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
Winter is almost upon us, so here is your annual communication about inclement weather office closings and course cancellations. Offices will typically be open unless all schools in a region are closed and travel is not recommended. But we all know this happens! So in preparation for the possibility of office closings and professional development course cancellations, read below for the process that the Agency uses to communicate about closings or delays, which has been updated.
First, read the Agency’s Inclement Weather Policy, which can be found in the Staff Handbook and posted separately on the Intranet > Human Resources > For All Staff/Frequently Used Items.
Remember that the Temporary Remote Workplace Program can be used in extraordinary circumstances with supervisor approval. More information about the program can be found in the Staff Handbook. In an inclement weather circumstance, staff members who complete timesheets have the option of taking unpaid leave, even if they have other leaves available.
If you have any questions about the Inclement Weather policy, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager.
Communicating Office Closures
The Agency uses a variety of methods to notify staff members of office closures due to inclement weather.
SchoolMessenger
SchoolMessenger is an online notification system with the capability of sending voice, email and SMS (text) messages. Last spring when we surveyed you about your preferred method of communication for closings, text message notification was the #1 preferred method. Going forward, we will send SMS and email messages through SchoolMessenger to only those staff members who are assigned to offices that close. For example, if the Newton and Indianola offices are closed, we will only notify the staff members who are assigned to those offices. Staff in other offices won’t receive an SMS or email message.
Website
We will post closing information on the front page of the Agency’s website (www.heartlandaea.org).
Social Media
We will post closing information on the Agency’s Facebook & Twitter accounts (www.facebook.com/heartlandaea & twitter.com/HeartlandAEA).
Cancellation Hotline
We will no longer utilize a cancellation hotline for closing information.
Communicating Professional Development Class Cancellations
If a professional development class is canceled, the cancellation will be communicated via the agency website and social media.
If you have any questions about inclement weather communications, contact Courtney Croatt, Communications Specialist, at or ext. 14474.
In order for you to receive SMS (text) messages from our SchoolMessenger notification system, you will need to opt-in to the SMS service. On Nov. 28 (today) at 6:30 p.m., SchoolMessenger will send an SMS message to your cell phone that is essentially a text message, but will come from a short code address -- 67587. To opt-in, just reply “Y” or “Yes” to the message. You must reply “Y” or “Yes” to the initial opt-in message, or you will not receive text message broadcasts that are sent out in the event of an office closing. You can also opt out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop.”
SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy Pledge, so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.
We will also be testing the system on Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. You will receive an SMS message and an email saying that the Agency is testing the SchoolMessenger system.
If you have any questions, contact Courtney Croatt, Communications Specialist, at or ext. 14474.
The 2016-17 Staff & Schools Directory is finally available! You can also access it on the Intranet > Communications > Annual Publications or on our public website under About > Staff & Schools Directory.
There are more opportunities to have your biometric screening done at a Heartland AEA office! Hy-Vee dieticians will be on-site at the following offices in December. Register via the Hy-Vee website.
Dec. 6 - Carroll
Dec. 9 - Johnston
Dec. 12 - Adel
And remember you can always make an appointment at a Hy-Vee store with a dietician or with your family physician.
You’ve
got bills to pay, deadlines to meet – who wouldn’t feel stressed?
Stress is a normal part of life, but if it’s not handled in a healthy
way, it can negatively impact your physical, emotional and mental
wellness. To help combat stress in your life, you’re invited to
participate in the Stressless Challenge and for 28 days, challenge
yourself to find 5 minutes each day to complete a relaxing activity.
Reducing even just a little bit of stress can help you feel healthier
and happier!
Registration begins: Nov. 21, 2016
Challenge runs from: Dec. 5, 2016 through Jan. 1, 2017
Registration: Employees who have created and/or logged in to their Wellmark account in the past 60 days should receive more information from Wellmark via email about the challenge and how to register.
Reminder on how to login to Wellmark.com: Review these instructions on how to login.
If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman or Katie Streff, Wellness Leads.
As winter approaches, so does cold and flu season. Here are some tips you can use to protect yourself and help limit the spread of illness:
Here are some other tips from the CDC to stay healthy and well this winter.
- Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
- Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. If you have an important meeting you feel you can’t miss, consider using Zoom from the comfort of your home rather than coming in to the office.
- Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
- Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
Bulletins are short updates, relevant to what time of year it is. Current bulletins cover topics such as Thanksgiving, Spotting the Signs of Caregiver Stress and When the Days Are Shorter. When the Days Are Shorter provides four tips on coping with less daylight during the winter months. Give them a read!
Website: heartlandaea.lifeworks.com
Username: heartlandaea
Password: lifeworks
The Iowa Association of School Boards unveiled a new campaign during their annual convention to highlight the great students and educators in our state. "The Promise of Iowa" is a campaign that demonstrates how Iowa is preparing all kids for future success; and the fact that Iowa education promotes equity, strengthens communities and cultivates economic growth. Iowa educators and school districts are accountable and transparent.
Public education is the foundation of our democracy and a promise we make as Iowans to our children--that a great education helps dreams come true. Great public schools help children fulfill that promise and are the key to success for our communities, our economy and our state.
- Iowa public schools help students discover their full potential and reach a bright future.
- Iowa public schools are community-owned centers that prepare and empower students to make a living, a life and a difference.
- Iowa public schools have a significant impact on Iowa's economic growth and quality of life in communities.
Your investment in public schools matters, and it’s invaluable to Iowa’s current and future generations.
Please check out the Promise of Iowa’s website, videos and social media channels and share the message about how education and students in Iowa have tremendous potential for our state!
