us all have a safe and warm workplace. Please contact Steve Zimmerman at szimmerman@aea11.k12.ia.us or at ext. 14534 with any questions.
• Only electric heaters with approval from an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories, may be used. Look for the sticker on your heater.
• Non-electric space heaters are not allowed.
• Do not use heaters that have damaged or missing parts. Broken or frayed electrical cords can be especially dangerous.
• Do not leave an electric heater unattended. Turn the heater off if you are leaving your work area.
• Never place heaters on furniture, since they may fall which could dislodge or break parts in the heater, which could result in a fire or shock hazard.
• Keep combustible materials (coats, papers, boxes, furniture, etc.) at a safe distance from the heater. The National Fire Protection Association recommends at least 36 inches of clearance.
• Keep liquids (beverages, water for plants, etc.) at a safe distance from the heater.
• Never use a heater to dry damp items, such as gloves or shoes.
• Do not hide cords under rugs or carpets. Placing anything on top of the cord could cause the cord to overheat and can cause a fire.
• Do not use an extension cord or a power strip with a space heater. Using a light-duty, household extension cord with high-wattage appliances can start a fire.
• Broken heaters should be checked and repaired by a qualified appliance service center. Do not attempt to repair, adjust or replace parts in the heater yourself.
• Keep heaters away from high-traffic areas.
Following these simple precautions will help us all have a safe and warm workplace. Please contact Steve Zimmerman at szimmerman@aea11.k12.ia.us or at ext. 14534 with any questions.
North Star Project Update: Curriculum and Instruction—Iowa Core Curriculum
Name of Project: Iowa Core Curriculum
Name of Initiative: #1 Comprehensive Services to Schools, Children & Families
Team members:
Heartland Core Team
Julie Hukee, Becca Lindahl
Lynn McCartney, Brad Niebling
Linda Hoobin, Teresa Bellinghausen
Jen Reidemann, Kim Thuente
Sharon Kurns, Cindy Yelick
Additional Members (Communications Committee)
Dana Strother, Sue Severson
Nina Rasmusson, Leanne Thill
Susan Schrader, Brenda Gustafson
Sheila King, Dave Tilly
AdHoc: Sarah Brown, Cheryl Risen
Give the gist of what your project is about including the long-term goal.
The Iowa Core Curriculum project is focusing on how the Agency can assist schools to fully implement the Core Curriculum in high schools by July 1, 2012, and in grades K-8 by 2014–15 by providing Iowa educators with support and tools to assure that essential subject matters being taught and essential knowledge and skills are being learned in Iowa classrooms for each and every K-12 student.
What are the things that your team has been working on?
The team has been developing and delivering training modules for district leadership teams that include administrators and teachers. Participation in the six training modules will result in the development of a district implementation plan for the Core Curriculum. In addition to district leadership teams, Heartland staff has also been participating in the training so that they can support administrators and teachers at the local school level.
Several team members are collaborating with the Curriculum Network Advisory Committee to design content and activities that are shared with districts via the Curriculum Network and Heartland Web sites. This work is intended to assist districts in differentiating their implementation and professional development planning in their districts. The communication sub-committee is developing a plan to assure two-way communication and feedback as agency staff and districts continue to learn more about the Core Curriculum, develop implementation plans and plan for professional development and district structures that will support full implementation of the Core Curriculum.
What has your team accomplished?
By mid-January, 100% of the public and non-public districts/schools in the Heartland area have registered leadership teams for the Core Curriculum training with over 90% of participants attending each module. The six colleges in central Iowa with teacher preparation programs are also sending a leadership team to the training. A Web page has been created for the Core Curriculum. Included on the page are all the materials from the training modules so that information can easily be shared with staff who is not able to attend the training. The Web address for the page is http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/ICC/index.html. The team is also continuing to work on developing a communication plan and a Core Curriculum implementation plan for the Agency.
Why are these important to Agency’s goal of increasing student achievement?
The purpose of implementing the Core Curriculum is to raise student expectations and change teaching behaviors to impact student achievement.
What can staff expect in the future?
Work will continue on the development of action plans and additional training modules. There are also plans to create opportunities for agency staff to develop deeper knowledge and understanding of the Core Curriculum and how to support schools through teacher quality professional learning opportunities. This project will continue to collaborate with Curriculum and Instruction work teams and Media/Technology work teams to develop resources for agency staff to use to support teachers and administrators.
Name of Initiative: #1 Comprehensive Services to Schools, Children & Families
Team members:
Heartland Core Team
Julie Hukee, Becca Lindahl
Lynn McCartney, Brad Niebling
Linda Hoobin, Teresa Bellinghausen
Jen Reidemann, Kim Thuente
Sharon Kurns, Cindy Yelick
Additional Members (Communications Committee)
Dana Strother, Sue Severson
Nina Rasmusson, Leanne Thill
Susan Schrader, Brenda Gustafson
Sheila King, Dave Tilly
AdHoc: Sarah Brown, Cheryl Risen
Give the gist of what your project is about including the long-term goal.
The Iowa Core Curriculum project is focusing on how the Agency can assist schools to fully implement the Core Curriculum in high schools by July 1, 2012, and in grades K-8 by 2014–15 by providing Iowa educators with support and tools to assure that essential subject matters being taught and essential knowledge and skills are being learned in Iowa classrooms for each and every K-12 student.
What are the things that your team has been working on?
The team has been developing and delivering training modules for district leadership teams that include administrators and teachers. Participation in the six training modules will result in the development of a district implementation plan for the Core Curriculum. In addition to district leadership teams, Heartland staff has also been participating in the training so that they can support administrators and teachers at the local school level.
Several team members are collaborating with the Curriculum Network Advisory Committee to design content and activities that are shared with districts via the Curriculum Network and Heartland Web sites. This work is intended to assist districts in differentiating their implementation and professional development planning in their districts. The communication sub-committee is developing a plan to assure two-way communication and feedback as agency staff and districts continue to learn more about the Core Curriculum, develop implementation plans and plan for professional development and district structures that will support full implementation of the Core Curriculum.
What has your team accomplished?
By mid-January, 100% of the public and non-public districts/schools in the Heartland area have registered leadership teams for the Core Curriculum training with over 90% of participants attending each module. The six colleges in central Iowa with teacher preparation programs are also sending a leadership team to the training. A Web page has been created for the Core Curriculum. Included on the page are all the materials from the training modules so that information can easily be shared with staff who is not able to attend the training. The Web address for the page is http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/ICC/index.html. The team is also continuing to work on developing a communication plan and a Core Curriculum implementation plan for the Agency.
Why are these important to Agency’s goal of increasing student achievement?
The purpose of implementing the Core Curriculum is to raise student expectations and change teaching behaviors to impact student achievement.
What can staff expect in the future?
Work will continue on the development of action plans and additional training modules. There are also plans to create opportunities for agency staff to develop deeper knowledge and understanding of the Core Curriculum and how to support schools through teacher quality professional learning opportunities. This project will continue to collaborate with Curriculum and Instruction work teams and Media/Technology work teams to develop resources for agency staff to use to support teachers and administrators.
Clarification about Cognitive Coaching and Fierce Conversations Trainings
Last week there was an article in The Connection about upcoming training for Cognitive Coaching and Fierce Conversations. To clarify: Both of these courses have a materials fee. Heartland employees who have been approved by their supervisors to take either of these courses will not need to pay the materials fee. They also do not need to pay the $25 for relicensure credit unless they intend to use the credit to move on the salary schedule.
Since the Universal Registration system is not set up to handle the internal transfers of funds required in situations where there is a fee beyond relicensure credit, it will not be possible for Heartland employees to register online. If you want to register for either of these courses or any classes that have a fee beyond relicensure credit, please contact Carol Naylor at cnaylor@aea11.k12.ia.us or call her at ext. 14443. To expedite your registration, please obtain an account code from your supervisor so that Carol will know where to charge your materials.
Since the Universal Registration system is not set up to handle the internal transfers of funds required in situations where there is a fee beyond relicensure credit, it will not be possible for Heartland employees to register online. If you want to register for either of these courses or any classes that have a fee beyond relicensure credit, please contact Carol Naylor at cnaylor@aea11.k12.ia.us or call her at ext. 14443. To expedite your registration, please obtain an account code from your supervisor so that Carol will know where to charge your materials.
HeartBeat Archive Now on the Intranet
There is now an archive of past issues of HeartBeat on the Intranet under the Critical Communication tab. This year’s issues of HeartBeat are saved there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)