Monday, April 18, 2011
Setting the Agency’s Direction Update
Updates about the Agency’s future can be found on the Setting Direction blog at http://direction.aea11.k12.ia.us.
Customer Satisfaction Survey Results
We are pleased to report that 3,449 educators from Heartland’s service area responded to the annual AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey. The data collected from the survey will be used to make important program decisions that benefit all schools in our area. Thank you to all staff members who encouraged school staff to participate in the survey.
AEA Legislative Report
Click here to download the weekly legislative report from AEA Government Relations Specialist Wayne Haddy.
Board of Directors Votes to Change Post-Employment Benefit
In its April 2011 meeting, the Heartland Board of Directors voted to make changes to the post-employment benefit policy. Click here to find specific details of how the policy changes. The Board will consider the use of a post-employment policy annually in its September board meeting. Questions may be addressed to Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Classified Union Job Descriptions Distributed in Advance of Salary Survey
As an organization that values collaboration and ongoing improvement, Heartland’s Human Resources Department is collaborating with the Teamster’s Union to study and potentially improve the current salary system for that workgroup. The purpose of the process is to ensure equity and fairness in compensation throughout the various positions represented in the group. If you are part of the Classified Union, you should have received an e-mail with your job description on Monday, April 11. If you didn’t receive a message, received the wrong description or have general questions about the project, please contact Tony Chiaramonte in Human Resources at tchiaramonte@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14534.
Reminder: Benefits Enrollment Ends at 4:00 p.m. April 25
Online benefits enrollment is available until 4:00 p.m. on April 25. Technical problems encountered during enrollment may be addressed to Lori Thelen, Information Systems Manager at lthelen@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14669. Questions about your benefits or eligibility may be addressed to Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
New Security Features for Professional Development Registration
Beginning today, educators registering for professional development activities on the Heartland website will notice some new choices and several increased security features. You will still be able to browse the professional development catalog without making any changes to your account profile, but once an activity is added to the shopping cart, a new login screen will appear. This login screen is where you will begin to create a unique passcode (password) and establish security questions and answers.
In 2010, Heartland processed 28,980 professional development registrations, and most of those registrations were completed online and included payment in the form of credit card numbers or district purchase orders. In an effort to protect educators’ personal information, these new security features have been programmed into Heartland’s online professional development registration system.
Instructions for New Security Features
If you have previously registered for a Heartland professional development activity, please enter your first and last name and the login method that you previously used, either your Social Security number or your driver’s license number. Then enter the set-up passcode, eduCation2010. Now click the LOG IN button. You will be taken to a screen where you will create your unique passcode and choose from several security questions. Once you have selected and answered the two security questions, click on CONTINUE. The new screen will allow you to update your account records. You will have the option of including three possible login identification numbers: Social Security number, driver’s license number or Iowa BOEE folder number. In the future, you will be able to log in with any of the numbers you have provided along with your unique passcode.
If you have never registered before for a Heartland professional development activity, please enter your first and last name and the login method that you prefer to use. Then enter the set-up passcode, eduCation2010. Now click the CREATE NEW ACCOUNT button. You will be taken to a screen where you will create your unique passcode and choose from several security questions. Once you have selected and answered the two security questions, click on CONTINUE. The new screen will allow you to set up an account. You will have the option of including three possible login identification numbers: Social Security number, driver’s license number or Iowa BOEE folder number. In the future, you will be able to log in with any of the numbers you have provided along with your unique passcode. If you forget your passcode, there is a button on the login page that you can click. An e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address on record with instruction on how to reset your passcode. Heartland’s Professional Development secretaries will not be able to tell you your passcode if you forget it; they will only be able to reset it to eduCation2010 after you provide them with the answers to your security questions. You will then be able to create a new passcode.
Transcript Changes
Another improvement that begins on April 18 focuses on transcripts that participants receive after successfully completing a course. Currently, 3 copies of a transcript, listing a single course, are sent to participants after grades are entered. Thus, if a participant takes 4 courses he or she will receive 12 pages of transcripts. The new system will send 1 transcript that lists all of the courses successfully completed in the prior 5 years. It is our hope that this will make recordkeeping and renewing educator licenses a much easier process. Course participants will still be able to request a transcript (2 copies) with their complete course history for $10. If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the Professional Development Department at ext. 14701.
In 2010, Heartland processed 28,980 professional development registrations, and most of those registrations were completed online and included payment in the form of credit card numbers or district purchase orders. In an effort to protect educators’ personal information, these new security features have been programmed into Heartland’s online professional development registration system.
Instructions for New Security Features
If you have previously registered for a Heartland professional development activity, please enter your first and last name and the login method that you previously used, either your Social Security number or your driver’s license number. Then enter the set-up passcode, eduCation2010. Now click the LOG IN button. You will be taken to a screen where you will create your unique passcode and choose from several security questions. Once you have selected and answered the two security questions, click on CONTINUE. The new screen will allow you to update your account records. You will have the option of including three possible login identification numbers: Social Security number, driver’s license number or Iowa BOEE folder number. In the future, you will be able to log in with any of the numbers you have provided along with your unique passcode.
If you have never registered before for a Heartland professional development activity, please enter your first and last name and the login method that you prefer to use. Then enter the set-up passcode, eduCation2010. Now click the CREATE NEW ACCOUNT button. You will be taken to a screen where you will create your unique passcode and choose from several security questions. Once you have selected and answered the two security questions, click on CONTINUE. The new screen will allow you to set up an account. You will have the option of including three possible login identification numbers: Social Security number, driver’s license number or Iowa BOEE folder number. In the future, you will be able to log in with any of the numbers you have provided along with your unique passcode. If you forget your passcode, there is a button on the login page that you can click. An e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address on record with instruction on how to reset your passcode. Heartland’s Professional Development secretaries will not be able to tell you your passcode if you forget it; they will only be able to reset it to eduCation2010 after you provide them with the answers to your security questions. You will then be able to create a new passcode.
Transcript Changes
Another improvement that begins on April 18 focuses on transcripts that participants receive after successfully completing a course. Currently, 3 copies of a transcript, listing a single course, are sent to participants after grades are entered. Thus, if a participant takes 4 courses he or she will receive 12 pages of transcripts. The new system will send 1 transcript that lists all of the courses successfully completed in the prior 5 years. It is our hope that this will make recordkeeping and renewing educator licenses a much easier process. Course participants will still be able to request a transcript (2 copies) with their complete course history for $10. If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the Professional Development Department at ext. 14701.
Professional Development Secretaries Relocate in Johnston REC
Professional development secretaries Kathy Bringle, Andrea Krier, Carol Naylor and Dawn Peitzman have relocated to the former chief administrator’s office in the Johnston REC. They are now located very close to the new Conference Room 13 and nearer to the front of the building, which will make it much easier for walk-in traffic to find them. Three cheers for improved customer service!
Teacher Quality Reminder
As many of the Teacher Quality study groups are finishing, an issue is coming up regarding work calendars. Remember that in order to receive TQ pay, you must be off contract. You can participate in a TQ activity while on work time if you have arranged that with your supervisor, but you would not receive TQ pay for that activity. If you are taking a TQ offering during the workweek, you need to amend your work calendar so that you are not on contract on those days. If you have questions, contact Rob Brookhart at rbrookhart@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14633 for further clarification.
Thinking About a Ph.D. in Special Education?
The University of Iowa Special Education program is looking for individuals who have a career goal of earning a Ph.D. in Special Education from a renowned university so they can assume a career as a faculty member in a college or university.
• If this is your goal
• If you have a minimum of 3 years experience in education
• If you have a master’s degree or equivalent
• If you have strong GREs
• If you’re willing to invest 3-4 years of full-time, on-site study in Iowa City and
• If you want up to $35,000 annually (plus tuition and other forms of support) to accomplish this goal
Then contact one of the directors below and ask about SELIA (Special Education Leaders for Iowa).
John Hosp, Ph.D.
Co-Director
john-hosp@uiowa.edu
Bill Therrien, Ph.D.
Co-Director
bill-therrien@uiowa.edu
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not infer sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
• If this is your goal
• If you have a minimum of 3 years experience in education
• If you have a master’s degree or equivalent
• If you have strong GREs
• If you’re willing to invest 3-4 years of full-time, on-site study in Iowa City and
• If you want up to $35,000 annually (plus tuition and other forms of support) to accomplish this goal
Then contact one of the directors below and ask about SELIA (Special Education Leaders for Iowa).
John Hosp, Ph.D.
Co-Director
john-hosp@uiowa.edu
Bill Therrien, Ph.D.
Co-Director
bill-therrien@uiowa.edu
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not infer sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
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