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 

Let's Fix DACA For Iowa's Sake

Early last week, our President rescinded a previous executive order establishing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA. As the chief administrator of Heartland AEA, I am particularly concerned about the potential impact of this decision and will be advocating for Iowa’s congressional delegation to work rapidly for a legislative solution to the matter, one that will secure the rights of so called “dreamers.” 

Please read more in my blog...

A Round of Applause for Those Who Put on Our All-Staff Meeting!

On behalf of the Agency Planning Council (APC), I would like to offer my thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make last Friday's All-Staff Meeting a positive, fun day, including our Communications, Creative Services, Human Resources, Multimedia and Operations Departments, and our Regional Directors, Executive Assistants, Administrative Assistants, Regional Directors, Job-Alike Facilitators and PechaKucha presenters. From set-up to tear down, and everything in between, your work made our annual gathering a successful day of connecting, celebrating and learning! 

- Jon Sheldahl

All-Staff Meeting Follow-Up & Survey

What a fun day our All-Staff Meeting was to connect, celebrate and learn with one another! We hope you enjoyed getting to know our new chief administrator, Jon Sheldahl, a little better, as well as the time to reconnect with colleagues, celebrate our accomplishments and learn from one another during our afternoon presentations. 

In this folder you'll find materials from the meeting:

• Celebration Slideshow 
• Presentation 
• Photos
• Program Packet
• Wellness Program Info
• Wellness Video: Mission Possible

Survey 

Please take a few minutes to offer your feedback and comments about this year's All-Staff Meeting. Your responses will help us plan for future meetings. Please respond by Sept. 25. Thank you for your participation!

• All-Staff Meeting Survey

Personalized Notepads
Agency staff received a personalized notepad at the All-Staff Meeting. If you weren’t in attendance to receive your notepad, it will be sent out to your regional office.

Lost & Found

Contact the Communications Dept. to claim your items. 

Thanks again for a great day as Heartland AEA!

Early Notification Incentive Again Offered to Certified Union & Management Staff

During the past three years, Heartland AEA has filled up to 175 vacancies in the Certified Union and Management staff employee groups. It has been to the Agency’s advantage to enter the recruitment cycle as early as possible. 

For 2017-18, the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has again approved an Early Notification Incentive for staff who have signed a contract and who notify Heartland AEA of their intent to not renew their contract for the 2018-19 school year by Dec. 8, 2017. The details are listed below.

Early Notification Incentive Process & Requirements

• Certified Union and Management staff who do not plan to return to Heartland AEA for the 2018-19 school year submit early notification letters of resignation that are effective at the end of the 2017-18 work year.
• Early notification letters must be received in the Human Resources Department by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2017.
• Heartland AEA’s Board of Directors takes action on early notification letters no later than the regular meeting on Dec. 12, 2017.
• Departing staff must fulfill their individual employment contract obligations for the 2017-18 work year.

Early Notification Incentive

• A $1,500 early notification incentive will be paid on June 30, 2018 to employees fulfilling these requirements.

If you have any questions about the early notification incentive, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, at ext. 14534.

Reminder: Drop Off Hurricane Relief Donations in Johnston REC This Week

If you weren’t at last Friday’s All-Staff Meeting or you weren’t able to bring a donation to the meeting, you can still drop off hurricane relief items in the Johnston REC this week. 

Reminder: Agency staff members are invited to participate in a Heartland AEA Cares project – donating items to students and families in the Aldine Independent School District in Houston who have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. 

Brianna Sayre Geiser, Early Childhood Consultant, taught at the Aldine district when she lived in Texas, has several former coworkers in Houston and personally knows students who have been displaced and are in shelters in the school district. She is helping to coordinate this project and will be sending collected items to the Aldine district.

If you are able to donate, items to consider include:

• Travel size shampoo and conditioner
• Shaving cream
• Razors
• Body wash
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Personal hygiene products
• Deodorant
• Ear plugs 
• Small bags to organize items for each family
• New backpacks
• School supplies
• Child size underwear and socks

If you have any questions, contact Brianna Sayre Geiser.

There’s Plenty of Time Your Support of Our United Way Campaign

Thank you to the hundreds of you who contributed to our United Way campaign at Friday’s All-Staff Meeting! If you weren’t able to donate at the Meeting and are interested in doing so, contact Courtney Croatt or Whitney Anderson, United Way campaign co-chairs. Here are 5 reasons to donate to United Way – learn more by reading this article. 

1. You can help central Iowans like Sam. 
2. United Way of Central Iowa measures up. 
3. United Way stretches your dollar to tackle multiple challenges. 
4. You can trust United Way of Central Iowa. 
5. United Way makes central Iowa a better place to live, learn, work and grow. 

2017-18 “Mission Possible” Wellness Program Off & Running!

It’s that time of year again to get started with another exciting Wellness Program! We have new challenges, more activities and great incentives to be earned this year. Get a jump-start on the new program by completing Step 1 of the Wellness Program: logging on to wellmark.com. To find detailed information about the requirements for this year, go to the Intranet and click on the Wellness link on the left side navigation. (The former “Healthy Express” Wellness Site has been retired.) Keep an eye on The Connection for more information and when to sign up for the challenges. 

Our Wellness Program encourages and assists all who are ready to make changes for themselves and those in their care in the time and space that is right for them. We aim to meet each person “where they are” and encourage them to devise steps towards greater health. The Wellness Program is to enhance the personal and professional lives of Heartland AEA employees by providing educational opportunities, programs and services that promote and support healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Wellness Update: Sign Up For Your Biometric Screening!

It’s time to sign up for your biometric screening! You can go to the Wellness link on the Intranet, click on the Biometrics link then select Hy-Vee Biometric Dates. Once on the Hy-Vee site, scroll down the page and click on the down drop menu to find Heartland AEA. You can sign up for the time that works best for you at one of our regional offices. If you can’t find a time that works for you, remember you can always make an appointment at your local Hy-Vee or see your doctor.

If you have any questions about biometrics, contact Katie Streff, Human Resources Specialist. 

Wellness Update: Planning for Retirement & College Financial Lunch & Learn Coming in October

Did you know that 80% of workers polled nationally indicate they want their employer to provide financial wellness education? Consider where we are as a society today:

• 63% of Americans do not regularly save for retirement– Scott Trade
• 30% of Americans have outstanding loans on their 401k’s – Business Record
• 52% of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement – USA Today

Heartland AEA is excited to announce that Justin Bennett of Strong Tower Consulting is coming back to teach more financial wellness workshops. Whether you are looking to pick up a few nuggets of information, or you need a financial overhaul, this 90-minute Lunch and Learn workshop is just for you. You will leave knowing the basics of investing, what retirement options are available and how to pay for college.

Oct. 11, 2017 

11:30 a.m. – 1 pm.

Johnston REC or via Zoom 

RSVP by Oct. 9, 2017

Register Now

Reminder: AEA PD Online is Becoming AEA Learning Online!

A new name and a new look but the same great products and services for Iowa students and educators!

On Oct. 1, 2017, AEA PD Online will transition to a new name: AEA Learning Online. This new name better reflects all of the products and services provided to Iowa educators and K-12 students.

The transition to AEA Learning Online began to roll out in August with updated banners and brochures. Emails, websites and social media accounts will follow in October with current links automatically redirecting users.

As the transition moves forward, watch for details via AEA PD Online’s current and new social media accounts and websites. 

If you have any questions about the transition, contact Evan Abbey or Deborah Cleveland.

Improving Literacy Instruction for Students on Alternate Assessment Coming Again in January

Heartland AEA will once again offer the popular course Improving Literacy Instruction for Students on Alternate Assessment. This course will focus on emergent literacy skills for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The concepts and strategies apply to any student with significant disabilities (level 3) with emerging literacy skills (non-readers) K-12. 

Jan. 25 & Feb. 26, 2018

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Johnston REC 

Register Now