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

More Examples of How United Way Makes an Impact in the Community

Progress Report: Community Goals for 2020 
It's all because of you. See the progress United Way has made toward community Goals for 2020 with your generous donations by reviewing our interactive Community Impact Report. 

Be like Fred 
Meet Fred. He likes central Iowa, but knows it can be even better. 

Giving for a reason 
When you give, you give for a reason. There is something that inspires you to take action. Learn what is behind the dollars that are contributed to United Way. 

A hand up 
Contributing to United Way restores hope for thousands of individuals so they can put themselves firmly on a path to better lives. Connie knows this; hear her story. 

Thank you for your support so far in our 2014 campaign!

November 2014 School Leader Update Available

The November 2014 issue of the School Leader Update is available from the Iowa Department of Education. In it, Director Buck writes about IowaCore.gov, an easy-to-understand-and-use website for educators, parents and stakeholders who want to delve into the Iowa Core. Also, read about a new accreditation model that will affect all districts in the state and attorney Nicole Proesch gives you some information that is pertinent to the month of November.

November 2014 Each and Every Child Newsletter Available

Welcome to your November issue of Each and Every Child, the Iowa Department of Education’s e-newsletter that goes to over 15,000 Iowans who are a part of the special education community. In this issue, you will read about two special education teachers who are unpacking the Iowa Core and loving it.

Iowans to Weigh In on State Academic Standards

Last week Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck announced the first phase of a new process for reviewing Iowa’s statewide academic standards. The process will help Iowa build on the strong foundation already set by the standards. 

Under the first phase, 19 Iowans will serve on a state team to review Iowa’s science standards, as well as rigorous science standards from other states, and make a preliminary recommendation for improvement early next year. The preliminary recommendation will be taken to the public for feedback. The team will then consider the public feedback before sending a final recommendation to Buck and to the State Board of Education next spring. 

“This process is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of Iowa’s academic standards and to improve them,” Buck said. “We look to Iowa’s education stakeholders to help us continue to make our standards the right fit for Iowa.” 

The review of science standards will be followed by reviews of the other parts of Iowa’s statewide standards, which cover social studies, mathematics, English language arts and 21st century skills. Each review will follow a similar format. 

Review teams will be made up of Iowans with expertise in each subject area. For example, the science standards review team will include education and business leaders with expertise in physical science, life science, earth and space science, and engineering, technology and application. 

Iowa lawmakers adopted statewide academic standards in 2008. The standards set consistent expectations for learning in schools across the state. The standards are a set of goals, not a curriculum, so decisions about how to help students reach the standards remain in the hands of local school administrators and teachers.

The standards review process is part of Executive Order 83. Iowans can read the standards online. 

The science standards review team will meet for the first time on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Local members of the review team include Robin Habeger, DuPont-Pioneer; Renee Harmon, Science Center of Iowa; Kris Kilibarda, Grand View University; Rob Kleinow, Heartland AEA; Chris Kurtt, Norwalk Schools; Dean Lange, West Des Moines Schools; Jon Markus, Adel-DeSoto-Minburn Schools; James Pifer, Southeast Polk Schools; and Courtney Van Wyk, Pella Christian Grade School.

Open Enrollment For Supplemental Life Insurance Begins Today!

Please note that this benefit is available to only full-time employees. 

It's now time to enroll in the Agency’s new supplemental life insurance program! Please read the email you received this morning outlining your open enrollment opportunity. It contains specific information regarding our benefit program along with specific instructions on how to enroll. 

Remember the open enrollment period ends Nov. 28, 2014, so please respond promptly. 

If you have any questions regarding coverage available to you or the enrollment process, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14315.

Deadline for Dependent Care Enrollment is Nov. 28

All eligible employees need to either enroll or waive Dependent Care 2015 between Nov. 3 and Nov. 28, 2014. Instructions are below. If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14315. 

First, go to your Employee Dashboard and go to the Employee Online Tab. On the lefthand side of the screen, click on the ENTER Your Dependent Care Deduction. 

Next…. 

 

• Click Dependent Care Coverage Type. 
• Linda wants to Waive her Dependent Care and not have this benefit for the upcoming year. 
• Linda enters 0 under the New Change Request column. 

• Click Save to complete your Flex Dependent Care. (Clicking Save you agree to the Terms and Conditions 

NOTE: IF YOU ENTER AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN 0 IN EMPLOYEE COST PER PERIOD, THEN THAT AMOUNT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR PAYCHECK PER PAY PERIOD.

Deadline for Post-Employment Benefit Application is Nov. 28

Packets were mailed out last week to employees who qualify for the 2014-15 post-employment benefit. If you choose to apply for the post-employment benefit, submit your original application, letter of resignation, and Things You Should Know Before Applying for the Post Employment Benefit to Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, by Nov. 28, 2014. If you have any questions, contact Juliette at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14315.

Update on Focus Groups Related to Denison Organizational Culture Survey

As announced at our All Staff Meeting on September 12, we are preparing to conduct focus groups as a follow up to the Denison Organizational Culture Survey. The purpose of the focus groups is to hear your ideas and opinions about the survey results, specifically in the area of consistency. Watch for more information to come!

Move Creativity Into 3D Reality! - 3D Printing Available at Heartland AEA

From engine parts to human organs, 3D printing opens up a wide variety of creative solutions for the world's problems. And now, students have access to that technology though Heartland AEA! After a successful pilot year with the Stratasys UPrintSE Plus 3D printer, the Agency is ready to offer 3D printing services to area schools. 

Using special software, students will be able to submit designs electronically to our Creative Services Department and then the printed object will be shipped back to the school via van mail. Visit our 3D Printing webpage for more information.

Grant Wood AEA to Host Standards-Based Grading Conference in March

Grant Wood AEA is hosted a standards-based grading conference on March 30, 2015. This conference is designed to help educators learn how to effectively develop/design and implement a standards-based grading (SBG) system that aligns with current instruction and assessment practices and supports the Iowa Core and Iowa’s Competency-Based Education model. The keynote speaker will be ASCD author Dr. Cathy Vatterott. In addition, classroom practitioners from across the state will share resources and practices that have led to successful implementation. Nearly 250 educators attended a similar conference in Iowa in 2013 and the feedback received was extremely positive. Registration is $20 and includes lunch. Details are available here.

Surplus/Obsolete Equipment Available on GovDeals.com

For your information, the Agency periodically sells surplus/obsolete equipment on GovDeals.com, an online public auction site. (Search for Heartland on the site.) Anyone, including employees, can bid on the items up for sale, but please note that bidding should be done on personal time using personal computing devices, and item inspection should be done on personal time. If you have any questions, contact Dustin Gean, Operations Manager, at dgean@heartlandaea.org.

Teacher Quality Update

Payment Rate
This year 360 staff members signed up for Teacher Quality courses and study groups. The amount staff members will be paid for participating in a course or study group is $600. Study group facilitators will be paid $650 and course instructors will be paid per diem. 

Payment Process 
Participants and instructors will receive notification on their Employee Dashboards that an addendum assignment has been initiated after the course or study group is over. Once a staff member has accepted the addendum assignment, his/her payment will be processed and will be on one of his/her next two checks depending on the timing of the payroll calendar. 

If you have any questions about the payment process or the status of your reimbursement, contact Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of District Services, at kfangman@heartlandaea.org.