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

Federally-Funded Staff: A-87 Certification Notification Coming April 11

On Wednesday, April 11, the second semester A-87 certification will be emailed to federally-funded employees. We are following the same process we’ve used for previous certifications. The email will come from heartlandworkflow with the subject A87 Certification Notice - Action Required. There will be a link in the message for employees to follow to complete the certification. 

If you have questions or problems with accessing the link, contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at ext. 14005. The Business Office appreciates your prompt completion of the certifications and your assistance in helping us maintain compliance with this reporting requirement.

Iowa's AEAs... Did You Know We Did All That?

In an effort to share more information about the role that Iowa's AEAs play in education, last week we (Iowa's AEAs) launched a redesigned website and a new video! We encourage you to share this video, as well as future posts about our system with your friends on social media. Together we can share the important work and partnership that Iowa's AEAs provide to children, families and educators! 

You can share on Facebook from the Iowa's AEAs Facebook page or copy/paste the following into all your social media accounts: 

Iowa's AEAs... Did you know we did all that? Check out Iowa's Area Education Agencies newest video at https://youtu.be/6_2Lmts7qhw 

Feel free to add your own feelings and tell your friends why you love working for Iowa's AEAs! Don't forget to check out the redesign at the Iowa's AEAs website.

“The Invitational” Wellness Challenge Needs You! Sign Up Today!

How it works
As part of “The Invitational,” you will be part of a five-person team that competes against a new team each week for five consecutive weeks. The team that walks the most steps each week wins!



This week, stretch your legs during the warm-up round. Registration is open until April 16, with the first of five weekly rounds. (If you received an email from WebMD, please note that the dates in the email were incorrect!)



Team matchups are based on performance, for more fair competition. Weekly rounds start each Wednesday. Be sure to enter your steps for each round by the following Wednesday to count towards the previous round. You can sync your fitness device or enter your steps manually.



How to register
Register using the Wellmark website. Once in “The Invitational,” click on “Let’s Get Stepping,” select how you will enter your steps (either manually or uploaded automatically via your device) and choose your team preference. Then get busy racking up steps! 

If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist.

Human Resources: Benefit Plan - Did You Know? (Second Edition)

Reminder: Even if you don't want to make any changes, you still need to enroll for the next benefit plan year. 

• You can get an annual eye exam covered at 100% when you use a Wellmark Blue Choice ophthalmologist or optometrist. Your annual exam doesn't have to be 12 months apart, it is an annual exam at any time between January through December of the same year. 
• When considering which deductible to enroll in, you should consider the actual deductible amount, premium costs to you (if any) and whether or not you will have any expected large medical expenses during the benefit plan year.  
• When considering family insurance coverage, you can choose family coverage for both health and dental, or you can choose family health coverage and single dental coverage, or you can choose family dental coverage and single health coverage.   
• Prescription coverage has its own deductible separate from the health plan deductible. Prescriptions have a single $100/family $200 annual deductible that has to be met first and then you pay according to the Tier that your medication is on, except for Tier 1 generics; they do not go towards your deductible. (Tier 1: $5, Tier 2: $25 or Tier 3: $45). 
• HR has updated its “Contact Us” page on the Intranet under the Human Resources link. The page has been laid out differently in order to make it easier for you to search for the topic you need assistance with. Check it out by going to the Intranet > Human Resources > Contact Guide.   

Reminder: It's Time for 2018-19 Benefits Enrollment!

Our annual benefit enrollment is open to all full-time and 96-day employees from April 1 through April 30, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. for the 2018-19 year benefit year, which begins July 1, 2018. Full-time employees may enroll in health and dental insurance and medical flex spending plans, while part-time staff (96-day) may enroll in the medical flex spending plan. (Note: This enrollment period is not for enrollment in the dependent care plan, which is done in November.) We will need your enrollment selections even if you choose not to make any changes to your benefits for next year. This is the time that you can add and/or drop family members to your health and dental plans without a life event or change of status. You can also change your health insurance deductible at this time. 




Enrollment can be completed through the Employee Online tab on the Employee Dashboard. If you are having trouble enrolling, log out of the Dashboard and log in before you start the enrollment process. You can also use the enrollment instructions document, which also includes how to print off your benefit statement. 





During our annual benefit enrollment, employees who didn’t opt for additional life insurance coverage through VOYA can also enroll. Complete the enrollment form and submit it to Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist. Existing employees who are enrolling for the first time will be required to fill out an Evidence of Insurability form. Existing employees who are already enrolled but who want to increase their coverage may also do so at this time. Existing employees may increase their coverage, but if they choose to increase it over $10,000, they will be required to fill out an Evidence of Insurability form. Enrollment will be during April but will be effective on July 1, 2018.





If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14315.

Reminder: Time to Sign Up to be a Mentor for the 2018-19 School Year!

As a mentor, you share your time, welcome new staff and​ support new staff by building their capacity as they join our Heartland AEA team. Mentoring is a personally and professionally fulfilling experience that also helps our agency retain great employees. Note that this program is for mentors and mentees who are Certified Union staff members.  


New this year!  

• Mentors of first year staff provide 20 hours of one-on-one coaching and support for their mentee, are provided with mentorship training and in return will receive a $1,300 (gross) payment and the personal satisfaction of knowing that they’ve made a difference in the career of the mentee.  
• Mentors of second year staff provide 15 hours of one-on-one coaching and support for their mentee, are provided with mentorship training and in return will receive a $1,000 (gross) payment and the personal satisfaction of knowing that they’ve made a difference in the career of the mentee. 


 

It’s easy to sign up! Complete the online Mentor Application by April 16, 2018. If you are a mentor this year and are interested in mentoring again, you need to apply to mentor again in 2018-19. After receiving applications, more information will be provided to mentors in the near future for next year’s mentoring and induction program. A Mentor Program Guide is available on the Employee Dashboard > Intranet > Human Resources > Mentoring Program Guide. 

If you have any questions, contact Martha Condon, Director of Professional Learning.

April 2018 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Now Available

The agenda for the April 10, 2018 Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting is now available.

Reminder: First Teacher Quality Opportunity for 2018-19: DMPS Summit on School Climate & Culture

The Des Moines Public Schools’ Summit on School Climate and Culture will be offered as a Teacher Quality (TQ) opportunity for the 2018-19 school year for interested Heartland AEA Certified staff who qualify for TQ funds. Heartland AEA has worked with DMPS for agency staff to receive a reduced registration fee since the areas covered are relevant to the work we at Heartland AEA. TQ funds will cover registration costs, but only the first 50 registrants will be eligible to participate. If there are more than 50 staff register, it will be determined if more can be accommodated. We anticipate the TQ stipend for 2018-19 will be around $655. The rest of the TQ opportunities for 2018-19 have not been set and won't be until this summer.  

The Summit is designed help educators improve school climate and culture through professional development, skill building and application of best practices and research. This event will allow you to engage with leading experts in education and school improvement on how a positive school climate and culture is key to student, school and district improvements. Keynote speakers include Brian Mendler, Olga Acosta Price, W. Kamau Bell and Christopher Emdin. 

The Summit is defined by 6 major strands: Best Practices in Improving School Climate, Multi-Tiered System of Supports, Equity, Whole Child Health, Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership. ​ 

TQ Summit on Climate and Culture​ 
Aug. 13-14, 2018 
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 
Community Choice Convention Center, Des Moines 
Registration 
Registration Deadline: April 25, 2018 

Requirement: Participants will submit a written reflection including new learning and plan for implementation. Reflection may be submitted individually or with a group.

If you have any questions, contact Cheryl Risen.