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

"Chats With the Chief" Coming to a Location Near You

Have a question, comment or concern? Grab a co-worker and join chief administrator Jon Sheldahl for a “Chat With the Chief!”

Date	Regions and Location
March 6, 2019          3 – 4 p.m. Zoom option	Region 8 Newton Regional Office Room 248B
March 7, 2019           3:30 – 4:30 p.m.	Region 3 Smokey Row Coffee House Pleasantville
April 26, 2019                   2:30 – 3:30 p.m.	Region 1 Lake Panorama Conference Center Panora
April 17, 2019       3 – 4 p.m.	Shelter Care Program Johnston REC Conf. Room 125
April 19, 2019                2:30 – 3:30 p.m.	Region 2 Adel Regional Office Large Conference Room
May 6, 2019                3 – 4 p.m.	Regions 4 & 5 and Central Support Staff Johnston REC Conf. Rooms 107A/B
May 7, 2019                  3 – 4 p.m. Zoom option	Region 8 Cross Creek Fellowship Hall Altoona
May 13, 2019                8 – 9 a.m.	Region 7 Ames Regional Office Conf. Rooms A & B
May 20, 2019                3 – 4 p.m.	Region 6 Johnston REC Conf. Rooms 152 A/B/C

National Burn Awareness Week

Burn Awareness Week, observed the first week in February, is designed to provide an opportunity for burn, fire and life safety educators to unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message in our communities. For more information, visit the American Burn Association website.

Feb. 2019 School Leader Update Available

The Feb. 2019 issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available.

Iowa’s High School Graduation Rate Remains #1 in the Nation

Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement after new figures released by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics show Iowa’s high school graduation rate remains the highest in the nation with 91 percent. 

“Once again, Iowa is leading the nation when it comes to students graduating high school,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Education is a top priority for my administration and I am proud of our record investments in preK-12 education last year and my efforts to build on that with $93 million in additional dollars. While we can be proud of where we are, there’s a lot more work to do to ensure our students not only graduate high school but they do so ready to meet the demands of the 21st century.” 

“High school graduation opens the door to post-secondary education and training opportunities that lead to rewarding jobs, so it's encouraging that Iowa continues to lead the nation in graduation rate,” said Ryan Wise, director of the Iowa Department of Education. “It’s essential that all Iowa students not only graduate from high school, but also graduate with the skills they need to succeed in college and in the workplace.” 

The states with the top 5 graduation rates are Iowa (91 percent), New Jersey (90.5), Tennessee (89.8), Texas (89.7) and Kentucky (89.7).

Feb. 2019 Iowa Board of Educational Examiners’ Newsletter Available

The Feb. 2019 newsletter from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is available. In this issue: Initial license expiration dates, new online system, Iowa license types, pathways to licensure, ethics spotlight and recent cases.

Reminder: Check Out These Recorded Lunch & Learn Sessions: Healthy Eating, Medicare & Long-Term Care

If you weren’t able to attend these Wellness Lunch & Learn sessions, check out the video versions of them over lunch, on the treadmill or wherever works for you! 

Wellness Lunch & Learn: Eating Healthy On-the-Go 
Presented by: Ashley Danielson, R.D.N., L.D., Dietician, Hy-Vee 
Nov. 2018 

Wellness Lunch & Learn: Get to Know Medicare 
Presented by: Joel LeLaCheur, Agent Manager, United Healthcare 
Kurt Randel, Independent Insurance Agent 
Nov. 2018

Wellness Lunch & Learn: Long-Term Care 101 
Presented by: Rhonda Vry-Bills 
Sept. 2018

Reminder: SEBMH Learning Opportunity Coming in February: A Session with Dr. Stuart Ablon

Dr. Stuart Ablon

In an effort to continue to enhance our staff’s ability to support students who present behavioral challenges in the schools our agency serves, the Saydel Community School District and Heartland AEA are partnering to bring Dr. Stuart Ablon to the area. Two of the greatest social-emotional challenges educators have voiced wanting to learn more about is how to work with children who are impacted by mental health needs and/or by aspects of trauma. 

Dr. Stuart Ablon is the Director of Think:Kids in the psychiatry department at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Ablon is also an associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ablon has developed an evidence-based process focused on working with students who exhibit challenging behaviors called “Collaborative Problem Solving.” 

Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS) is an evidence-based approach to understanding and helping children and adolescents with behavioral challenges. This introductory learning opportunity will provide a foundation for professionals to understand and help children and adolescents with behavioral challenges. The CPS model promotes the understanding that challenging kids lack the skill, not the will, to behave well—specifically skills related to problem-solving, flexibility and frustration tolerance. The philosophy behind the model is “kids do well if they can.” 

Collaborative Problem Solving® focuses on helping adults teach the skills these children lack while resolving the chronic problems that tend to precipitate challenging behavior. Through lecture, videos, case examples and role plays, this one-day training will introduce how to foster positive relationships with children and encourage growth in areas of self-regulation, communication and problem-solving. 

Dr. Ablon has been partnering with the Marshalltown Community Schools. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about their professional learning and implementation process. 

Collaborative Problem Solving with Dr. Stuart Ablon 
Feb. 11, 2019 
8:30 - 11:30 a.m.: Large Group Learning with Dr. Ablon 
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Lunch on your own 
1 - 2:15 p.m.:  Panel Discussion with Dr. Ablon and Marshalltown Schools
Saydel High School Auditorium 
Registration 
Please discuss this opportunity with your regional director if you're interested in attending.