Our Mission
To
improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth
by providing services and leadership in partnership with families,
schools and communities.
Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success
Greetings,
As we begin another school year, I invite you to join me in reflecting on the important and challenging work that we will all be engaged in over the next several months. I further invite you to think about the year ahead through the lens of curiosity.
If you Google the term “curiosity,” one of the images that will likely appear is that of the Mars Rover by the same name. Curiosity was launched in 2012 for a two-year mission that has now been extended indefinitely. *NASA documents describe the goals of the Curiosity Rover using phrases that begin with the words “plan,” “investigate,” “assess,” “interpret” and “determine.” These goals are tied to the overall Rover mission of preparation for future human exploration.
Perhaps you’re thinking, “What’s this got to do with Heartland AEA?” It seems to me that there are many analogies between the Mars Rover mission and the work we are privileged to do as Heartland AEA employees.
For example, we share many of the same processes in our work as the processes identified by NASA and the Curiosity mission. Rather than the words plan, investigate, assess, interpret and determine, we often simplify this scientific process into the terms, plan-do-study-act in a continuous cycle of inquiry and learning.
Similarly, while the Rover is designed to gather information and data to prepare for future human exploration, our work at Heartland AEA is designed to ultimately empower children as they prepare themselves for the future they desire.
So as you embark on a new school year, I hope you think of yourself as a Rover scientist. If we all embrace curiosity in our work, make use of the continuous cycles of inquiry and learning and build strong relationships with our partners, I have no doubt that our collective efforts will improve the learning outcomes and well-being of the children and youth whose lives we touch.
Best wishes as you embark on the journey the new school year brings.
Paula Vincent
Chief Administrator
*References:
By NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS - http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA19808.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42494599
"Overview". JPL, NASA. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
"Mars Science Laboratory: Mission Science Goals". NASA.gov. August 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
"Curiosity's mission extended indefinitely". 3 News NZ. December 6, 2012.
News headlines in several Iowa newspapers including the Des Moines Register and Council Bluffs Non-Pareil over the past few days have brought attention to the reduction of state resources for children entitled to special education. The accompanying stories contain several statements from family members, school and AEA staff and other professional and private organizations that cite examples of the impact decreased state funds are having on the ability of schools and the AEAs to meet the needs of students with special needs.
In a recent editorial piece, the staff of the Non-Pareil perhaps summarized the situation best…“The human cost of these reductions in services cannot be (over)stated, particularly for these populations of students. That’s why we urge our lawmakers, when they reconvene in January, to ensure that they adequately invest in Iowa youth through funding special education and the affiliated programs through the AEA at sufficient levels.”
The information in these articles is generally accurate in portraying the number of positions and dollars reduced from the AEAs as a whole system over the past five years. As a Heartland AEA employee, you may be asked about these articles or you may choose to share them with your local legislator. To assist you, some key talking points and data specific to Heartland AEA are provided below.
- Heartland AEA is funded through a mix of state, federal and local resources.
- AEAs have no taxing authority.
- Reductions in the state funding formula for AEAs directly reduce funds AEAs receive for providing special education support services.
- The state finance formula was underfunded for Heartland AEA (special education funds) by $6 million for the current school year. This cut is in addition to the reductions received each year for the past five years.
During the five-year time frame of reductions, Heartland AEA has responded to the cuts to prioritize services closest to children.
Please let us know if you have specific questions or need additional information and thank you for keeping focused on our most important work.
Paula
The August 2016 issue of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners newsletter is available. Read about new executive director Ann Lebo, the elimination of printed licenses, renewal credit changes and more.
If you need to come into the Johnston offices on Aug. 20, note that due to a kids’ triathlon taking place at Terra Park in Johnston, Pioneer Parkway will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that day.
Classroom Implementation Profile (CIP) Training
Districts and buildings looking for a way to gather data that measures the impact of Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) professional development on teacher instruction and student learning may find the CIP as an easy-to-use tool.
Date: Sept. 20, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Cherokee
Authentic Intellectual Work: Focus on Student Work
During this cohort, participants will study the AIW standards for student work: construction of knowledge, conceptual understanding, and elaborated communication.
Dates: Sept. 27, Oct. 27 and Nov. 21
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Sioux City
Grant Wood AEA has shared the following professional learning opportunities for district and AEA staff:
• The 2016-2017 Leadership for Continuous Learning Series (LCI) presenters
• Principals and Instructional Coaches Working Together Using Strengths-Based Coaching to Build Teacher Capacity in a TLC Framework with Pete Hall and Alisa Simeral
• Visible Learning Foundations with Dr. John Hattie
• Standards-Based Grading Conference 2017 with Dr. Doug Reeves
More information is available on this flyer.
The Special Education Statewide Procedures Manual (August 1, 2016), Release Notes (August 1, 2016 version), Parental Rights Summary (July 2015 version), Procedural Safeguards Manuals for Parents (Translations), Educational Evaluation Reports (Translations) and IEP Forms (Translations) are now posted on the Iowa IDEA website. These documents are currently posted on the front page of the IDEA website in addition to their permanent location under the IEP drop down menu > Statewide Special Education Procedures > Manual.
If you have any questions regarding the content, contact your Regional Director.
In an ongoing effort to keep our agency software up-to-date, our Internal Technology staff will be installing an updated version of Symantec Anti-Virus software on agency computers. The newer version has better compatibility with Mac OS 10.11 and offers some improved detection of web-based threats.
The installation will be done through the Casper system by Internal Tech staff, so there is nothing you need to do except re-start your computer to complete the update.
You will see these prompts that ask you to re-start your computer.
If you have any questions, contact Mike Permann, Technology Support Facilitator, at ext. 14767.
