Keeping antivirus software up-to-date is critical in today’s networked environment, where we depend more and more on our computers working well all the time.
To that end, we are updating antivirus software on all agency computers. Those who received new agency computers this fall already have this updated software, and some Central Office staff should have already installed it as well.
All other staff should arrange a time with a secretary in your regional office or Judy Cleveland (jcleveland@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14538), Mike Permann (mpermann@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14767) or Greg Wilcox (gwilcox@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14618) in the Internal Technology Department in the next week or so to get the antivirus software installed. You should allow at least a few minutes for the installation to be completed, as this is not an instant process, and there may be quite a few people wanting this done at about the same time.
If you have any questions about the antivirus software, please contact Judy Cleveland, Mike Permann or Greg Wilcox.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Teacher Quality Update
Registration has been completed and activities will begin soon! This year approximately 357 people registered to participate in a study group or course as part of our Teacher Quality professional development. Each participant will earn $500 for a 15-hour course. If you registered for a study group, you should know by now who is in your group and you should have selected a person from your group to facilitate. That person will receive information about ordering books, completing addendum forms and completing all requirements for credit.
Registration Now Open for Technology Teacher Quality Sessions
Registration is now open for Teacher Quality technology sessions. You may participate and be paid to attend a technology course in addition to a course or study group. All sessions are Saturday mornings for three hours. Each participant will earn $100 for attendance. Attendance is limited to one session per person. This is due to the high demand for these courses. Click here for registration information. Sessions begin soon so register right away!
Registration Now Open for Technology Teacher Quality Sessions
Registration is now open for Teacher Quality technology sessions. You may participate and be paid to attend a technology course in addition to a course or study group. All sessions are Saturday mornings for three hours. Each participant will earn $100 for attendance. Attendance is limited to one session per person. This is due to the high demand for these courses. Click here for registration information. Sessions begin soon so register right away!
Hundreds of Area Educators Improving Their Instruction Through AIW
Approximately 680 educators representing 36 buildings in 15 Heartland districts are currently improving their instructional practices through involvement in Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW). For each of the past four years, teachers incorporating authentic pedagogy into their instructional practices have gathered in the middle of winter to collaboratively score and discuss teacher tasks, student work and actual classroom instruction through DE-sponsored events. AIW offers teachers opportunities to reflect on their practice, through research-based criteria within a framework, while gathering feedback from colleagues, all in order to change what goes on in the classroom toward the benefit of improved learning for all students.
On February 17, Heartland sponsored its first AIW Regional Collaboration Day (and the fifth as part of statewide efforts). More than 250 K-12 educators, including about 10 Heartland partners, attended the full day at Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines. They gathered in similar content areas, by grade band, and, through the facilitation of a Heartland-area AIW teacher-leader, scored tasks/assessments, pieces of student work and video clips of instruction brought by presenting teachers seeking feedback. In addition, several individual participants were captured on video offering thoughts on the practices of authentic pedagogy; some teams were recorded while scoring and discussing artifacts from classrooms. Plans are for these video recordings to be compiled into an informational DVD for agency and LEA use.
The Heartland AIW coaches welcome your questions or comments on AIW. If any Heartland consultants are interested in learning more about supporting AIW teachers in their work in authentic pedagogy, please contact Becca Lindahl, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, at blindahl@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14355; Teresa Bellinghausen, Teaching & Learning Consultant, at tbellinghausen@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14586; Mary Schmidt, Teaching & Learning Consultant, at mschmidt@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14375; Sue Ford, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, at sford@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 15005; or Linda Moehring, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, at lmoehring@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 16277.
On February 17, Heartland sponsored its first AIW Regional Collaboration Day (and the fifth as part of statewide efforts). More than 250 K-12 educators, including about 10 Heartland partners, attended the full day at Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines. They gathered in similar content areas, by grade band, and, through the facilitation of a Heartland-area AIW teacher-leader, scored tasks/assessments, pieces of student work and video clips of instruction brought by presenting teachers seeking feedback. In addition, several individual participants were captured on video offering thoughts on the practices of authentic pedagogy; some teams were recorded while scoring and discussing artifacts from classrooms. Plans are for these video recordings to be compiled into an informational DVD for agency and LEA use.
The Heartland AIW coaches welcome your questions or comments on AIW. If any Heartland consultants are interested in learning more about supporting AIW teachers in their work in authentic pedagogy, please contact Becca Lindahl, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, at blindahl@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14355; Teresa Bellinghausen, Teaching & Learning Consultant, at tbellinghausen@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14586; Mary Schmidt, Teaching & Learning Consultant, at mschmidt@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14375; Sue Ford, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, at sford@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 15005; or Linda Moehring, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, at lmoehring@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 16277.
February 2012 Board of Directors Meeting Recap
The Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting was held on February 13, 2012.
Public Forum
No one from the public was present to address the Board.
Discussion Items
Board Committee Reports and Updates
Board Advisory Council - The advisory council met January 17. Members are getting comfortable with their role as an advisory council and are offering feedback.
IEC - Dr. Bridgewater noted that the AEA Board of Directors approved the contract to hire the firm Eide and Heisinger as government liaisons. The firm will be preparing weekly updates that will be forwarded to board members. The firm has been able to grasp the roles of the AEAs and has been able to get up to speed quickly.
IASB Lobbying Day - Mr. Halliburton participated in the IASB lobbying day. He was able to meet with legislative staff to discuss the AEAs and proposed funding cuts. There continue to be questions regarding AEA administrative salaries.
Action Items
200 Board Policy Series
Additional changes were made to the 200 board policy series. As the Board Policy Task Force continues revising the series, more changes could occur. The policies will be brought back again next month for a second reading.
2011-12 Amended Budget
A MOTION was made by Ms. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Halliburton to approve the 2011-12 amended budget. Motion passed.
2012-13 Proposed Budget
A MOTION was made by Mr. Halliburton and seconded by Ms. Wilson to approve the 2012-13 proposed budget. Motion passed.
Chief Administrator Comments
• The AEA Board of Directors Conference will be held April 12 - 13, 2012.
• Dr. Vincent shared that many of the attorneys that Heartland AEA uses have been recognized by their peers, clients and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service.
• President Obama released his budget yesterday. It looks like many of the education grants will be consolidated which could be a mechanism for making reductions.
Board Comments
• Board members asked if the Board Agenda Planning Committee could be scheduled for the same time each month, specifically the fourth Tuesday starting at 3:30 p.m. Ms. Ugolini will put together a proposal of dates for the next meeting.
• Dr. Bridgewater asked Dr. Vincent about her expectations from the Governor’s Education Reform Plan. There seems to be traction around post-secondary assessment and hopefully some work on comprehensive support for literacy. She didn’t expect to see any additional funding and what funds are available will likely go towards assessment and accountability.
• Mr. Halliburton discussed the research around lead poisoning and challenging behaviors in children. He questioned if the Iowa Department of Public Health has ever pursued the distribution of lead poisoning in correlation or association with children with challenging behaviors.
Closed Session
The Board entered into closed session at 4:03 p.m. to discuss the 2012-13 negotiations process. The Board returned to public session at 5:43 p.m.
Public Forum
No one from the public was present to address the Board.
Discussion Items
Board Committee Reports and Updates
Board Advisory Council - The advisory council met January 17. Members are getting comfortable with their role as an advisory council and are offering feedback.
IEC - Dr. Bridgewater noted that the AEA Board of Directors approved the contract to hire the firm Eide and Heisinger as government liaisons. The firm will be preparing weekly updates that will be forwarded to board members. The firm has been able to grasp the roles of the AEAs and has been able to get up to speed quickly.
IASB Lobbying Day - Mr. Halliburton participated in the IASB lobbying day. He was able to meet with legislative staff to discuss the AEAs and proposed funding cuts. There continue to be questions regarding AEA administrative salaries.
Action Items
200 Board Policy Series
Additional changes were made to the 200 board policy series. As the Board Policy Task Force continues revising the series, more changes could occur. The policies will be brought back again next month for a second reading.
2011-12 Amended Budget
A MOTION was made by Ms. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Halliburton to approve the 2011-12 amended budget. Motion passed.
2012-13 Proposed Budget
A MOTION was made by Mr. Halliburton and seconded by Ms. Wilson to approve the 2012-13 proposed budget. Motion passed.
Chief Administrator Comments
• The AEA Board of Directors Conference will be held April 12 - 13, 2012.
• Dr. Vincent shared that many of the attorneys that Heartland AEA uses have been recognized by their peers, clients and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service.
• President Obama released his budget yesterday. It looks like many of the education grants will be consolidated which could be a mechanism for making reductions.
Board Comments
• Board members asked if the Board Agenda Planning Committee could be scheduled for the same time each month, specifically the fourth Tuesday starting at 3:30 p.m. Ms. Ugolini will put together a proposal of dates for the next meeting.
• Dr. Bridgewater asked Dr. Vincent about her expectations from the Governor’s Education Reform Plan. There seems to be traction around post-secondary assessment and hopefully some work on comprehensive support for literacy. She didn’t expect to see any additional funding and what funds are available will likely go towards assessment and accountability.
• Mr. Halliburton discussed the research around lead poisoning and challenging behaviors in children. He questioned if the Iowa Department of Public Health has ever pursued the distribution of lead poisoning in correlation or association with children with challenging behaviors.
Closed Session
The Board entered into closed session at 4:03 p.m. to discuss the 2012-13 negotiations process. The Board returned to public session at 5:43 p.m.
Dept. of Education to Unveil Iowa’s No Child Left Behind Waiver Request Tomorrow
Iowa Department of Education Director Jason Glass will unveil details of Iowa’s No Child Left Behind waiver request during a press conference at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Iowa accepted the U.S. Department of Education’s invitation last September to apply for a waiver from the rigid accountability measures of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
In exchange, the Iowa Department of Education is working with key stakeholder groups to design a bold, comprehensive accountability system that puts student achievement first but also emphasizes student growth, fits Iowa’s context and builds on existing state efforts.
Iowa accepted the U.S. Department of Education’s invitation last September to apply for a waiver from the rigid accountability measures of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
In exchange, the Iowa Department of Education is working with key stakeholder groups to design a bold, comprehensive accountability system that puts student achievement first but also emphasizes student growth, fits Iowa’s context and builds on existing state efforts.
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