Staff Space

Conference For One of Iowa’s Fastest Growing Student Populations 
Our own Stephaney Jones-Vo (ESL/Diversity Consultant/JO) was featured in this WHO TV Channel 13 news piece about the annual Our Kids Summer Institute! This professional development opportunity for educators around the state just finished its 10th year and introduces educators to strategies to use to help English Language Learners in the classroom. 

Secondary Transition Topic of Two-Day Workshop for Educators 

A two-day workshop aimed at improving outcomes for high school students with disabilities was held June 23 & 24 at Heartland AEA’s Johnston Regional Education Center and attended by 100 teachers and AEA staff members. 

The workshop, titled “Improving the 4 ‘G’ Transition Network for Students with IEPs - Growth, Gap, Graduation and Gateways,” tied specifically to Heartland AEA’s agency-wide goals of increasing learning growth for students, decreasing the gap in achievement, increasing graduation rates and increasing gateways to post-secondary success. 

The event provided tools and resources for parents, teachers and AEA staff to draw on when assisting high school students with disabilities in planning for living, learning and working after high school. 

“This is the fifth year we have provided this learning opportunity, and we’re happy to see it continue to grow each year,” Sue Severson (Special Education Consultant/JO) said. “This year we had 100 participants, and it’s exciting to see so many educators willing to make a difference for all students.” Severson, along with Julie McGinnis (Special Education Consultant/IN) planned the workshop. 

Highlights of Day 1 of the workshop included a panel discussion about preparing students for life after high school and a session about the University of Iowa’s REACH program. Panel participants were (pictured in the photo above, left to right) Matt Heldenbrand, Windsor Heights Hy-Vee; Angela Oberlander, former Search client now working at the Windsor Heights Hy-Vee; Sally Pederson, former Iowa Lt. Governor, board chair of the University of Iowa REACH program and mother of an adult son with autism; Marsha Burright, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services; and Pamela Ries, University of Iowa REACH program. 

The University of Iowa’s REACH program is a two-year, transition certificate program for students with disabilities. UI REACH provides a campus experience to empower young adults to become independent, engaged members of the community. Students experience courses, campus life and career preparation to assist them in reaching their full potential. 

Day 2 included information about 504 accommodation plans, social skills and a presentation from Des Moines Area Community College about its Career Academies. 

Participants reported positive experiences and were thankful to leave the workshop armed with resources to use with students and families. 

“It is nice to attend a conference where the content is applicable and can be taken back to the classroom and applied to students and teaching methods,” Hillary Faber, Waukee special education teacher, said. 

“Being able to hear and learn about resources and materials from a variety of people and agencies builds connections and allows us to work with and serve students to help them be successful adults in the community,” Karen Junko (Special Education Consultant/KN) said. 

“It has been a wonderful opportunity to get updated information on various resources to share with families,” Maureen Scheltzbaum (Parent Coordinator/IN) said. 

Reminder: Who’s Ready For Some I-Cubs Baseball? 

How about a night at an Iowa Cubs game with your family and some of your Heartland AEA co-workers? The Culture Committee is taking ticket orders for the Thursday, July 24 Iowa Cubs vs. New Orleans Zephyrs game. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Grandstand tickets are $6.00 if at least 25 people are interested in attending. If this sounds like fun to you, contact Katie Streff (Human Resources Assistant/JO) at kstreff@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14614 by July 10. If we can get enough people interested, we will notify you where to send your ticket money. Friends and family of staff members are welcome be a part of the reduced-price group as well. Go I-Cubs!

New Employees 
Carol McDaniel (Central Office Administrative Assistant/JO) 
Diana Reed (Creative Services Production Assistant/JO) 

Office Changes 
Shelby Coleman to Adel from Guthrie Center 
Tamara Dickey-Naylor to Guthrie Center from Carroll 
Karen Nelson to Johnston from Adel 
Jenna Pankow to Indianola from Knoxville 
Camie Walker to Adel from Johnston 

Position Changes 
Marisa Dahl to Instructional Technology Consultant from Instructional Coach 
Cheryl Graham to Shelter Care Consultant from Shelter Care Teacher 
Denise Krefting to Instructional Designer/AEA PD Online from Instructional Technology Consultant 
Kristin Orton to Instructional Coach from School Psychologist 
Lindsey Turner to Receptionist from Central Office Administrative Assistant 
Stacy Volmer to Regional Director from School Psychologist 
Camie Walker to Early ACCESS Family Support Coordinator from School Social Worker 
Nikki Wells to Instructional Coach from School Psychologist 

Title Changes 
Aaron Cook to Multimedia Specialist from Video/Multimedia Technology Support Specialist 
Judy Cleveland to Technology Support and Inventory Control Specialist from Technology Support Specialist 
Tuan Dao to Senior Network Administrator from Network Administrator 
Julie Sypersma to Senior Technology Training Specialist from Professional Learning & Leadership Technology Support

Thank Yous 
Thank you very much for your kind words, cards and prayers at the time of my mother’s death. They were all very much appreciated. Thanks again for being such kind and thoughtful co-workers. 

Pat Latham (ESL/Diversity Consultant/AD)