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
An easy thing you can do to help the Agency expand the reach of its Facebook page is to invite your friends to “like” our page!
On a desktop:
From your own Facebook profile page, type Heartland Area Education Agency in the top search bar. Select Heartland Area Education Agency (with the starburst icon) in the dropdown list.
That will take you to the Agency’s official Facebook page. If you haven’t already, click the “Like” button under the large cover photo.
To invite your Facebook friends to like Heartland AEA’s page: To the right of the Like button, click the three dots (...) and select “Invite Friends” from the dropdown menu or click on “Invite friends to like this Page” on the left side of the page below the profile photo. This will open a box where you can invite your friends. Click the “Invite” box to the right of their name.
On a mobile device:
From your Facebook profile page, type and select Heartland Area Education Agency in the top search bar. Select “Invite friends to like this Page.” This will open a box where you can invite your friends. Click the “Invite” box to the right of their name.
Welcome to the November issue of School Leader Update. In this edition, read about Director Ryan Wise’s observations as he travels through the state visiting schools, and Attorney Nicole Proesch talks about student discipline.
Welcome to the November issue of Each and Every Child. Every school talks about transitioning their students from a school career to beyond, whether that’s a good-paying job, a two-year community college or even a four-year university. But these two school districts examined their programs and found lots of opportunity.
All eligible employees need to either enroll or waive the dependent care flex benefit plan between Nov. 2 and Nov. 30, 2015. Instructions are below. If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14315.
First, go to your Employee Dashboard and go to the Employee Online Tab. On the left hand 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.
People who go to the dentist at least once a year are more likely to feel better about their lives. The Healthiest State Initiative is devoted to making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. One way they are focused on improving Iowa’s well-being ranking is by encouraging you to visit the dentist and “Get Your Bib On.”
As part of your health benefits package, you are paying for dental coverage. Are you taking full advantage of your dental benefits?
Most dental plans cover preventive check-ups and cleanings. You may not even have to meet your deductible before taking advantage of these benefits. That means you can save your smile with little or no out-of-pocket cost!
Not only could preventive check-ups save your smile, they could also help you avoid a costly procedure in the future. Regular visits to the dentist can help stop problems from developing into more serious ones, saving you from more complicated dental treatment.
Plus, your dentist can screen for oral cancer at your exam and can also detect signs of other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. And adults who report good dental health are also more likely to report good or better overall well-being.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t miss out on a healthy smile. Take advantage of your dental benefits today!
If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14315.
Computers Can Get Frost Bite, Too!
As we transition from fall to winter, please remember that your computer and other devices are “comfortable” in the same general temperature range that people are -- 65-80 degrees. Anything much cooler or hotter can interfere with their performance and eventually damage the equipment (and the data that resides on them).
While people can put on extra layers of clothing when it’s cold and stay reasonably comfortable, when your computer is shut off, it has no way to heat (or cool) itself. So if you leave your computer in your car when it’s 0 degrees, eventually it’s going to reach a temperature of 0, even if it’s in a bag under a blanket!
Short periods of very cold or very warm temps will not damage your computer -- for example, carrying it in its bag to your car on a very cold day. But leaving devices such as your computer, iPad or smart phone in the car when it’s very cold or very warm outside is likely to cause damage.
As noted in previous editions of The Connection, the next agency-wide technology training module will be focused on digital citizenship. Many people have asked, “What is digital citizenship?” Think of it as “Character Counts” for the technology world!
Digital citizenship encompasses a wide range of very important skills and procedures including keeping passwords secure, keeping confidential data secure and using technology in appropriate ways, including following the laws related to copyright and privacy.
Many times, students and adults alike could do a better job of using technology appropriately. Most of our schools have participated in the Clarity survey, which focuses on all aspects of educational technology use, including access, support, integration and digital citizenship. The Clarity results in the digital citizenship area highlight a number of areas for improvement. For example:
- 49% of teachers in Heartland AEA’s service area who took the survey say they don’t teach students about using web content legally
- 23% of teachers in Heartland AEA’s service area who took the survey say they spend 1 hour or less teaching that concept
- 56% of teachers who took the survey report that they don’t spend any time teaching about how to prevent cyberbullying
- 22% of teachers who took the survey spend 1 hour or less per year trying to educate their students in this critical area
One reason Heartland AEA is emphasizing digital citizenship in this year’s training is so that our employees are aware of the key issues involved and can then model best practices in this area and provide support for our PK-12 school partners in improving their practices.
