Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve
the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.
Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success
Monday, June 30, 2014
Volmer Joins Leadership Ranks as Regional Director July 1
Stacy is no stranger to the Agency, having begun her career here in 1996 as a part-time research assistant. She was hired as a full-time school psychologist in 1999 and was part of the design and development of the Agency’s Challenging Behavior Team and of the Challenging Behavior and Autism team, chiefly through her role as a program assistant, which she began in 2007. She has most recently provided agency-wide support for challenging behavior and autism and served as a school psychologist in Region 5.
Stacy graduated from Iowa State University in 2001 with a Ph.D. in psychology and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) in 2012. She also recently completed coursework in educational leadership at the University of Iowa.
“Over the past 15 years, I’ve had the great privilege of meeting so many amazing AEA staff and leaders and collaborating with them to provide support to nearly every Heartland school district,” Stacy said. “I’m really looking forward to learning more about and collaborating with the great AEA staff and district partners in Region 8. Promoting high quality, evidence-based services to improve the long-term outcomes of all students, including those with the most significant disabilities, is my passion and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together in Region 8.”
Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton to Officially Merge July 1, 2014
Reminder: July 1 Changes Coming to Business & Professional Development Travel Procedures
- The Out-of-Area Travel & Professional Development Form is being renamed to the Overnight Travel & Professional Development Form. As a result of this change, staff traveling out of our agency’s area, to meetings not requiring overnight lodging and not related to professional development, can now claim the mileage on their monthly online expense claim.
- Staff will use the account code ‘OUTAREA’ when claiming the mileage on their online expenses. If the ‘OUTAREA’ code is not set up in your expense report, contact Mary Heaberlin, Accounting Technician, at mheaberlin@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14818. Travel involving overnight lodging and expenses related to professional development will still be reimbursed using the Overnight Travel & Professional Development form.
- Hotel reimbursement will still be limited to $55 plus taxes for in-state lodging and $175 plus taxes for out-of-state lodging. However, an exception will be made for conferences that advertise a related hotel rate. The advertised hotel rate will become the new maximum amount of reimbursement even if it exceeds the $175 limit. If the conference hotel is full, the conference hotel rate will be the maximum reimbursed at other area hotels. Staff will be responsible for turning in documentation supporting the conference hotel rate. Staff members are encouraged to double up on occupancy when possible in order to maximize the use of the Agency’s professional development budget.
- The Agency’s preferred method of payment for registration fees will continue to be via purchase orders. Pre-payment of registration fees may be allowed with Business Office approval. The exceptions for pre-payment include, but are not limited to, high cost fees, fees that must be pre-paid and vendors that do not accept purchase orders. Regardless of whether a registration fee is pre-paid, all registration fees require a purchase order. Staff members are still allowed to personally pay registration fees and be reimbursed after the conference is attended using the Overnight Travel & Professional Development form.
Revised Conference Room Request & Set-Up Form Available
A revised Conference Room Request & Set-Up Form that reflects the new numbering system of the Johnston Regional Education center conference rooms is now available. Please discard any other versions of the form and use this one going forward.
Changes Coming Soon to Google Drive
- Create, add or upload a file with a single button.
- Find and add files shared with you more easily.
- Single-click a file to select it and double-click a file to open it.
- Drag-and-drop files and folders just like you do on your desktop.
- Improved accessibility.
If you have questions about the updated version of Drive when it rolls out in the next couple of weeks, contact Tim Weets, Network Specialist, at tweets@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14322.
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.
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
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?
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)
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