From the Chief Administrator

Over the weekend I made a stop at our local bank where they had set up an incubator of chicken eggs. A few of the chicks had hatched and others were just emerging. I enjoyed a few minutes of watching the action and couldn’t help but draw some analogies to Heartland AEA. 

Just as spring brings new beginnings, so can the work we all do in partnership with others. Whether our work is with children, families and/or school and agency staff, we make a difference in helping others gain new knowledge and skills. As I watched some of the baby chicks struggling to free themselves from their egg shells, I was also reminded of our staff who work with our most vulnerable children and who step in to assist with some of the most challenging situations within schools. Through your service and daily work, you bring optimism and a sense of confidence to families, schools and colleagues as they give the best they can in service to children. You may not have a chance to watch eggs hatch, but I hope with each new sign of spring, you take pride in the work you do that parallels this new season in so many ways. 

Over the past several weeks, I have enjoyed the opportunity to visit with many of our staff members in my “Chat with the Chief” sessions to hear first hand some of your celebrations as well as some of your frustrations. Some of the recurring themes are listed in the attached document. Click here to read on.

April 2013 School Leader Update

Click here to download the latest edition of the School Leader Update newsletter from the Iowa Department of Education.

American Heart Association Step Tracker

With the 10-week Live Healthy Iowa challenge coming to a close last week and warmer weather arriving, some of our agency colleagues have decided to keep their healthy habits going by picking up where they left off last fall by walking daily and recording their steps. In order to help facilitate this, we have registered Heartland AEA as an employer on the American Heart Association website. Employees can sign up and choose Heartland as their employer to track steps, find walking paths and plan a walking route. Click here to register and get active this spring!

April 2013 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda

Click here to download the agenda for the April 9, 2013 Board of Directors meeting. The Heartland AEA and DMACC boards of directors will hold their annual joint board meeting from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at the Johnston REC in Conference Room 13. The Heartland AEA regular board meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Administration Center Board Room.

Spring 2013 Schedule of Regional Meetings

Region 1
April 15 
8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. 
Christian Church Hall, Guthrie Center 

Region 2
April 11 
8:30-11:30 a.m. 
Adel AEA Office 

Region 3
April 11 
8:30 a.m.-noon 
Knoxville Raceway Museum 

Region 4
April 11 
8:30-11:30 a.m. 
Johnston Regional Education Center, Conf. Room 14 

Region 5
May 22 
8:30 a.m.-noon 
Johnston Regional Education Center, Conf. Room 13 

Region 6
April 11 
8:30-11:30 a.m. 
Zion Lutheran Church, Des Moines 

Region 7 
April 11 
8:30 a.m.-noon 
Ames AEA Office 

Region 8 
April 11 
noon-3:30 p.m. 
Cross Café, Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona 

Central Support 
May 22 
2:00-4:00 p.m. 
Johnston Regional Education Center, Conf. Room 13

AEA Legislative Update

Click here to read the latest update of the Iowa legislative session from the AEA system’s lobbyists, Matt Eide and John Pederson, of the Eide & Heisinger firm.

Implementing Professional Learning Communities Institute Coming This Summer

Registration for the Implementing Professional Learning Communities Institute is now open. The event will be held at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center—Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines on July 30 & 31 and August 1. This three-day institute is designed for Heartland AEA/district administrator and teacher leadership teams. Participants will enhance their understanding of the philosophy and key concepts inherent in professional learning communities with the goal of applying those concepts as well as specific processes to create and sustain effective, efficient and high-functioning professional learning communities (PLCs) in their own schools. 

Throughout the three days, Paul Farmer and Heather Friziellie, PLC associates from Solution Tree, will facilitate both large group common learning as well as break-out opportunities based on specific schools’ stage of implementation and grade level (e.g., elementary or secondary). The afternoon of day three is for administrators. The focus will be on the leadership essentials or “musts” to ensure quality implementation and strategies to effectively support and sustain PLCs. 

AEA staff will be registered by their regional directors as an administrator and will attend all three days of training. Regional directors are to send Carol Naylor, Registrar/Licensure Assistant, (cnaylor@aea11.k12.ia.us) the names of AEA staff attending from their region, along with the account number that will pay their registration, and Carol will then register AEA staff. 

If you have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Director of District Services, at kfangman@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14374.