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

Reminder: Let's See Your Smiling Faces! Submit Your Photos for the Annual Staff Photo Slideshow

We will again feature a photo slideshow at our annual All-Staff Meeting on Sept. 27 to showcase the people and places that are important to you outside of work. 

Please send in your special photos of your babies, pets, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, summer vacations, winning teams and overachievers!  

Email your photos -- no more than two photos per person with a short caption -- to the Communications Department by Sept 6.

New Opportunities for Students, Employers and Teachers Through Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-based Learning

Please spread the word within your networks about new opportunities for K-12 students, employers and teachers through the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning. 


Work-based learning empowers students to apply what they are learning in the classroom to high-quality, real-world professional experiences. The clearinghouse is a virtual space that connects students and schools with employers statewide through shared work-based learning projects. 


The clearinghouse has two key features: 

• A project board in which Iowa employers post real-world tasks that students complete under the supervision of their teachers. 
• A business partner directory for teachers to find other kinds of work-based learning opportunities, such as internships, that employers have expressed interest in. 


High-quality work-based learning helps students prepare for future careers, helps employers grow a skilled workforce, and helps teachers make coursework come alive. The clearinghouse will make these opportunities more readily accessible to K-12 students statewide, especially in rural communities. 

Resources 

• Fact Sheet 
• Q & A 

About the Clearinghouse 
The Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning was established by Gov. Reynolds through an executive order as part of the Future Ready Iowa initiative, which is about closing the state’s skilled worker gap by connecting Iowans to the training and education required for rewarding careers. The clearinghouse is run by the Iowa Department of Education in partnership with Iowa’s Area Education Agencies, Iowa Workforce Development, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

Sept. 2019 School Leader Update Available

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

Reminder: New and Improved Financial Fitness Challenge Coming on Sept. 10!

We're excited to announce the second year of Heartland AEA's participation in the State of Iowa Financial Fitness Challenge! This is a new and improved program with lots of financial classes and resources, and you no longer have to take a financial assessment!   

Heartland AEA has been selected to participate in the Iowa State Financial Fitness Challenge, a unique program created in conjunction with the Financial Fitness Group and the State of Iowa Insurance Division. This program begins on Sept. 10 and will run through Dec. 31, 2019. At that time, if the Iowa Insurance Division continues to fund the program for public entities, you’ll have access to the program through May 31, and we’ll communicate more in January.   

Why is the Agency participating in the program?  
Because we care about your financial future and want to extend to you every opportunity to be financially successful, we are rolling out this extended benefit to all employees. As an added bonus, you may also invite your family members and friends to participate, free of charge!



What exactly is the Financial Fitness Program? 
The platform, Financial Fitness Academy, is designed to assess, educate and empower individuals to improve their overall financial health. 

How do I get started?  
On Sept. 10, you will receive an invitation email from the system to get started. Simply click on the link in the email, and you'll be up and running in just a few minutes. If you don't receive an email, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources, to provide you a link to the program site. If you want to opt-out of further emails, there will be an opt-out link on the first and any subsequent email you receive. 

What else should I know? 

• This year the Financial Fitness Challenge is not an activity option to complete as part of the Wellness Program. While financial wellness is still a component of our Wellness Program, Financial Fitness is an independent module. 
• All personally identifiable information provided is kept strictly confidential. 
• You are able to customize your learning experience with educational materials to help you increase your financial knowledge and improve your unique financial situation. 
• You may add as many courses as you wish, and you complete them in any order and at whatever pace is most convenient for you. 
• The program may be accessed anywhere, anytime, as long as there is an Internet connection. You can use Macs, PCs, tablets, smartphones, etc. 
• You can view and save certificates of completion as you pass courses. 
• Each course starts with a pre-test and ends with a post-test. There is no minimum passing score for course pre-tests. The passing score for each course post-test is 70%. Course post-tests may be re-taken as many times as necessary. 
• Each course takes up to 15 minutes to complete. We encourage you to take advantage of this amazing opportunity to strengthen your financial muscles!

Questions?

Contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources, at ext. 14534.

Reminder: You've Signed Up for a Wellness Account, Right? If Not, What Are You Waiting For?

Learning. Fun. Rewards. It’s Heartland AEA Wellness!  

If you haven't yet signed up for an account with our new wellness vendor, Interactive Health, what are you waiting for? See last week's article for all the details!

On-site Health Screenings at the All-Staff Meeting 
The Agency is pleased to partner with Interactive Health and Hy-Vee to include health screenings as a part of the Wellness Program. New this year will be on-site screenings at the All-Staff Meeting on Sept. 27 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines. Two options will be available -- health evaluations and biometrics. 

Health Evaluations 
All slots for health evaluations at the All-Staff Meeting have been filled. 

If you’re unable to participate during the All-Staff meeting: you have the opportunity to test using a physician verification form provided by Interactive Health. Bring this form to a physician appointment. Call (800) 840-6100 and request a Physician Verification Form. Return the completed paperwork to Interactive Health no later than April 17, 2020. 

Biometric Screenings 
A few slots still remain!
7-9 a.m., prior to the start of the All-Staff Meeting. Please fast before this test. (More information is available when you sign up.) 

Hy-Vee will again conduct biometric screenings, as they have for many of you in the past. A biometric screening is a combination of measurements and readings about certain health factors that may be helpful in identifying potential risk factors for chronic diseases or conditions, like heart disease, hypertension or diabetes. This also includes a finger prick to gather blood, not a traditional blood draw (venipuncture). 

•  Go to https://www.hy-vee.com/health/screenings/group.aspx.
 
•  Choose Heartland AEA in the drop-down at the bottom of the page.
 
•  There will be four different events listed, all with a "details" link to the right that should be clicked on to find a time.
 
•  All four events are for the All-staff Meeting, so if you don’t find a time you’re looking right away, check the other events listed. 
 

Biometric Screenings Offered at Other Times
The Agency will also offer biometric screenings at our offices as we've done in the past. 
And remember, you can always go to a Hy-Vee store that has a dietician or to your primary care physician to have your biometric screening done. You will need to make an appointment with a Hy-Vee dietitian if you do a screening on your own. 

Questions?
If you have any questions about this year’s Wellness Program or screenings taking place the day of the All-Staff Meeting, contact Carol McDaniel, Human Resources Assistant, at ext. 14002.

Note: Personal information that you provide, and health data obtained through your Health Evaluation will only be used by Interactive Health to provide you with personally relevant information. Interactive Health will not, under any circumstances, share this information with your employer. In addition, Interactive Health will not sell or rent information to any outside third party. We respect the privacy of all our members.  Reasonable alternative standard information.  

If you are unable to participate which is required for you to earn an incentive under this wellness program, you may qualify for an opportunity to earn the same incentive through an alternative course of action. This alternative course of action must be completed by May 15, 2020. Please contact Interactive Health at least two weeks prior to this date at (800) 840-6100 or rasrequest@interactivehealthinc.com to ask about a reasonable alternative standard to qualify for the incentive.  

Tech Tip of the Week: Gain Efficiencies in Google Drive With Priority View

Learn how the new “Priority View” in Google Drive can help you be more efficient as you work in Drive.

Reminder: Have You Updated the Anti-Virus Software on Your Agency Computer Yet?

In an ongoing effort to keep our agency software up-to-date, an updated version of Symantec Anti-Virus software will be available this week to install on agency computers.



Beginning Aug. 20, 2019, the update for Symantec Anti-Virus will be available via the Self Service app on all agency computers needing the update. Staff may install this update at their convenience during a three-week window. If the update has not been performed by staff at the end of the three weeks (ending Sept. 10, 2019), the update will be applied to your computer automatically (beginning Sept. 11, 2019). It is important you perform this update to ensure the update is not automatically applied at an inopportune time.



To install this update, follow the instructions below: 

• Locate and open the Self Service app. You will find it in the Applications folder, or you may have a shortcut on your Dock. 
• Click the "Utilities" category on the left-hand side of Self Service and locate the Symantec Endpoint Protection 14.2.4811.1100 policy. 
• Click the "Install" button and read the brief description. Then click the "Install" button to start the installation process. 
• A message will appear when Symantec Endpoint Protection 14.2.4811.1100 has been installed, reminding you your computer will need to be restarted. Your computer will restart 1 minute after you click the OK button.