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
Due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, staff members paid from a timesheet must have their Nov. 1-15 timesheets completed, approved by their supervisor and submitted to the Payroll Department by the end of the day on Nov. 20 in order to ensure they receive pay at the end of the month. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.
As we approach winter, we want to remind you of how our agency communicates about inclement weather office closings and course cancellations (in addition to any other type of emergency situation).
Inclement Weather
Heartland AEA offices will typically remain open unless all schools in a region are closed and travel is not recommended—which we know does happen. In preparation for the possibility of office closings and professional learning course cancellations, read below for the process the Agency uses to communicate about closings, cancellations and delays.
- First, read the Agency’s Inclement Weather Policy, which can be found in the Staff Handbook in Section 11:15. If you have any questions about the Inclement Weather policy, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources.
- Second, 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 Section 3:4. In an inclement weather circumstance, staff members who complete timesheets have the option of taking unpaid leave, even if they have other leaves available.
- Third, make sure your phone information is up-to-date in Employee Online, so you will be notified of office closings. If you are a new staff member or have a new phone number, you will receive a message from the short code 67587 asking if you’d like to opt-in to receive messages from SchoolMessenger. Reply “Yes” to receive those messages.
- We will send out a test message from SchoolMessenger next week.
Communicating Office Closures
The Agency uses the following methods to notify staff members of office closures due to inclement weather or another emergency.
- SchoolMessenger: We will send text and email messages through SchoolMessenger (an online notification system) to only those staff members who are assigned to offices that close.
- Website: We will post closing information on the front page of the Agency’s website.
- Social Media: We will post closing information on the Agency's Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Communicating Professional Learning Class Cancellations
If a professional learning class or activity 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 ext. 14474.
The Nov. 2019 newsletter from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners’ is available.
License Renewal – Did You Know?
You may apply to renew your license one year in advance of the expiration date without losing any time on your new license.
- You may use one completed Individualized Professional Development Plan for one renewal credit per renewal cycle.
- You may obtain a certificate from an Iowa college showing renewal credits earned for serving as a cooperating teacher for practicum students and student teachers for up to two credits per renewal cycle.
- You may earn up to one credit for each micro-externship completed. Click here to view the micro-externship renewal credit form.
- You will use our new online system to apply for a new license or to renew your license, and we even accept clear pictures of transcripts taken from a smartphone.
- View all standard/master renewal credit options here.
The Random Act of Kindness Flash Challenge is to do small and simple acts in our home, work, neighborhoods, and communities that help teach our children no act of kindness is too small. Everyone can be kind. Everyone can make a difference. Complete a random act of kindness to earn 15 points on your Personal Health Action Plan!
Once you’ve successfully completed this flash challenge, here’s what you need to do to receive points:
- Log into www.myinteractivehealth.com and click on the Action Plan tab (If you’re not already registered on the website, use sponsor code NVLC5 to create an account).
- Click on the All Activities button.
- Click on the Random Acts of Kindness Flash Challenge.
- Record the date and what act of kindness you completed.
- Click Update to earn your 15 points.
When do I have to record my participation for the flash challenge by?
Your Random Acts of Kindness Flash Challenge must be recorded by midnight of November 15 to earn points towards your Personal Health Action Plan.
Some Examples of Random Acts of Kindness:
- Serve food at a homeless shelter
- Give a co-worker a compliment
- Hold a door open for someone
- Donate your old clothes
- Take the day not to complain
- Pay for someone's morning coffee
- Reconnect with old friends
- Be kind to yourself
Unable to participate in this challenge?
Review your Personal Action plan to see all of the ways that you can earn points towards your incentive. If it is medically inadvisable for you to participate and you are unable to achieve your incentive through other activities, you might qualify for an opportunity to earn points by an alternative course of action (that, if you wish, will be developed with your doctor). Please contact Interactive Health no later than 4 weeks prior to the end of the campaign at (800) 840-6100 or at rasrequest@interactivehealthinc.com to request a reasonable alternative standard to qualify for the incentive.
Maintain Don’t Gain Challenge
Registration: Nov. 18 – Dec. 2, 2019 (More information in next week's Connection!)
Challenge Type: Weight Management (Exercise)
Participation: Individual or Team
Standard Duration: 4 weeks
, Nov. 25 - Dec. 22, 2019
Description: This challenge will encourage participants to maintain their weight by increasing their physical activity and learning about good nutrition. Although this challenge is focused on weight management, all members can participate as weight loss is not required.
Challenge Goal: Log at least 150 minutes of exercise each week and keep track of your weight throughout the challenge. Your goal is to engage in at least 600 minutes of exercise during this four-week challenge.
Holiday Streakers
Speaking of maintaining, no gaining and helping those in need…. Did you see the Wellness Words column in last Friday’s HeartBeat? Consider participating in the Holiday Streakers!
Holiday Streakers is a non-profit organization that capitalizes on your hard work to support and inspire families who are facing incredible medial journeys. Hard work might sound bad, but it’s not! Just 15 minutes of intentional exercise (or running/walking 1 mile) each day starting on Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s Day (35 days) constitutes the 2019 Streak. You post your daily exercise adventures (if you choose) on Streaker Central, our one-of-a-kind online community for Streaker Nation. Post pictures, join a team, check your stats, comment on others’ successes, read bios – you choose how active you want to be.
Read more about Holiday Streakers and how to sign up on Page 6 of the November HeartBeat!
Maintain Don't Gain AND Become a Holiday Streaker!! It's a WIN-WIN!
As you know, we recognize staff with service awards at our annual All-Staff meeting. For the past nine or so years, we have counted previous employment at Heartland AEA to determine the total years of service for a staff member. Previous employment with Heartland AEA hasn't always been counted in determining service awards, and we're finding that throughout the years, with HR system/software changes, we have missed some staff who worked at the Agency, left and have returned to work here.
So, we need your help! If you have ever worked at Heartland AEA, left for other employment and have come back to work at the Agency, please let us know. Email Whitney Wolf, Human Resources Generalist, and she will confirm what we have on file for you in order to correct any errors. If you have any general questions about years of service, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources. Thank you for your help in making sure we properly recognize our staff!
The agenda for the Nov. 12, 2019, Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting is available.
More about podcasts from the Instructional Technology Consultants...
What is a podcast?
A podcast is an episode of a program available on the Internet. Podcasts are usually original audio or video recordings, but they can also be recorded broadcasts of a television or radio program, a lecture, a performance or other event. There are so many great podcasts to choose from.
How do I listen to a podcast?
There are lots of different ways to access and listen, but to keep it simple, one app has been suggested for each mobile device.
iPhone, iPad
The Podcast app comes preloaded on these devices. Look for this icon.
How to use the Apple Podcast App
Android
Download the Google Podcasts app onto your phone from the Google Play store
Google Podcasts is a new podcast player for Android users, where they can discover and listen to the world’s podcasts. You can subscribe to any podcast for free and download episodes for offline playback. All your listening is automatically synced across devices so that you can pause on one device and resume on another with the Google Assistant.
How to use Google Podcasts
Which podcast should I start with?
Use one of the apps mentioned above and start browsing. Just listen to episodes to find a program of interest; once you’ve found one you like, go ahead and subscribe. Each new episode will be added to your podcast library in the app as it becomes available.
Looking for a recommendation?
We asked you to help crowdsource your favorite podcasts. Here are a few of your recommendations. Add your favorite podcast to our list and keep an eye on upcoming editions of The Connection.
Kristin Orton (Regional Director) -- Dream. Think. Do.
The host of this podcast, Mitch Matthews, hails from West Des Moines. “If you’re an entrepreneur, leader or a globe-changer, DREAM. THINK. DO. is for you. D.T.D. is a podcast that will get you the stories, science and strategies you need to DREAM bigger, THINK better and DO more.”
Terri Parker (Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant) -- A Way with Words
“A Way with Words is a fun and funny radio show about language. Co-hosts talk with callers from around the world about linguistics, slang, new words, jokes, riddles, word games, grammar, old sayings, word origins, etc.”
Kristen Bloch (School Psychologist) --
The Autism Helper Podcast
“We explore different strategies to improve the lives of individuals with autism.”
The Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education (iCASE) is presenting three great learning opportunities for district and AEA staff who are looking for more information about special education issues.
The iCASE Webinar Series will be held from Nov. 2019 - April 2020 and provides information about school finance, advocacy, legal issues, mediation and more. Any Heartland AEA staff member can view the webinar series if the topic is of interest to them. You don't have to attend all three either -- you can choose the ones that are relevant to your work.
Sessions will be Zoomed at each Heartland AEA office. No registration needed to attend!
You may view the Informational Flyer here.
Overall questions about the series can be sent to Kristi Upah, Chief Student Services Officer. If you have any questions about attendance, contact your regional director.
