Who: All Heartland AEA staff
Date: August 11, 2011
Times: All Staff Meeting:
Coffee & conversation – 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Meeting – 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Lunch on your own – 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Regional Meetings: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Locations: All Staff Meeting: Urbandale Schools Performing Arts Center @ Urbandale High School
Regional Meetings:
Region 1 – Stoney Creek Inn, Meadows Room, Johnston
Region 2 – St. Mary of Nazareth Church, Des Moines
Region 3 – Zion Lutheran Church, Des Moines
Region 4 – Board Room, Heartland AEA Administration Center
Region 5 – Conference Room 13, Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center
Region 6 – Johnston Lions Club
Region 7 – Stoney Creek Inn, Pioneer Room, Johnston
Region 8 – Holiday Inn & Suites, Urbandale
Shelter Care – no afternoon meeting
Operations – no afternoon meeting
More details about beginning of the school year meetings will be shared in a “welcome back” letter that will be mailed to all staff members at the beginning of August.
Monday, July 25, 2011
E-mail Changes at Southeast Polk
Southeast Polk is changing its e-mail system and se-polk.k12.ia.us will no longer be used. All e-mail addresses for Southeast Polk will now be firstname.lastname@southeastpolk.org. For a short time, e-mails sent to the previous addresses will still be received.
Emergency Contact Information Link Now Active in Employee Online
This message was sent as an all staff e-mail last week and is being repeated here.
A new link named “Emergency Contact Information” has been added to the Employee Online tab on your Employee Dashboard. (See Connection article for information about Employee Online.) This function allows you to manage information pertaining to people you wish to have contacted in case of an emergency. It is recommended you identify a primary contact and an additional local contact, in case your primary contact is unavailable.
The Department of Homeland Security has requested that each employee list an out-of-town contact for use during a natural disaster or terrorist threat. Check the out-of-town contact box below the contact’s name to indicate to crisis responders that this contact should only be notified for this type of emergency.
You also have the ability to identify your primary care provider and other care providers, if necessary, for emergency care. On this record a text box is available to add any pertinent medical information along with your preferred hospital. If listing medications in the notes field, please indicate clearly whether these are medications you are currently taking or medications you are allergic to.
All crisis responders and supervisors throughout the Agency have access to your emergency information.
Even if your information has not changed, we ask that all staff members review their emergency contact information to ensure accuracy and completeness.
If you have questions about your emergency contact information, please contact Carolyn Jones (cjones@aea11.k12.i.a.us, ext. 14614) in Human Resources. If you have questions about website navigation, please contact Rod Howell (rhowell@aea11.k12.ia.us, ext. 14599) in Technology.
A new link named “Emergency Contact Information” has been added to the Employee Online tab on your Employee Dashboard. (See Connection article for information about Employee Online.) This function allows you to manage information pertaining to people you wish to have contacted in case of an emergency. It is recommended you identify a primary contact and an additional local contact, in case your primary contact is unavailable.
The Department of Homeland Security has requested that each employee list an out-of-town contact for use during a natural disaster or terrorist threat. Check the out-of-town contact box below the contact’s name to indicate to crisis responders that this contact should only be notified for this type of emergency.
You also have the ability to identify your primary care provider and other care providers, if necessary, for emergency care. On this record a text box is available to add any pertinent medical information along with your preferred hospital. If listing medications in the notes field, please indicate clearly whether these are medications you are currently taking or medications you are allergic to.
All crisis responders and supervisors throughout the Agency have access to your emergency information.
Even if your information has not changed, we ask that all staff members review their emergency contact information to ensure accuracy and completeness.
If you have questions about your emergency contact information, please contact Carolyn Jones (cjones@aea11.k12.i.a.us, ext. 14614) in Human Resources. If you have questions about website navigation, please contact Rod Howell (rhowell@aea11.k12.ia.us, ext. 14599) in Technology.
Connection Article Submission Procedure For Coming Months
Until October 17, please send Connection article submissions to the Communications Department e-mail at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us. If you have any questions about The Connection or other communication-related items in the next two and a half months, please contact Claire (Spellman) Sowder at csowder@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14014 instead of Courtney Croatt.
Business Card Order Form & Procedures
Click here to download the Agency’s business card order form. The form is also available on the Intranet>Communications>Forms. If you have previous forms saved on your computer, please delete them, or if you have hard copies in your office, please recycle them. All forms must be submitted with an account number to charge. If you do not know your account number, please ask your supervisor or office secretary. All order forms should be e-mailed to Claire (Spellman) Sowder, Communications Specialist, at csowder@aea11.k12.ia.us or sent through van mail to her at the Johnston Administration Center. Please allow two weeks for completion.
Area Schools Composite Calendar Now Available
Click here to download the 2011-2012 Heartland area schools composite calendar. We have included all of our public districts, non-public schools and year-round schools in this year’s edition. The calendar lists our districts’ start dates, teacher workdays/in-services, parent/teacher conferences, early dismissals, holidays/no school days, breaks, semester ending dates and year-end dates. School schedules are subject to change throughout the year. It is in Excel format for easy viewing and printing. If you have any questions, please contact Claire (Spellman) Sowder at csowder@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14014.
Important Changes to Online Trainings
This message was sent via e-mail to all staff last week and it is being repeated here with additional information added toward the end.
Hopefully by now you have explored the professional development opportunities available on the new AEA PD Online site. If not, please take some time to visit the site, browse the courses and learn more about the system, designed to bring educators convenient and engaging online courses.
A portion of the content available through AEA PD Online is individual training modules on a variety of topics. These training modules are completed independently by the participant, and there is usually some type of certificate indicating completion of the module.
Due to the cost of upkeep and development of the new AEA PD Online system, AEAs are no longer able to provide these training modules at no cost. As of July 1, 2011, a $25 fee has begun being charged to complete the Mandatory Reporter training. Mandatory Reporter training is the only training module with a fee for participants at this time.
At this point, Heartland employees are not able to claim this charge for reimbursement. Also, be aware that this training is not available free of charge for school personnel; all educators must now pay $25 to complete the training once every five years.
As of last year, the online trainings were moved into the statewide AEA system, meaning Heartland AEA is no longer solely overseeing the trainings. One byproduct of this is that decisions regarding the funding of the system to support the trainings are now made collectively by all the AEAs. The fee for the Mandatory Reporter training was a decision made by the AEA Chief Administrators on April 28 of this year. Rather than being subsidized by statewide funding, online professional development must now be self-supported.
If you have additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact Evan Abbey, Project Manager for Online Learning, at eabbey@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14511.
Hopefully by now you have explored the professional development opportunities available on the new AEA PD Online site. If not, please take some time to visit the site, browse the courses and learn more about the system, designed to bring educators convenient and engaging online courses.
A portion of the content available through AEA PD Online is individual training modules on a variety of topics. These training modules are completed independently by the participant, and there is usually some type of certificate indicating completion of the module.
Due to the cost of upkeep and development of the new AEA PD Online system, AEAs are no longer able to provide these training modules at no cost. As of July 1, 2011, a $25 fee has begun being charged to complete the Mandatory Reporter training. Mandatory Reporter training is the only training module with a fee for participants at this time.
At this point, Heartland employees are not able to claim this charge for reimbursement. Also, be aware that this training is not available free of charge for school personnel; all educators must now pay $25 to complete the training once every five years.
As of last year, the online trainings were moved into the statewide AEA system, meaning Heartland AEA is no longer solely overseeing the trainings. One byproduct of this is that decisions regarding the funding of the system to support the trainings are now made collectively by all the AEAs. The fee for the Mandatory Reporter training was a decision made by the AEA Chief Administrators on April 28 of this year. Rather than being subsidized by statewide funding, online professional development must now be self-supported.
If you have additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact Evan Abbey, Project Manager for Online Learning, at eabbey@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14511.
World of Media Now Available Via E-mail
You can now receive the monthly World of Media newsletter via e-mail. It includes strategies, instructional resources, materials and technology tools to support teaching and learning. Register at http://wom.aea11.k12.ia.us.
Staff Space
New Employees
Sean Boyle (Computer Software Engineer/JO)
Erica Olson (Substitute Shelter Care Teacher Associate/PCDC)
Carolyn Uhlenhake Walker (Substitute Shelter Care Educational Program Teacher Associate/PCDC)
Lance Wilhelm (Director of Technology/JO)
Title Changes
Manda DiDonato to Substitute Shelter Care Teacher/Teacher Associate from Shelter Care Teacher
Nikki Skaar to Substitute School Psychologist from School Psychologist
August Birthdays
1 Kim Thuente
2 Bryce Chidester
2 Marilyn Goertel-Breen
2 Andrea Richmond
4 Linda Moehring
5 Christine Esser
5 Diane Niederhauser
7 Jennifer Etnyre
8 Vicki Demoss
10 Jean Vesely
11 Kristi Allison
11 Candice Gravett
11 Thanh Le
12 Mary Cabeen
12 Martea Engelson
13 Teri Hazen
13 Hope Johnson
14 Brenda Fisher
14 Carla Grasty
14 Patty Shelton
15 Bob Brown
15 Carol Kuhn
15 Amy Pickering
17 Brenda Pierce
17 Rhonda Weiss
18 Cindi Ballard
18 Kris Larsen
18 Jennifer Riedemann
21 Shannon Harken
21 Linda McAtee
22 Sheri Haupert
22 Liz Uhl
23 Lisa Lumbard
24 Jessica Pottebaum
24 Jennifer Sumner
25 Vicki Sanders
25 Anita Westerhaus
26 Faye Allen
26 Kathy Clubb
26 Stephaney Jones-Vo
27 Tim Blakeslee
27 Sandy Darveau
27 Linda Wegner
28 Judy Kovacs
28 Kristin Orton
28 Kristin Tierney
29 Mary Heaberlin
29 Robin Heuser
30 Lesley Stucker
31 Christine Gaukel
31 Sharon Kurns
Sean Boyle (Computer Software Engineer/JO)
Erica Olson (Substitute Shelter Care Teacher Associate/PCDC)
Carolyn Uhlenhake Walker (Substitute Shelter Care Educational Program Teacher Associate/PCDC)
Lance Wilhelm (Director of Technology/JO)
Title Changes
Manda DiDonato to Substitute Shelter Care Teacher/Teacher Associate from Shelter Care Teacher
Nikki Skaar to Substitute School Psychologist from School Psychologist
August Birthdays
1 Kim Thuente
2 Bryce Chidester
2 Marilyn Goertel-Breen
2 Andrea Richmond
4 Linda Moehring
5 Christine Esser
5 Diane Niederhauser
7 Jennifer Etnyre
8 Vicki Demoss
10 Jean Vesely
11 Kristi Allison
11 Candice Gravett
11 Thanh Le
12 Mary Cabeen
12 Martea Engelson
13 Teri Hazen
13 Hope Johnson
14 Brenda Fisher
14 Carla Grasty
14 Patty Shelton
15 Bob Brown
15 Carol Kuhn
15 Amy Pickering
17 Brenda Pierce
17 Rhonda Weiss
18 Cindi Ballard
18 Kris Larsen
18 Jennifer Riedemann
21 Shannon Harken
21 Linda McAtee
22 Sheri Haupert
22 Liz Uhl
23 Lisa Lumbard
24 Jessica Pottebaum
24 Jennifer Sumner
25 Vicki Sanders
25 Anita Westerhaus
26 Faye Allen
26 Kathy Clubb
26 Stephaney Jones-Vo
27 Tim Blakeslee
27 Sandy Darveau
27 Linda Wegner
28 Judy Kovacs
28 Kristin Orton
28 Kristin Tierney
29 Mary Heaberlin
29 Robin Heuser
30 Lesley Stucker
31 Christine Gaukel
31 Sharon Kurns
Staff changes, birthdays and more will return to HeartBeat when it resumes publication on the first Friday in September! Send your submissions to comms@aea11.k12.ia.us.
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