What is the purpose of this communication?
This communication is targeted to all staff and supervisors. It is intended as a reminder of key staff performance evaluation processes and due dates.Focus of Performance Evaluations
The focus is on continuous professional growth and skill development in order to better serve students, families and educators.
Where do I find the current manual and forms?
You can find the most current copy of the staff performance evaluation process manual, leaders performance evaluation process, as well as other forms on the Intranet in the Human Resources section and by clicking on Staff Performance Evaluation and Leaders Performance Evaluation. Please note: this manual is dated 2008-09 but is still being used for 2011-12.
Completing Your Professional Development Plans
Agency staff will continue to use the same Professional Development Plan (PDP) form as we have used in the past. As you begin to develop your plan, please review our agency theory of action and goals (found by clicking here), as well as the goals of the children/schools you serve. The current process includes three versions of the eight Standards and Criteria. Employees will use the Standards appropriate to their role in the agency.- Iowa Teaching Standards with Alternative Criteria for Certified AEA Staff: All licensed non-management staff with the exception of those in teaching positions (Shelter Care teachers)
- Iowa Teaching Standards: All non-management staff who are currently in teaching positions (Shelter Care teachers)
- AEA Standards for Classified Staff: All staff who are not licensed, non-management
While you are still required to align your plans to our standard areas, it is very important that you be reflective about your professional learning needs in light of the agency, schools and/or children’s goals. We want to do everything we can to ensure our work yields results for those we serve.
Overview of Performance Evaluation Cycles
There are three different cycles within Heartland’s performance evaluation process.
- All employees who are within their initial probationary period are considered to be in the Induction Cycle.
- All employees who have completed their initial probationary period and are not in need of assistance are in the Growth Cycle.
- All employees who are in need of assistance are in the Intensive Assistance Cycle.
Timelines for Development of Individual Professional Development Plans
All staff members who are in the summative evaluation phase will complete a self-assessment, submit a Professional Development Plan (PDP) and have a PDP conference with their supervisor by October 30. All other staff members who are in the formative evaluation phase will complete a self-assessment, submit their PDP and hold a PDP conference with their supervisor by November 30.Portfolio Requirement
A portfolio is required for certified staff and leaders. It consists of artifacts that provide evidence and examples of how the each of the eight Standards is being met. Supervisors of classified staff are required to have evidence that employees are meeting each of the Standards, however, classified employees are encouraged but not required to develop portfolios.
Questions?If you have specific questions about any element of the performance evaluation system, including the development of your professional development plan, please contact your supervisor.
Have you viewed your electronic pay stub through the new Employee Online application on your Employee Dashboard? If so, you’ve probably come to appreciate the ease of accessing this information anytime, anywhere. And you have likely noticed your pay stub is available for viewing a couple of days in advance of payday. You are able to access your most recent 48 pay stubs through the system. If you haven’t viewed your electronic pay stubs, you’ll want to be sure you take the time to do so right away as well as review the other features of Employee Online.
As previously announced, paper direct deposit pay stubs will no longer be mailed to staff members’ homes after the September 30 payday. Please see Printing Pay Stubs under “EO Help” should you need to print a pay stub. Thanks for helping the Agency save the cost of printing, folding, stuffing and mailing these to your home.
Questions about your electronic pay stub can be directed to Steve Jordan (sjordan@aea11.k12.ia.us, ext. 14908) or Michelle Westcott (mwestcott@aea11.k12.ia.us, ext. 14422) in Payroll.
Exira CSD began whole grade sharing with Elk Horn-Kimballton this year. Please use the following format when doing business with Exira schools.
firstinitiallastname@exira-ehk.k12.ia.us
(Ex. jsmith@exira-ehk.k12.ia.us)
The email format for St. Patrick’s School in Perry has also changed. Please use the following format when communicating with St. Pat’s school staff.firstinitiallastname@stpatricks-perry-ia.org
(Ex. jsmith@stpatricks-perry-ia.org)
Process for Reporting Leave
In order to provide support to staff in the process for reporting leave due to illness or emergency and to ensure accurate and up-to-date leave records, the following procedures will go into effect on October 1, 2011. These changes are reflected as an update to the July 1, 2011 version of the staff handbook.
- When a staff member cannot report for work due to illness or emergency, it is that person’s responsibility to inform (typically a phone call) their supervisor and designated “need to know person” (NTK) before 8:30 a.m. If you are unsure of who your NTK person is, click here.
- In most situations staff are expected to enter their own leave requests using the Leave Online system. In rare situations when circumstances prevent staff from entering a leave request using the online system the support staff (NTK) will initiate the leave request on behalf of the employee. If a NTK initiates a leave for a staff person, the online system immediately generates a notification sent to the staff person via email.
- It is the staff member’s responsibility to complete the request using the Leave Online system upon return to work and within four days following the end of the current pay period (typically the 15th and last day of each month).
- Board Policy 403.2 Abandonment of Position states that it is the responsibility of employees to report to work as scheduled. If an employee is absent, the employee must inform the agency’s designee about the absence. An employee gone from work for more than three consecutive workdays without notification and approval of the absence may be considered to have abandoned his/her position. Heartland AEA may choose to terminate and remove from the payroll an employee who has abandoned his or her position.
- The staff member must also have a process in place to ensure anyone they are scheduled to meet with will be notified of this absence.
- All pre-planned leave requests continue to be the responsibility of the staff member to enter into the Leave Online system.
- Support staff (NTK) will be provided with directions for initiating a leave on behalf of a staff person prior to the October 1 rollout.
Process for Approving FMLA Leave
Eligibility and notification requirements for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) purposes are outlined in the staff handbook. In consideration of FMLA leave regulations that require strict adherence to the law, all FMLA leave approval will now be the responsibility of Human Resources.
- Staff will continue to follow the existing leave request process. Staff will use the Leave Online system to request planned leave requests related to FMLA. For illness or emergency leave related to FMLA, staff will use the process outlined above.
- When the employee completes the leave request, and designates it as FMLA leave, it will go directly to HR for approval.
- Supervisors will receive an email notifying them when FMLA leave has been approved for a staff member.
- Any questions on FMLA leave should be directed to Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist.
In July, Learning Forward (formerly the National Staff Development Council) released the revised Standards for Professional Learning, the third iteration of standards outlining the characteristics of professional learning that lead to effective teaching practices, supportive leadership and improved student results.
Learn more about the new standards at www.learningforward.org/standards/, or contact the Heartland professional library which has ordered and received copies of the Standards for individual checkout.
Help teachers move toward project based learning and away from lecture with these rich online resources. Use the webinars and recorded tutorials found by clicking here for your personal PD or share with teachers.
New databases this year:
Gale suite of journals
CultureGrams
Encyclopedia Britannica Online
